Isabella Strahan, the 19-year-old daughter of “Good Morning America” co-host Michael Strahan, has successfully completed her final round of chemotherapy, marking the end of her six-month battle with a rare type of brain tumor.
She shared this incredible news in a vlog on her YouTube channel, expressing her gratitude for completing the long journey. Isabella mentioned the need for recovery and returning to her usual state, acknowledging that it will take time but expressing relief that she is done with treatments.
The video showcased hospital staff and loved ones lining the halls to celebrate this milestone, showering Isabella with confetti and serenading her with “Celebration” by Kool & The Gang. Wearing a crown, she made her way towards the bell to symbolically ring it at the conclusion of her cancer treatment.
“Ring this bell three times well. It’s a toll to clearly say my treatment’s done, this course is run and I’m on my way!” Isabella read with a smile on her face, surrounded by bubbles before ringing the bell.
Michael Strahan proudly shared the moment on his Instagram, declaring his daughter as “a SUPERWOMAN!” He commended her for continuing to fight with strength, determination, and a smile on her face, expressing his immense pride as a father.
Isabella initially noticed something was amiss while starting her first year at the University of Southern California in early October 2023. She experienced headaches, nausea, and difficulty walking straight, prompting her to seek medical attention later that month.
Subsequent medical examinations revealed a fast-growing tumor larger than a golf ball in the back of Isabella’s brain, ultimately leading to a diagnosis of medulloblastoma, consistent with the symptoms she was experiencing.
Medulloblastoma is a cancerous brain tumor that typically develops in the cerebellum, the rear part of the brain responsible for muscle coordination, balance, and movement. Treatment usually involves surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination of these approaches.
Isabella underwent tumor removal surgery on October 27, the day before her 19th birthday, at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. Following the surgery, she underwent a month of rehabilitation and six weeks of radiation therapy, as detailed on “Good Morning America.”
Isabella commenced chemotherapy in February at Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center in Durham, North Carolina, culminating in the celebratory bell-ringing.
While medulloblastomas are rare and can affect individuals of any age, they predominantly occur in children and represent the most common cancerous brain tumor for this age group.
According to The Cure Starts Now Cancer Resource Network, more than 70% of the 435+ annual medulloblastoma diagnoses are in pediatric patients. Isabella’s case is deemed rare, with an adult incidence rate of 0.05 cases per 100,000 population.
The five-year survival rate for medulloblastoma is approximately 80%, with variance based on factors like age, spread, recurrence, and subtype. Routine MRI scans are conducted multiple times a year to monitor for any signs of tumor recurrence, as advised by Cedars-Sinai.
