Maria Menounos Opens Up About Cancer, Parenting Intuition, and Staying Chill — Emotional Health Journey, Motherhood Lessons & Life-Changing Wake-Up Call

Maria Menounos is speaking candidly about her health journey, motherhood, and the life lessons that have reshaped her priorities, sharing how surviving serious illness has transformed the way she approaches both parenting and wellness.

The mom of one welcomed her daughter Athena in June 2023 with husband Keven Undergaro, and says becoming a mother completely shifted her focus toward long-term health and presence.

“I want to be here for her, and so my No. 1 goal, every single day, is to do all the things I have to do to live a healthy life, no matter what,” she told Parents, adding that her daughter has become her “North Star.”

Menounos now lives a highly intentional lifestyle centered on wellness practices such as circadian rhythm awareness, vitamin D, infrared sauna use, red light therapy, fascia stretching, and daily trampoline exercise. She also jokes that while she eats extremely clean most of the time, she still cannot give up her favorite BLT sandwich.

Her wellness journey, however, began years earlier following serious health battles. In 2017, she underwent surgery to remove a benign brain tumor. Years later, she was diagnosed with stage 2 pancreatic cancer, which led to major surgery removing part of her pancreas, spleen, 17 lymph nodes, and a fibroid — all while she was expecting her daughter via surrogacy.

Now cancer-free, Menounos says her survival was only possible because she trusted her instincts and pushed for further testing when something felt wrong.

“I know that if I hadn’t had outside screening, I wouldn’t be here,” she said, stressing the importance of preventive health care and early detection.

She is now partnering with Cancerguard, a new blood test that can screen for more than 50 types and subtypes of cancer — including many that currently have no standard screening options. She also referenced research showing that 57% of cancers in the U.S. are typically diagnosed only after symptoms appear.

“It’s really important for me to be able to share that message… Take this on and be the CEO of your health,” she explained.

Menounos, who also hosts the Heal Squad podcast, has become a strong voice for self-advocacy in healthcare, especially for women who often feel dismissed or overlooked in medical settings.

She shared that she once had multiple negative test results despite persistent symptoms, but continued pushing for answers. Eventually, doctors discovered a 2-centimeter pancreatic mass that later doubled in size.

“One of the guests I had on my show said, ‘You’re not crazy, you’re wise. Listen to your inner knowing,’” she recalled.

Her experience has also shaped her parenting philosophy. While she listens to advice, she ultimately trusts her own instincts when it comes to raising her daughter.

“I listen to my gut on everything,” she said, emphasizing a calm, pressure-free approach to motherhood.

Rather than strict schedules or rigid routines, Menounos prefers a relaxed mindset — even for milestones like potty training.

“I’ve realized that we put a lot of pressure on ourselves for a lot of things, and it’s very unnecessary,” she said. “Everything works out if you just have faith and patience.”

For her, motherhood is about building a strong emotional foundation for her daughter while staying grounded in balance, intuition, and gratitude.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/