Isabella Strahan, the 19-year-old daughter of NFL legend and “Good Morning America” host Michael Strahan, announced Thursday that she is battling brain cancer.
Isabella Strahan appeared with her father for an interview with Michael Strahan “Good morning America” co-host Robin Roberts, where the two discussed Isabella's battle with medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor. She said she had a headache shortly after starting her freshman year last fall, but initially thought it was dizziness. In late October 2023, her symptoms took a more serious turn.
Michael Strahan speaks on stage during the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis's 38th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner on October 16, 2023 in New York City. Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis
“I probably woke up at 1 p.m.,” she said. “I was afraid of waking up. But I vomited blood. And my sister – I thought, 'This is probably not good.' So I texted her, which then notified the whole family.
Her family sought medical attention and doctors discovered that she had developed a golf ball-sized tumor that was growing rapidly in the back of her brain. She underwent emergency surgery on October 27, the day before her 19th birthday. After the procedure, she underwent a month of rehabilitation, followed by rounds of radiation.
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“So I just finished radiotherapy… I had to ring the bell yesterday,” she said. “It was great. It was very exciting because it was a long 30 sessions. Six weeks.”
She will undergo chemotherapy next month at Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center in Durham, North Carolina. This time she will document her experiences in a new YouTube series, with the proceeds going to the hospital.
“This is my next step,” she said. “I’m ready for it to get started and one day closer to the end.”
Vlog #1: How It Began by Isabella Strahan on YouTube
Michael Strahan, who played 15 seasons with the New York Giants, said he considers himself the “luckiest man in the world” because he has a “wonderful” daughter.
“I know she's going through this, but I know we're never given more than we can handle and she's going to ruin this.”
What is medulloblastoma?
According to the Mayo Clinic, medulloblastoma is a brain tumor that begins in the lower back part of the brain. Although rare, it is the most common cancerous brain tumor in children, according to the Mayo Clinic. Treatment for medulloblastoma usually involves surgery, followed by radiation, chemotherapy, or both.
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