Post by Admin on Jan 14, 2024 11:31:40 GMT -4
‘GMA’ Star Michael Strahan’s Daughter Diagnosed With Rare Brain Cancer
The 19-year-old shares how her initial symptoms led to her diagnosis.
Michael Strahan’s 19-year-old daughter, Isabella, was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare type of brain cancer.
Doctors found a 4 cm tumor at the back of her brain.
She detailed the symptoms that led to her diagnosis and treatment plan.
Good Morning America anchor Michael Strahan shared that his daughter, Isabella, was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare type of brain cancer.
In a joint father-daughter interview with fellow GMA anchor Robin Roberts, Strahan revealed that he had “no idea” that 19-year-old daughter Isabella’s headaches would lead to a brain tumor and cancer diagnosis in the fall of 2023.
Isabella thought she was struggling with vertigo at first. “I didn’t notice anything was off until probably September, like October 1—that’s when I definitely noticed headaches, nausea, couldn’t walk straight,” she said during the GMA interview.
After undergoing an MRI, Isabella’s doctors discovered that she had developed a fast-growing 4 cm tumor—larger than a golf ball—in the back of her brain, as noted in the interview.
Doctors removed the tumor during emergency surgery, after which Isabella completed six weeks of radiation. She starts chemotherapy next month.
“I’m feeling good, not too bad,” Isabella said. “I’m very excited for this whole process to wrap, but you just have to keep living every day, I think, through the whole thing.”
What is medulloblastoma?
Medulloblastoma is a cancerous brain tumor that starts in the lower back part of the brain called the cerebellum—which is involved in muscle coordination, balance, and movement, per the Mayo Clinic.
Isabella is one of around 350 to 500 people in the United States diagnosed with medulloblastoma each year, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Medulloblastoma can happen at any age, but most often occurs in young children. Though medulloblastoma is rare, it’s the most common cancerous brain tumor in children, according to Mayo Clinic.
Medulloblastoma symptoms
Medulloblastoma symptoms occur when the tumor grows or causes pressure to build up in the brain. They can begin before the cancer is diagnosed and may continue for months or years even after treatment. Per Mayo Clinic, symptoms of medulloblastoma may include:
Dizziness
Double vision
Headaches
Nausea
Poor coordination
Tiredness
Unsteady walk
Vomiting
Medulloblastoma treatment
Medulloblastoma is typically treated with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Still, the healthcare team will consider many factors when creating a treatment plan, according to the Mayo Clinic. These might include the tumor’s location, how fast it’s growing, whether it has spread to other parts of the brain, and test results of tumor cells.
According to the National Cancer Institute, about 72% of people with medulloblastoma survive at least five years after diagnosis, but many factors can affect prognosis. This includes the tumor grade and type, traits of the cancer, the person’s age and health when diagnosed, and how they respond to treatment.
We admire Isabella’s courage to share her story with the world and we wish her and the Strahan family the best of luck in their next steps to a successful, smooth recovery.
AMEN
The 19-year-old shares how her initial symptoms led to her diagnosis.
Michael Strahan’s 19-year-old daughter, Isabella, was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare type of brain cancer.
Doctors found a 4 cm tumor at the back of her brain.
She detailed the symptoms that led to her diagnosis and treatment plan.
Good Morning America anchor Michael Strahan shared that his daughter, Isabella, was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare type of brain cancer.
In a joint father-daughter interview with fellow GMA anchor Robin Roberts, Strahan revealed that he had “no idea” that 19-year-old daughter Isabella’s headaches would lead to a brain tumor and cancer diagnosis in the fall of 2023.
Isabella thought she was struggling with vertigo at first. “I didn’t notice anything was off until probably September, like October 1—that’s when I definitely noticed headaches, nausea, couldn’t walk straight,” she said during the GMA interview.
After undergoing an MRI, Isabella’s doctors discovered that she had developed a fast-growing 4 cm tumor—larger than a golf ball—in the back of her brain, as noted in the interview.
Doctors removed the tumor during emergency surgery, after which Isabella completed six weeks of radiation. She starts chemotherapy next month.
“I’m feeling good, not too bad,” Isabella said. “I’m very excited for this whole process to wrap, but you just have to keep living every day, I think, through the whole thing.”
What is medulloblastoma?
Medulloblastoma is a cancerous brain tumor that starts in the lower back part of the brain called the cerebellum—which is involved in muscle coordination, balance, and movement, per the Mayo Clinic.
Isabella is one of around 350 to 500 people in the United States diagnosed with medulloblastoma each year, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Medulloblastoma can happen at any age, but most often occurs in young children. Though medulloblastoma is rare, it’s the most common cancerous brain tumor in children, according to Mayo Clinic.
Medulloblastoma symptoms
Medulloblastoma symptoms occur when the tumor grows or causes pressure to build up in the brain. They can begin before the cancer is diagnosed and may continue for months or years even after treatment. Per Mayo Clinic, symptoms of medulloblastoma may include:
Dizziness
Double vision
Headaches
Nausea
Poor coordination
Tiredness
Unsteady walk
Vomiting
Medulloblastoma treatment
Medulloblastoma is typically treated with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Still, the healthcare team will consider many factors when creating a treatment plan, according to the Mayo Clinic. These might include the tumor’s location, how fast it’s growing, whether it has spread to other parts of the brain, and test results of tumor cells.
According to the National Cancer Institute, about 72% of people with medulloblastoma survive at least five years after diagnosis, but many factors can affect prognosis. This includes the tumor grade and type, traits of the cancer, the person’s age and health when diagnosed, and how they respond to treatment.
We admire Isabella’s courage to share her story with the world and we wish her and the Strahan family the best of luck in their next steps to a successful, smooth recovery.
AMEN
