Brain Surgery Has Nothing on a 'Rocky' Quote
- TV host Maria Menounos lost her mother to brain cancer in May, but also had her own brain surgery in 2017 after doctors found a non-cancerous brain tumor.
- In a post wishing Sylvester Stallone a Happy Birthday, Menounos shared that the actors’ words and actions helped her get through her toughest moments.
- Our experts have said that people who find a way to work through the emotions and stay positive tend to have better outcomes when it comes to cancer treatment.
Menounos, 43, lost her mother, Litsa, to a type of brain cancer called glioblastoma on May 3, 2021, after a five-year battle with the disease. During that time, she faced her own health struggles when doctors discovered she had developed a golf ball-sized benign (non-cancerous) tumor that required a 7-hour brain surgery in June 2017.
Read More“You have taught us all so many things,” Menounos wrote. “Getting back up after being knocked down. Believing in yourself at all costs. Going the distance and giving your everything is the biggest and truest win of all. Your work on camera AND off will never be replicated. And who else can say they created a franchise that still touches and teaches people nearly 50 years later ….and still going!!!”View this post on Instagram
She also explained how his words have helped her face the immense hardship she’s been dealt in recent years.
“I've told you before, that YOUR words have gotten me through the darkest moments in my life,” she wrote. “They have been my beacons in the night. And I know I'm not the only one. Movies inspire us, teach us and show us new ways. That's what Rocky has been for me and millions of others. ‘It ain't about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward..’ That got me through major brain surgery. My first words after surgery that Kev luckily caught on camera. Incredibly that’s just one line. There are so many more. All from you and your heart. Thank you from the bottom of mine, for sharing your heart and making art to inspire all of us!”
Understanding Brain Tumors
According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), brain tumors account for 85 to 90 percent of all primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord and acts as the main "processing center" for the entirety of the nervous system, according to the American Cancer Society. Normal function of the brain and spinal cord can become difficult if there's a tumor present that puts pressure on or spreads into nearby normal tissue.
Kicking Cancer's Ass One Survivor's Advice for Taking On Brain Cancer
There are many different types of brain and spinal cord tumors. Some are more likely to spread into nearby parts of the brain or spinal cord than others. Slow-growing tumors may be considered benign, like Menounos’ tumor, but even these tumors can cause serious problems.
Symptoms of Brain Tumors
Symptoms of brain tumors are often caused by increased pressure in the skull. This pressure can be caused by tumor growth, swelling in the brain or blockage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), according to the American Cancer Society. For Menounos, that meant ear pain, dizziness and blurred vision.
General symptoms may include the following, but it is important to note that these symptoms are not exclusive to brain tumors:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Balance problems
- Personality or behavior changes
- Seizures
- Drowsiness or even coma
Staying Positive Through Treatment
Treatment for a brain tumor or any tumor can be incredibly hard both physically and mentally. It's very normal to have negative feelings throughout your journey back to health, and it's okay to express them too! Anger, shame, fear, anxiety it's all to be expected. But doctors will tell you that people who find a way to work through the emotions and stay positive tend to have better outcomes. So whether that’s channeling some positive thoughts by reciting a Rocky Balboa quote or singing along to your favorite song or making a scrapbook of your favorite memories, it’s important to prioritize activities that will help keep your spirits high.
"A positive attitude is really important," says Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. "I'm pretty good at telling what kind of patients are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life."
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
