Menounos on mend after tumor
Brain growth spotted as mom fights cancer
Medford’s own “E! News” anchor Maria Menounos has revealed she learned she had a brain tumor while caring for her mother, who has advanced stage brain cancer, and underwent surgery herself to remove it last month.
Menounos issued a long statement on Instagram, following the announcement yesterday morning that she will step down as host of “E! News” after battling a brain tumor.
“I want you all to know that I’m ok!” Menounos wrote. “Seriously I’m recovering well and should be as good as new very very soon!”
Menounos told People Magazine that she was diagnosed with a tumor in April, and is still recovering from the seven-hour surgery that successfully removed almost all of the growth. This comes as her mother, Litsa Menounos, is battling brain cancer.
Menounos told People that when she got the diagnosis, “I didn’t cry. I actually laughed. It’s so surreal and crazy and unbelievable that my mom has a brain tumor — and now I have one too?”
Her doctor removed 99.9 percent of the benign tumor last month on her 39th birthday. She is at home recovering after a six-day hospital stay. The magazine also gives an update on Menounos’ mother, Litsa; the latest MRI reveals that her cancer is stable.
Menounos joined the E! network in 2014 and had been co-anchor since 2015.
She also has worked for “Extra” and “Access Hollywood,” and she competed on “Dancing With the Stars.” She danced with Derek Hough, and she placed fourth — behind winner Donald Driver, runner-up Katherine Jenkins and third-place finisher William Levy.
“I am so grateful for the past three years at E! I had such an amazing time cohosting with Jason Kennedy and working everyday with the wonderful roster of talent on the show including producers, staff and crew,” Menounos said. “It was such a special, good-hearted group and one I’ll always consider family. A special thank-you to Frances Berwick and Adam Stotsky for all the support they have shown me through the years, especially during these tough times. I will truly miss everyone and looking forward to this next chapter in my life.”
Adam Stotsky, president of E! Entertainment, said in a statement: “Our thoughts and support go out to Maria and her family and we wish them all the best knowing that Maria will tackle this with the same fierce dedication she is known for. We are grateful for Maria’s many contributions to E! over the past three years.”