Michael Strahan and his daughters. From left to right, Tanita, Sophia, Michael and Isabella. Credit: JC Olivera / Getty Images
Michael Strahan, host of “Good Morning America” and former professional football player, and his daughter, Isabella, recently revealed Isabella’s brain cancer diagnosis on a segment during “Good Morning America.”
Isabella, who is 19 years old, was diagnosed with medulloblastoma in October after experiencing headaches, nausea and an inability to walk straight. She underwent emergency surgery to remove a mass on Oct. 27 — only one day before her 19th birthday. Soon, she will start chemotherapy treatment at Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center in North Carolina, according to PEOPLE.
“I’m feeling good. Not too bad,” said Isabella. “That’s my next step. I’m ready for it to start and be one day closer to being over. …. I’m very excited for this whole process to wrap (up). But you just have to keep living every day, I think, through the whole thing.”
Michael and Isabella sat for the interview with “Good Morning America” host, Robin Roberts, who also has a history of cancer.
“I literally think that, in a lot of ways, I’m the luckiest man in the world, because I’ve got an amazing daughter,” Michael said. “I know she’s going through it, but I know that we’re never given more than we can handle and that she is going to crush this.”
Defense secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized for complications following prostate cancer surgery.
Lloyd Austin was hospitalized on Jan. 1 due to complications following a prostate cancer surgery that occurred on Dec. 22, according to a statement from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, which explained, “He continues to make progress and we anticipate a full recovery, although this can be a slow process.”
According to a Jan. 8 statement from Pentagon Press Secretary, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Austin is no longer in the intensive care unit, is in good spirits and is remaining in contact with his senior staff.
The news of Austin’s diagnosis and subsequent hospitalization was met with a bit of controversy. According to CNBC, Pentagon officials did not notify Austin’s second in command (who should have taken on his authority) while he was in the intensive care unit, and president Joe Biden learned of Austin’s diagnosis on Tuesday.
A “Baywatch” actress received a breast cancer diagnosis.
Nicole Eggert, who is known for her roles in “Baywatch” and “Charles in Charge,” was diagnosed with cribriform carcinoma (a rare, slow-growing type of breast cancer) in December 2023 after gaining weight and experiencing pain in her left breast a couple of months prior. After the 51-year-old felt a lump in her breast, she contacted her health care team, which led to her diagnosis.
According to PEOPLE, the actress is now waiting for her oncology team to devise a treatment plan for her. Also, Eggert does not yet know if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
“I have panics where I’m like, just get this out of me,” she told PEOPLE. “You sit there and it’s in you and you’re like, every second that passes and it’s inside of me. It’s growing, and you’re just like, you just want it out.”
Adan Canto of “X-Men” died from appendiceal cancer.
Mexican singer and actor, Adan Canto, who was known for his roles in “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “Agent Game” and “The Cleaning Lady,” died at the age of 42 after a diagnosis of appendiceal cancer.
Canto decided to keep his diagnosis private.
In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) actor, writer and director, Lou Diamond Phillips commemorated Canto. He wrote, “I am completely heartbroken over the passing of Adan Canto. Simply tragic. He was far, far too young. I was privileged to work with him as both actor and director on ‘The Cleaning Lady.’ An absolute Prince of an artist. My deepest sympathies to his wife and two small children.”
CNN anchor, Sara Sidner, has breast cancer.
In a live, on-air announcement, CNN anchor, Sara Sidner announced that she had been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and is in her second month of treatment before she undergoes a double mastectomy.
“Just take a second to recall the names of eight women who you love and know in your life. Just eight. Count them on your fingers. Statistically, one of them will get or have breast cancer. I am that 1 in 8 in my friend group,” Sidner said during Monday’s announcement.
Sidner went on to explain that Black women are more likely than white women to die of the disease.
“Breast cancer does not run in my family, and yet here I am with stage 3 breast cancer. It is hard to say out loud. I am in my second month of chemo treatments and will do radiation and a double mastectomy. Stage 3 is not a death sentence anymore for the vast majority of women,” Sidner said. “But here is the reality that really shocked my system when I started to research more about breast cancer, something I never knew before this diagnosis: If you happen to be a Black woman, you are 41% more likely to die from breast cancer than your White counterparts.”
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