Leaving Today allowed Hoda Kotb to develop a deeper relationship with daughters Haley, 8, and Hope, 6. During an appearance on Jenna Bush Hager's "Open Book" podcast on Tuesday, September 23, Kotb recalled one moment where she was able to have a meaningful conversation with her kids - and tell them about her breast cancer battle. (Kotb, 61, battled breast cancer in 2007.) "I saw Haley reading my book and there's probably a lot of stuff in there that she doesn't know," Kotb said. "She's like, 'You had breast cancer?' I'm like, 'Oh my God.