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- TV host Maria Menounos, 43, reunited with friend Ryan Seacrest while co-hosting LIVE with Kelly and Ryan and said the fellow TV hosts were a great support system after she lost her mother to brain cancer.
- In April, both of Menounos’ parents tested positive for COVID-19 as her mother also battled a brain tumor. That same month, her mother learned that her brain tumor had progressed. She later passed away in May.
- A strong support system is important for those coping with losing a loved one to cancer. This support can come from friends, family, or even activities that bring you joy.
Menounos dusted off her hosting heels while appearing alongside fellow TV personality Ryan Seacrest on his show LIVE with Kelly and Ryan in order to interview actress Minnie Driver. Menounos shared this with fans, and also revealed that Seacrest and his co-host Ripa served as a strong support system for her while she dealt with losing her mother to brain cancer back in May.
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The past year has been particularly difficult for Menounos and her family. In April, both of her parents tested positive for COVID-19 as her mother also battled a brain tumor. That same month, Menounos’ mother learned that her brain tumor had progressed. She later passed away in May.
Progress in Brain Cancer Treatment
For those with brain cancer, treatment options include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. However, a late stage brain cancer diagnosis hasn’t seen much progress in terms of treatment until recently. Fortunately, a new, unconventional, treatment method has surfaced which may be a game-changer for those battling glioblastoma the most common form of brain cancer.
Optune is a treatment was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in October 2015, and is available to adults at the age of 22 or older. This tumor-treating therapy comes in the form of a cap due that attaches to a patient's head, where electric currents run through adhesive pads. These currents disrupt the division of cancer cells, which can delay the disease from progressing and thus extend the survival time for some patients.
Most glioblastoma's life expectancy currently stands at two years, but during clinical trials using Optune alongside standard treatment, researchers found that this rate went up. For half of the patients, two more years were added to their median survival, and a third of patients saw their survival rates go up by five more years.
Coping After Cancer
Losing a loved one to cancer, especially a parent, can be a difficult process to cope with. It’s not uncommon to go through a roller coaster of emotions such as sadness, anger, and confusion. In order to deal with these emotions, it’s important to have a strong support system to help you through it. This support system can be your friends, family, or even doing activities you enjoy.
For Camila Legaspi, who lost her mother to breast cancer while she was in high school, she was able to cope with losing her mother by exploring new passions inspired by her mother. She was an avid writer, and would often journal throughout her life. Once Camila entered college, she continued her mother’s legacy by joining her college newspaper and spending time creative writing.
"I actually took this sadness and let it motivate me," Camila told SurvivorNet. "I learned that it's OK to be sad sometimes. It's OK to carry sadness with you … it's not always a bad thing. It makes you who you are and it gives you a story to tell and it helps you teach other people to cope with their sadness."
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