Maria Menounos, 44, Details Pancreatic Cancer Battle in Emotional New Interview
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Maria Menounos revealed that she is recovering from pancreatic cancer.
The former E! News correspondent underwent surgery to remove a stage 2 pancreatic cancer tumor and says she does not need chemotherapy.
The 44-year-old wants people to know that “there are places they can go to catch things early.”
Journalist and former E! News host Maria Menounos announced that she has been diagnosed with stage 2 pancreatic cancer. The star underwent successful surgery to remove the cancerous tumor three months ago and is now recovering.
In a recent interview with People, Menounos explained the first sign that something was wrong. The 44-year-old said she was struggling with extreme abdominal pain before ultimately heading to the hospital. But doctors and CT scans could not find the cause until an MRI finally revealed a 3.9 cm tumor on her pancreas. A biopsy in January identified it as a Stage 2 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, which means it was contained within the pancreas. This stage of pancreatic cancer was early enough to remove the tumor and cancer cells via surgery without chemotherapy.
After living with a benign brain tumor which she had removed in 2017, the star is no stranger to advocating for her health. This time, Menounos experienced typical pancreatic cancer symptoms, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and a diabetes diagnosis a few months prior. These symptoms led her to doctors’ offices where she was diagnosed with an early stage and received a better prognosis.
“I need people to know there are places they can go to catch things early,” Menounos told People. “You can’t let fear get in the way. I had that moment where I thought I was a goner—but I’m okay because I caught this early enough.”
In February, doctors removed the tumor, part of her pancreas, a fibroid, her spleen, and 17 lymph nodes during surgery. Lymph nodes are typically removed to prevent metastasis, which is when cancer spreads through the bloodstream or lymph system and forms new tumors.
“It was super painful,” Menounos said of the recovery process. “I couldn’t move or lift myself up.” She fought through the pain with the help of her dad and the unwavering support of her husband, who slept by her side in the hospital every night.
Menounos’ diagnosis comes after a recent study from Gastroenterology found pancreatic cancer rates rising in young women. The cause of the increase is unknown, but there are some healthy habits and lifestyle changes you can make to decrease your risk. While some factors are genetic, the American Cancer Society (ACS) suggests that maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, cutting down on drinking, and avoiding chemical exposures can help.
Early detection of most cancers is key to survival, so it’s crucial to know the cancer symptoms and health symptoms you should never ignore. According to the ACS, the five-year survival rate of pancreatic cancer is 55% when the cancer has not spread past the organ.
To make matters even more stressful, the former E! News correspondent was in the midst of planning for the arrival of her baby when she got the diagnosis. “This whole year has been trauma, stress, crisis,” Menounos said. “There was a minute when we were planning something, and then it became too much. I thought, ‘I just need to heal.’”
Three months post-surgery, she is grateful for catching cancer early and has a newfound appreciation for life. “I’m so grateful and so lucky,” Menounos said. “God granted me a miracle. I’m going to appreciate having [my baby] in my life so much more than I would have before this journey.”
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