LOS ANGELES - Actress and television host Maria Menounos has revealed that she survived a fight with pancreatic cancer.
In an interview with People, the former E! News host shared that she was diagnosed with stage 2 pancreatic cancer in January.
Menounos, 44, underwent successful surgery to remove a 3.9-cm tumor and told the magazine that she is on a mission to encourage others to seek answers to their health problems.
"I need people to know there are places they can go to catch things early," she explained to People. "I had that moment where I thought I was a goner – but I'm okay because I caught this early enough."
On Wednesday, Menonunos shared the news on Instagram, writing," Obviously, there's so much to say about this and what I’ve gone through these last few months, and even year. First, dealing with the diabetes diagnosis last summer, second (my other miracle) preparing for my soon-to-be newborn baby and third, pancreas cancer."
In February, Menounos and her husband Keven Undergaro announced on "Kelly & Ryan" that they were expecting their first baby after a decade-long journey. The baby, a girl, will be born via surrogate this summer.
"I still haven't come to grips with it all, including the fact that so very few even survive pancreatic cancer," Menounos continued on Instagram. "I have SO much information and SO many breakthroughs that I think/hope can save others."
She said she plans to share everything on her podcast "Heal Squad" and on as many platforms as she can.
"For now I'll say how grateful I am to be able, alive and well and that I WILL get to hold my baby!," she added.
But Menounos is no stranger to health battles, having been diagnosed and treated for a benign brain tumor back in 2017.
Then last year, a trip to the hospital revealed she had type 1 diabetes, which runs in her family. She still takes insulin daily and wears a glucose monitor, according to People.
But a month later she was back in the hospital, and this time "with excruciating abdominal pain." When a CT scan and extensive testing showed nothing, she agreed to do a full body scan through Prenuno.
On Friday, Menounos thanked the healthcare company for detecting the mass on her pancreas early enough to save her life.
"Know I’m working to get these scans covered by insurance for everyone!!," she added.
FDA approves new drug to treat pancreatic cancer
Earlier this month, a panel of experts at the FDA recommended Lynparza after a study found that pancreatic cancer patients who were treated with the drug could go nearly twice as long without their cancer worsening than those taking a placebo.
"I'm so grateful and so lucky," Menounos said, adding that she is currently putting the finishing touches on her baby's nursery and is excited to have a small meet-and-greet once she arrives. "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."
