Healing As A Young Survivor
- Model Isabella Strahan, 20, battled an aggressive, cancerous brain tumor this past year, undergoing multiple surgeries, chemo and radiation, and is now continuing her healing journey in the Bahamas with her family, showing that no matter how hard of a time you are going through, there is always hope that life can get better.
- On Saturday, the daughter of GMA host and NFL legend Michael Strahan shared bikini photos on the beach, looking happy, relaxed, and as radiant as ever while posing with her twin sister Sophia, one of her biggest supporters.
- Isabella evidently looks flawless, but just because her appearance is back to “normal” doesn’t mean the physical and emotional journey she went through hasn’t taken a toll — there may be physical changes that are only noticeable to her. It’s important not to brush off or undercut a survivor’s healing journey just based on assumptions over their looks. Know that it’s a process, and while some may appear luckier than others, everyone’s journey is different.
The daughter of GMA host and NFL legend Michael Strahan, 53, shared bikini photos on the beach, looking happy, relaxed, and as radiant as ever while posing with her twin sister Sophia.
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A third supporter shared healthy and happy thoughts moving forward: “Wishing you a very happy and healthy new year and for every year to come! So glad you are a great fighter! You are my hero!”
For Isabella, the culmination of this year is starkly different from last. In the fall of 2023, Isabella had to have emergency surgery to remove a malignant (cancerous) brain tumor called medulloblastoma from her cerebellum, which is located in the back of the head.
Isabella Strahan’s Cancer Journey
While embarking on her first year of college at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Isabella discovered last October that she had medulloblastoma, a rare primary central nervous system tumor, the National Cancer Institute explains.
This type of brain tumor is cancerous and grows quickly, making it more likely to spread to other parts of the body.
Common symptoms for this type of tumor may include:
- Difficulty walking or balancing
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Difficulty with vision
- Seizures
Isabella’s January announcement came during an emotional interview with her dad and fellow GMA host and breast cancer survivor Robin Roberts.
She explained how last fall, she started getting headaches and nausea and had trouble walking. When she would wake up, there were times when she would throw up blood.
“I was like, ‘Hmm, this probably isn’t good,'” Isabella told Roberts on camera.
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After sharing her symptoms with her family, Isabella visited her doctor, who performed several tests. They discovered she had a four-centimeter tumor bigger than a golf ball in the back of her brain.
When Michael Strahan learned his daughter was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, he struggled to wrap his head around it.
“It didn’t feel real,” he said.
Meanwhile, Isabella, who is grateful to be back as a student at USC, said she is feeling a calling to help others going through treatment. “I hope to just kind of be a voice and be [someone] who people, maybe, are going through chemotherapy or radiation, can look at.”
Understanding Brain Tumors
Brain tumors account for 85-90% of all primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). In 2023, the ASCO estimated that 24,810 adults (14,280 men and 10,530 women) in the United States would be diagnosed with primary cancerous tumors of the brain and spinal cord.
The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord and acts as the main “processing center” for the body’s nervous system. The normal function of the brain and spinal cord can become difficult if there’s a tumor putting pressure on or spreading into normal tissue close by.
A Survivor’s Advice for Taking On Brain Cancer
There are many different types of brain and spinal cord tumors and some of which are more likely to spread into nearby parts of the brain or spinal cord than others. Slow-growing tumors may be considered benign, however, even these types of tumors can lead to serious problems.
Meanwhile, symptoms of brain tumors, as a whole, are usually caused by increased pressure in the skull. This pressure can stem from tumor growth, swelling in the brain, or blockage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the American Cancer Society explains.
How Cancer Can Change Your Body
Cancer treatment can affect a person in so many ways. For some it is more evident than others, but that doesn’t mean we can assume all is fine because someone looks amazing.
Isabella Strahan evidently looks flawless, but just because her appearance is back to “normal” doesn’t mean her mental health over what she has gone through hasn’t taken a toll. Or physical changes that may only be noticeable to her.
“Changes to your body may be temporary or permanent. They include changes that can be seen by others, such as hair loss or weight gain,” MacMillan Cancer Support says, noting physical changes. “Changes that are not obviously visible to others, such as infertility, can also affect your body image and make you feel vulnerable about your body.”
One way you can prepare yourself for possible body changes during cancer treatment is to understand changes are possible but also temporary. It also helps to build up your self-confidence. Your support group filled with loved ones can help you during this stage of your journey.
Psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin shares with SurvivorNet some additional tips cancer warriors can explore to help manage the emotional toll body changes can have during treatment.
Celebrity Stylist Ann Caruso on Beauty and Femininity After Cancer
Dr. Strongin encourages cancer warriors to take ownership of the part (or parts) of their body mostly impacted by cancer treatment. She says although they may represent “fear and pain,” they also represent “strength and courage.”
“Research has found that when looking in the mirror, we are more likely to focus on the parts of our body we are dissatisfied with, which causes us to have a negative self-view and lower self-esteem. Therefore, I would like for you to first spend time gazing at the parts of your body you love, give them time, honor them, and then thank them,” Dr. Strongin said.
Dr. Strongin then suggests looking at the part or parts of your body impacted by the cancer or cancer treatment. She recommends creating a regular practice of accepting your body image because it helps you accept your cancer journey emotionally and physically.
“As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body. It may not happen immediately, but with time, you can begin honoring and thanking your new body,” Dr. Strongin added.
Coping With Hair Loss Amid Chemo
Hair loss, like Isabella Strahan has experienced, can be an emotional stage of anyone’s cancer journey. Chemotherapy can cause hair loss. It usually begins about three to four weeks after chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment.
“For cancer patients, losing one’s hair can be unbelievably stressful. To start with, the dread of losing one’s hair can lead to some sleepless nights and feelings of anxiety,” Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author, told SurvivorNet.
Most patients can expect regrowth four to six weeks after treatment. However, it is possible when your hair grows back, you may notice some changes in its color and texture.
Dr. Boardman suggests connecting with others experiencing cancer treatment like yours and asking them for first-hand advice.
“Talk to people who have been through it, get their advice, voice your concerns to your caregiver, and see what they can do,” Dr. Boardman added.
If losing your hair is a concern before cancer treatment, know you have options like wigs, hats, wraps, and more.
Questions for Your Doctor
After going into remission from cancer, many survivors can feel “forgotten” as things tend to get quiet. After all, the medical appointments significantly die down, and many may assume you are “fine” because you “beat” cancer.
If you are struggling physically and/or mentally after going through cancer, don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor or a mental health professional to help you navigate your new path forward:
- How long will it take to recover from treatment, and will I be able to return to work and normal activities full force?
- What delayed side effects from treatment should I look out for?
- What support groups may be helpful for me at this stage of my healing journey?
- Should I make follow-up appointments with medical professionals such as a nutritionist or fertility expert to stay on top of my health?
- Are there any tips to make my hair grow back faster and what should I be avoiding? What vitamins or supplements can help?
- What’s the likelihood that insurance will cover the recommended follow-up appointments?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
