Body Image & Overcoming Cancer: Maria Menounos' Story
- Maria Menounos, 45, revealed earlier this year that she battled stage 2 pancreatic cancer, which left her with some scars surrounding her belly button, the TV host revealed on Instagram.
- Luckily, her cancer was discovered while it was still in an early stage, she was able to get the tumor, her spleen, part of her pancreas, 17 lymph nodes and a large fibroid removed via surgery on Feb. 16 of this year.
- It’s perfectly okay to need a bit more support to get through the aftermath of battling a disease. Everyone's cancer battle is different, as is their journey with their body healing. Healing from the inside is what counts most during this trying time.
- Menounos’ faith is also inspirational. “It's important to reach out in a simple prayer to God, even if you've never prayed before, you don't know what to say, a heartfelt plea, 'God, help me, be with me,'” New York City Presbyterian Pastor Tom Evans tells SurvivorNet. "You can reach out to God and you can reach out to people, your friends and family and say, 'I can't do this on my own. I need you.'
The soon-to-be mom, who opened up about her recent battle with pancreatic cancer, which followed her 2017 brain tumor and her mom's passing from brain cancer, took to social media over the weekend to share a scar-revealing bikini photo.
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Menounos, seen smirking as she posed for the photo, was wearing a brown strapless bikini top with a matching string-tie bikini bottom, along with a white long-sleeved casual button-down beach shirt.
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As she donned bright-painted yellow-nails and unveiled a seemingly spotless bathroom behind her, it’s hard not to notice the four scars surrounding her belly button.
The several tiny scars stemmed from the procedure she underwent to remove the cancer she discovered she had earlier this year.
Menounos’ confidence and continued optimism following her hardships in life has inspired her fans, with many taking to the comments section to praise her for her strength amid it all.
“Your scars show people that they can heal. My dad had pancreatic cancer on the ampulla of Vater and after a whipple procedure and months on chemo, he's finally cancer free,” one fan wrote. “Seeing his scars is always a huge reminder of how life can change abruptly and how important is for us to live every single moment.”
Another commented, “Those aren’t scars Maria those are Warrior wounds always remember that, much love.”
A third fan wrote, “You give me such strength! Just got diagnosed with NHL after advocating for myself because like you said, ‘You are the CEO of your body"! And just finished 5 days of chemo! God has been so good to me! No strength like the one HE gives!”
Maria Menounos' Pancreatic Cancer Battle
Last month, Maria Menounos revealed that she had battled stage two pancreatic cancer, following her 2017 brain tumor scare, her mom's passing from brain cancer, and years of struggling with fertility.
Before receiving her pancreatic cancer diagnosis, Menounos started suffering from major leg cramps in June 2022, a symptom which led her to the hospital, where she discovered she had type 1 diabetes (her dad and younger brother also have diabetes), she told PEOPLE.
Following her diabetes diagnosis, she was prescribed insulin, changed her diet, and felt "so good" by October.
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In November 2022, she returned to the hospital "with excruciating abdominal pain" and "diarrhea." Doctors told her everything was "fine" with her body. However, weeks later, she began feeling as if "someone was tearing my insides out."
A whole-body MRI and a biopsy revealed she had a stage 2 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.
Recalling the shock she felt while receiving her diagnosis, Menounos said she had her husband and father by her side amid this cancer fight.
"I'm like 'How in the freaking world can I have a brain tumor and pancreatic cancer?' All I could think was that I have a baby coming," Menounos said.
Luckily, because Menounos' cancer was discovered while it was still in an early stage, she was able to get the tumor, her spleen, part of her pancreas, 17 lymph nodes and a large fibroid removed via surgery on Feb. 16 of this year.
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Additionally, her doctor and surgeon said she will not need to undergo chemotherapy or other forms of treatment.
Menounos, who needs to get yearly scans for the next five years, is now incredibly "grateful" for being able to overcome cancer, adding, "God granted me a miracle. I'm going to appreciate having her in my life so much more than I would have before this journey."
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Cancer and Body Confidence
Unfortunately, cancer treatment often alters the way someone looks. Even though a lot of those changes are temporary, it can be really hard to live with duringand aftertreatment.
Healing from the inside is what counts most during this trying time.
Although it is admirable for Menounos to show such strength, it is perfectly okay to need a bit more support to get through the aftermath of this disease. Everyone's cancer battle is different, as is their journey with their body healing.
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Jaclyn Kaczynski, recalled her “confidence was gone” after she was diagnosed with breast cancer at 37 years old.
“My confidence was destroyed. I was always vain about my appearance and my weight, let alone losing a breast, or both,” she explained.
Kaczynski said that she gained a lot of weight during treatment, and that, combined with losing her breasts, really did a number on how she felt about her own body.
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In Kaczynski s case, she decided to undergo breast reconstruction to help her feel better. “I just had my reconstructive surgery … my favorite doctor was able to make it happen for me. It's amazing how much more confidence I have … my hair is growing back, for real.” Kaczynski said she's feeling so good about herself she's even starting to date again “I'm keeping my options open.”
Turning to Faith During a Cancer Journey
For some people, like Maria Menounos, turning to faith can be a great way to keep spirits high when cancer starts taking an emotional and/or physical toll.
New York City Presbyterian Pastor Tom Evans previously spoke with SurvivorNet about the importance of finding ways to cope with the complex web of feelings you may be experiencing after a cancer diagnosis.
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"It's important to reach out in a simple prayer to God, even if you've never prayed before, you don't know what to say, a heartfelt plea, 'God, help me, be with me,’" Pastor Evans told SurvivorNet. "You can reach out to God and you can reach out to people, your friends and family and say, 'I can't do this on my own. I need you.'
"It's in that willingness to be open and to receive that we can actually find something deeper that we never would've encountered without this hardship."
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Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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