Michael Strahan’s Daughter, Isabella, Discloses Brain Cancer Diagnosis as the Cause of His Absence Last Year
Isabella, 19, bravely opened up about her battle with brain cancer during a heartfelt segment on GMA alongside her father, Michael Strahan, and co-host Robin Roberts on Thursday.
The USC freshman began experiencing severe migraine headaches in September, accompanied by waves of nausea and difficulty walking straight.
In late October, Isabella, alarmed after throwing up blood, sought medical attention from neuro specialists at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. They identified a rapidly growing four-centimeter tumor in the cerebellum at the back of her head, a region crucial for walking, coordination, balance, and equilibrium.
“I don’t really remember much,” Strahan shared. “I just remember trying to figure out how to get to L.A., ASAP. It just doesn’t feel real.”
He eventually returned to the public eye, first on “Fox NFL Sunday” on Nov. 12 and then to GMA on Nov. 15, without initially disclosing details about his absence.
Isabella underwent brain surgery to remove the tumor in October, followed by six weeks of radiation therapy. She also received chemotherapy treatments at Duke University, where her twin sister, Sophia, is a freshman.
“I’m feeling good, not too bad. I’m very excited for this whole process to wrap, but you just have to keep living every day through the whole thing,” Isabella said.
With resilience and courage, Isabella aims to use her platform to be a voice for those facing similar challenges, offering support and inspiration to those undergoing chemotherapy or radiation.
“This is something that is so personal,” Michael told Roberts, a breast cancer survivor. “But her idea was, ‘I want to share it, and I want to help other people,’ and that goes into the spirit of who she’s always been.”
In addition to Sophia, Isabella is a sister to half-siblings Tanita and Michael Jr., born to Michael and his ex-wife Jean Muggli.
