Maria Menounos still remembers the excruciating stomach pain she felt after eating a farro salad on a flight a year ago. The TV personality didn’t know it then, but she had a tumor growing on her pancreas — a rare type of pancreatic cancer that was finally diagnosed in January 2023. Doctors initially told her she was fine, but she kept pushing for answers to explain symptoms like bloating, diarrhea and the hurting stomach on the plane.
” What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer? The pancreas is a 6-inch long gland that lies between the stomach and the spine, according to the National Cancer Institute. It helps the body break down food and regulate blood sugar. About 95% of pancreatic cancers begin in exocrine cells, which produce the digestive “juices.” This is called pancreatic adenocarcinoma. It’s stealthy and deadly, with an overall five-year survival rate of 12%, according to the American Cancer Society.