Television personality Maria Menounos recently opened up about her challenging journey with stage-two pancreatic cancer, revealing a delayed diagnosis that allowed the tumor to double in size. Speaking on the "Not Skinny But Not Fat" podcast, Menounos recounted how a full-body MRI in January led to the discovery of the tumor, which, upon reviewing earlier scans from November, had already been present but missed. This delay meant the tumor grew from two centimeters to almost four centimeters in just two months.
This diagnosis came at a particularly poignant time for Menounos and her husband, Keven Undergaro, as they were expecting their first child via surrogate. Menounos expressed her devastation at the news, sharing her fears that she might not live to meet her daughter. She is currently investigating how the tumor was initially overlooked, highlighting the complexities of medical imaging and the varying capabilities of different scan types. Menounos explained that while one type of scan might be ideal for detecting certain issues, another, like the MRI in her case, might be necessary for others. The radiologist, upon revisiting the November scan with the knowledge of the tumor's presence, was then able to confirm its existence in the earlier images.
Menounos has since undergone successful surgery to remove the 3.9 cm tumor. This latest health battle follows a series of challenges, including a 2017 surgery to remove a benign brain tumor and a recent diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Reflecting on the past year, Menounos described it as a period of "trauma, stress, crisis," culminating in the pancreatic cancer diagnosis. She vividly recalled the "excruciating abdominal pain" and "diarrhea" that eventually led to the crucial MRI. Despite these hardships, Menounos maintains a positive outlook, expressing gratitude for the impending arrival of her daughter and viewing her as a "miracle."
