Robin Quivers Reveals Her Cancer Battle [AUDIO]

1:43 PM EDT 9/10/2013 by Stephanie Guerilus, Celebeat Reporter

Robin Quivers revealed that she had been battling cancer for the past years PEOPLE reported.

Quivers, who has been Howard Stern's sidekick for many years, opened up about her ordeal on his show. The 61-year old said that doctors discovered a tumor the size of a grapefruit in her uterus. She underwent surgery and chemotherapy. Additonally, she had not been in the studio for the past year, recuperating and working from home since mid 2012.

Quivers spoke of how the doctors wanted to prolong her life rather than to save it. The circumstances made her appreciate Stern whom she has worked with for 32 years.

"Before that conversation was over, I realized how much I meant to you," Quivers said.

Stern said that he had tried to be loyal to his longtime friend. However, he conceded that he expected the worst. The America's Got Talent winner started to make funeral arrangements.

"I gotta be honest," Stern said. "I thought she was a goner."

Quivers changed her doctors and they were able to successfully operate on her tumor. Stern visited Quivers in the hospital and offered her many gifts, including a portrait of himself so that he could watch over. Stern said that his show would have been over if Quivers had died.

"She was my backbone, you understand. Where I would lose courage, Robin always had the courage," he said. "She always is the brave one. Always the brave one with me. I could go to her, and I could always rely on her."

Quivers tweeted her appreciation for all the support.