How Early Detection Helped Maria Menounos Against Pancreatic Cancer

Maria Menounos is a well-known TV host, author, and podcaster who has faced two battles with cancer in recent years. In 2017, she underwent surgery to remove a meningioma, a benign brain tumor. Then in 2023, she was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer of the pancreas, which was caught early before it could spread further. These experiences have inspired Menounos to advocate for cancer screening and early detection.

Menounos’s journey with cancer began when her mother was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, a malignant brain cancer. As she cared for her mother, Menounos started experiencing symptoms herself, leading to the discovery of a meningioma in her own brain. The surgery to remove the tumor was successful, but it taught her the importance of paying attention to her health.

In 2022, Menounos began experiencing unexplained symptoms in her abdomen, leading to a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Despite the grim prognosis associated with pancreatic cancer, Menounos’s cancer was caught at stage 2, making it more likely to be completely removed by surgery. After a grueling 10-hour surgery, she was able to recover and welcome her daughter Athena into the world.

Menounos now hosts a podcast called “Heal Squad,” where she shares her health journey and advocates for self-advocacy in healthcare. She has also partnered with Exact Sciences to promote expanded cancer screening. Exact Sciences has developed Cancerguard, a blood test that screens for over 50 types of cancer, including those without routine screening methods like pancreatic and liver cancer. While the test is not perfect, with a sensitivity of 64%, it provides a valuable tool for early detection of various cancers.

The availability of multi-cancer early detection tests like Cancerguard represents a significant advancement in cancer screening. These tests have the potential to catch cancers in their early stages, when treatment is most effective. While it is still early days for such tests, the benefits of early cancer detection are clear. Maria Menounos’s journey serves as a reminder of the importance of proactive health management and the potential impact of early detection in the fight against cancer.