Sad Diagnosis in Couric Family

By Stephen M. Silverman

08/20/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

Cancer has again struck the family of "Today" show host Katie Couric, who two years ago lost her husband, TV legal analyst Jay Monahan, to colon cancer at the age of 42. On Thursday it was announced that Couric's older sister, State Sen. Emily Couric of Virginia, 53, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Sen. Couric broke the news herself, a day after doctors had told her, at a news conference to say she will not run for the office of Virginia's lieutenant governor next year. She is considered a rising star in the state's Democratic party. "My doctors, family and I are now working on designing the best course of treatment to address this cancer," she said. On Friday's "Today" show, no mention was made of Emily Couric. Katie Couric, 43, has been a vocal proponent of cancer awareness and even underwent a colonoscopy on the air to educate viewers about cancer tests.