7 Shocking Health Battles And Triumphs Of Maria Menounos: The 2025 Update On Her Cancer Journey
Maria Menounos, the beloved Emmy Award-winning journalist and television host, has become one of the most prominent voices in health advocacy, a role forged through her own harrowing battles with two separate cancer diagnoses. As of late 2024 and into 2025, Menounos’s journey is one of resilience, focusing on recovery, the joys of new motherhood, and a relentless commitment to promoting early cancer detection for her millions of followers.
Her story is not just one of survival, but a powerful roadmap for navigating complex health crises, including a rare Stage 2 Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor (PNET) and a benign brain tumor years earlier. Menounos has transformed her personal health scares into a public mission, using her platform to share crucial, up-to-date medical information and holistic wellness strategies through her popular "Heal Squad" initiative.
Maria Menounos: Complete Biographical Profile
Maria Menounos is a Greek-American television personality, actress, producer, and author whose career has spanned two decades across major media outlets. She is celebrated for her candid interviews and engaging on-screen presence, which has now extended into the wellness space.
- Full Name: Maria Constaninos Menounos
- Date of Birth: June 8, 1978
- Birthplace: Medford, Massachusetts, U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Ethnicity: Greek-American
- Spouse: Keven Undergaro (married 2017)
- Children: Athena Alexandra (born 2023 via surrogacy)
- Key Professions: Television Host, Journalist, Actress, Producer, Author, Health Advocate, Former Professional Wrestler (WWE)
- Notable Career Highlights: Host of *Extra*, Co-host of *E! News*, Correspondent for *Today* and *Access Hollywood*, New York Times bestselling author (The EveryGirl's Guide series).
- Health Advocacy Role: Host of the daily podcast *Heal Squad x Maria Menounos*, focusing on physical, mental, and spiritual wellness.
The First Battle: Meningioma Brain Tumor (2017)
Menounos’s first major health crisis began in 2017 while she was simultaneously caring for her mother, Litsa Menounos, who was battling Stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
The host started experiencing a series of concerning symptoms, including chronic headaches, dizziness, slurred speech, and difficulty reading the teleprompter.
Diagnosis and Surgical Intervention
In February 2017, a doctor delivered the diagnosis: Menounos had a meningioma, a generally non-cancerous (benign) tumor that grows from the meninges, the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
- Tumor Size: The tumor was described as being approximately the size of a golf ball.
- Surgery Details: She underwent a seven-hour procedure in June 2017, performed by renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Keith L. Black.
- Outcome: The surgery was highly successful, with Dr. Black achieving a 99.9% removal of the tumor.
The experience was a profound turning point, prompting Menounos to leave her role at *E! News* to focus on her recovery and to become a more dedicated caretaker for her mother.
The Second Battle: Stage 2 Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor (2023)
Just as Menounos was enjoying a period of health and preparing for the birth of her first child via surrogacy, she faced an even more frightening diagnosis. In late 2022, she began experiencing severe abdominal pain, which was initially dismissed by doctors as a possible symptom of diabetes.
Frustrated by the lack of answers, Menounos advocated for herself, requesting a full-body MRI. This proactive step proved life-saving. The scan, performed in January 2023, revealed a 4-centimeter mass on her pancreas.
The PNET Diagnosis and Treatment
The mass was confirmed to be a Stage 2 Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor (PNET), a rarer and often more treatable form of pancreatic cancer than the more common and aggressive adenocarcinoma.
- PNET vs. Pancreatic Cancer: PNETs, while still cancerous, are different from standard pancreatic cancer. They are often slower-growing, giving patients a better prognosis, especially when caught early.
- Treatment: Menounos underwent surgery in February 2023 to remove the tumor, along with part of her pancreas, spleen, and a fibroid.
- Post-Surgery Status: Due to the early detection at Stage 2 and the successful surgical removal, her medical team determined she did not require chemotherapy or radiation. She is now on a strict regimen of annual scans for the next five years to monitor for recurrence.
A Focus on Health Advocacy and New Motherhood (2025 Updates)
The year 2023 was a whirlwind of medical crisis and profound personal joy. Menounos was in recovery from her PNET surgery when her daughter, Athena Alexandra, was born via surrogate in July 2023.
This dual experience has cemented her role as a powerful health advocate, emphasizing the critical importance of listening to one's body and pushing for diagnostic testing.
The Power of Early Detection and the "Heal Squad"
Menounos’s advocacy centers on the message that early detection saves lives. Her PNET diagnosis, which was caught at Stage 2, is a direct result of her insistence on a full-body MRI, a procedure she now champions.
In a 2025 update, Menounos highlighted a new, groundbreaking development in cancer screening: a blood test that can detect signals for up to 50 types of cancer. She is actively promoting this and other advancements to encourage proactive health management.
Her daily digital life improvement show, *Heal Squad x Maria Menounos*, has become a central hub for this mission. The podcast features interviews with leading healers, medical experts, and celebrities, discussing topics like gut health, mental wellness, anti-inflammatory diets, and the latest in medical research.
The Mind-Body Connection and Resilience
Menounos attributes both her brain tumor and pancreatic tumor diagnoses, in part, to the massive stress she was under while caring for her mother and maintaining a demanding career.
Her recovery and ongoing wellness plan are holistic, incorporating lifestyle changes that manage stress and reduce inflammation. She frequently discusses the importance of the mind-body connection and building resilience to thrive after a major health scare.
For those following her journey in 2025, Menounos is a beacon of hope, proving that it is possible to not only survive multiple serious diagnoses but to emerge stronger, healthier, and with a renewed purpose. Her commitment to sharing her story ensures that her personal battles will continue to inform and inspire a global audience to take control of their own health destinies.
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