Emmy® Award-winning journalist, author and actress Maria Menounos joins the roster of nationally-recognized brain tumor experts in a special keynote session at the 2020 ABTA National Conference.
Maria will share her personal experience caring for her mother diagnosed with a glioblastoma, then turning her learnings inward as a patient diagnosed with meningioma, all while balancing the demands of public life.
Held annually, the ABTA National Conference convenes our nation’s leading brain tumor experts to provide the latest updates in brain tumor treatment, care and research. This year, the conference is presented virtually to protect the health of our community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Going from Caregiver to Patient
When Maria Menounos learned her mom, Litsa, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, one of the most common and aggressive brain tumors, she quickly took up the role of caregiver, while she juggled life in the spotlight as an Emmy® Award-winning journalist, New York Times best-selling author and TV personality.
In 2017, while caring for her mom and balancing the demands of her career, Maria started feeling lightheaded and experiencing severe headaches. She even had trouble reading a teleprompter on set of her TV and Sirius XM radio show. Maria thought it was stress from caregiving. After a visit with her primary care doctor, they decided to get an MRI. The MRI showed Maria had a golf-ball-sized meningioma, a tumor typically located in the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
“I didn’t cry. I actually laughed. It was so surreal and unbelievable that my mom had a brain tumor—and then I had one too,” Maria said.
Her reaction is common of caregivers who often walk alongside their loved ones battling a brain tumor diagnosis, and then finding themselves in the unlikely circumstance of going from caregiver to patient.
Four months later, Maria had nearly all of her tumor removed and lives each day helping her mom and others going through their brain tumor journey. As a brain tumor survivor, Maria is balancing her career while coaching and advocating for others fighting a brain tumor diagnosis.
At the 2020 ABTA National Conference, Maria will share her personal story as the Keynote Speaker, sharing insights that helped her along her brain tumor journey, including her shift in lifestyle and mindset.
Join the 2020 ABTA National (Virtual) Conference
Held Friday, September 11 and Saturday, September 12, participate in dynamic and interactive sessions presented by Maria Menounos and 16 brain tumor experts for strategies on living your best life and the latest information on treatment and care. Sessions cover topics for newly-diagnosed, survivors and caregivers.
Register for this free live webcast today.
