Isabella Strahan is looking back on her intense cancer experience, from being diagnosed with medulloblastoma just before her 19th birthday in October 2023 to reaching remission in the summer of 2024.
In a preview provided by Good Morning America prior to the broadcast of the ABC special Life Interrupted: Isabella Strahan’s Fight Against Cancer, Robin Roberts questioned the college student about what she discovered about herself during her battle with cancer—a journey that involved three craniotomies, or brain surgeries. Strahan highlighted the importance of self-advocacy.
“…you should advocate for yourself,” she responded right away. “I believe the entire experience has taught me that.”
“It should’ve been different,” she elaborated. “I think I should have realized something was wrong sooner, and I believe it’s crucial to trust yourself and trust your body.”
She continued, "I think that’s something I’ve taken to heart, which is staying positive but always being aware if something isn’t right.”
When Strahan initially disclosed her diagnosis of medulloblastoma—a malignant brain tumor typically found in children much younger than her—she described the short period of illness leading up to the discovery of the fast-growing tumor, which was larger than a golf ball, located at the back of her brain. This all began less than a month before the tumor was detected.
"I didn't realize anything was off until probably around Oct. 1," she told Roberts in an earlier interview. "That's when I definitely started experiencing headaches, nausea, and difficulty walking straight."
She attributed the symptoms to vertigo, however, until she woke up vomiting blood on Oct. 25. Thankfully, the doctor she visited for a routine checkup insisted on conducting a full evaluation, which they claim "saved her life."
Life Interrupted: Isabella Strahan’s Fight Against Cancer airs tonight, Feb. 5, at 10/9c on ABC and will be available for streaming on Hulu.
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