Isabella Strahan Keeps Up MRIs and Checkups Nearly 3 Years After Cancer
Michael Strahan's daughter, 21, says scans every three months, quick doctor visits for new symptoms and more time with family keep her on track
By AXY Celebrity Desk ·
Key points
- Isabella Strahan, 21, says she was declared cancer-free in July 2024, nearly three years after her medulloblastoma diagnosis.
- She gets MRIs about every three months and contacts her nurse practitioner quickly when she has a headache, nausea or dizziness.
- She credits regular activity, sleep, healthy eating, water, her partnership with Aflac and time with family as part of her health routine.
Isabella Strahan, the 21-year-old daughter of Michael Strahan, says she is doing her homework when it comes to her health. Nearly three years after being diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor, she told E! News in an exclusive interview how she now looks after herself. She said she underwent treatment, was declared cancer-free in July 2024, and is back at school. Her routine centres on regular checkups, MRI scans every three months, healthy habits and more time with the people she loves.
Isabella's parents are Michael Strahan and Jean Muggli, and she has a twin sister, Sophia Strahan. Isabella is a University of Southern California student who studies communications, and she describes herself as a content creator. Her account is practical and specific rather than abstract. It offers a picture of what daily life can look like for a young adult who has finished cancer treatment but still needs ongoing medical follow-up.
Declared Cancer-Free in July 2024
Isabella said she was declared cancer-free in July 2024, after the treatment that followed her diagnosis. In the interview she described where she is now in simple terms. "I'm doing good. I'm back at school," she told E! News.
For a young adult who has been through a brain tumor diagnosis, going back to campus is a visible sign that ordinary life has resumed. A school year brings its own pressures, from lectures and exams to a busy social calendar. Isabella has had to fit her medical care around those demands, and her description makes clear that the two now run side by side.
Why Medulloblastoma Survivors Stay Under Watch
Medulloblastoma begins in the cerebellum, the part of the brain at the back and base of the skull that helps control balance and coordination. It is a malignant, meaning cancerous, tumor, and it is most often found in children, although it can also occur in young adults. Treatment for the condition usually combines surgery with radiation and chemotherapy, which is a drug-based treatment that attacks cancer cells throughout the body.
Being declared cancer-free after treatment does not usually mean that medical care stops. Survivors are typically followed for years. Doctors need to watch for any sign that the tumor has returned, and they also need to monitor for effects of treatment that can appear or change over time. That long period of observation is the main reason regular scans and checkups remain part of life for many people who have finished therapy. Isabella's routine shows that this watch continues well after the most intense phase of treatment has ended.
MRIs Every Three Months
The most concrete part of Isabella's routine is her scan schedule. "I get MRIs about every three months, and that gives me peace of mind," she said. An MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body, including the brain. Unlike X-rays and CT scans, it does not use ionizing radiation, which is one reason it is often chosen for repeated imaging of the brain.
She also described the visits as a form of follow-up. "I actually just had a doctor's appointment yesterday, but it's all just follow-up and checkups just to make sure," she explained. A regular scan schedule gives doctors a set of images to compare over time, and it gives the patient a predictable point between visits. For Isabella, the scans appear to serve as that fixed point, which is why she connects them directly to her sense of security.
Treating Headaches and Dizziness as Medical Questions
Isabella said she has changed the way she responds to physical signals. "Now, when I get a headache, when I feel a little nauseous, a little dizzy, I go straight to my computer," the content creator said. She described the next step in plain terms. "I text my nurse practitioner. I'm like, 'Hi, I just want to be precautious. Can I get a doctor appointment?'"
A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice nurse who can assess symptoms, order tests and arrange further care. Headaches, nausea and dizziness are common, and most people with them do not have a serious problem. Many people still wait a few days before calling a doctor. For a cancer survivor, however, a doctor may want to hear about new symptoms quickly so they can decide whether a check is needed. This could mean the difference between a routine look and a delayed one. Isabella's habit of acting early is a useful model for anyone who has been treated for a serious illness and wants to avoid second-guessing a new symptom.
Missing the Start of Class for a Doctor's Visit
Isabella's routine sometimes collides with college life. She recalled a recent morning in detail. "A few weeks ago, I just had a headache. I was tired. Felt a little dizzier than usual," she said. Her response was to contact her professor. "I emailed my professor. I was like, 'Hi, I know it's literally two hours before class, but I'm going to the doctor.'"
The episode shows how a health plan can reshape a student's week. Missing or rearranging class for a medical visit is an everyday problem for many students, but it can be harder for someone whose appointments are tied to a serious diagnosis. Isabella's decision to tell her professor in advance, and to put the doctor first when she had symptoms, shows how she has set her priorities.
Sleep, Water and Activity in Her Routine
Isabella also named the everyday habits she relies on. "For my health, I prioritize being active, working out. I also just prioritize sleep, eating right, drinking a lot of water," she said. These are habits that most people already know about. What stands out in her account is that she places them alongside medical follow-up rather than treating them as a separate wellness topic.
She also pointed to her partnership with Aflac, the insurance company, as part of how she approaches her health. Her interview did not go into detail about what that partnership involves, so it is best read as one part of her wider public health message, not as a medical step in its own right. Her broader point is that consistency matters. Regular sleep, regular exercise and steady hydration support the medical plan that scans and checkups provide.
Family Time as Part of Recovery
Isabella's routine is also about the people in her life. She named her mom, her dad and her twin sister, Sophia Strahan, as the people she now spends more time with. She described the change as personal rather than clinical. "Prioritizing those people, you find close in your life, along with your health, is the perfect combination for me now," she said.
She was clear that family has always mattered to her. "Of course, I prioritized my family before, but now it's a whole different level of, 'Oh my gosh, I love you guys, and I'm so appreciative,'" she said. Her words suggest that a serious illness can change how a person values time with loved ones. For many survivors, rebuilding relationships and everyday routines is part of recovery alongside medical care. Cancer treatment can disrupt school, work, friendships and family life for months or longer, and rebuilding those parts of life can help a person feel more in control of the future.
What Her Routine Suggests for Life After Cancer
Isabella's account points to a life built around routine. Scans every three months, quick responses to new symptoms and regular checkups look likely to remain part of her schedule for some time. The key test for her is whether that pattern holds as school, work and independent life take up more of her week. Keeping appointments and classes in balance will require the same planning she already describes.
For readers who know someone who has been through a similar diagnosis, her story offers a practical lesson. Being declared cancer-free is the start of a long period of observation, not the end of medical care. The people who manage well after treatment often combine careful follow-up, prompt attention to symptoms, healthy habits and close relationships. Isabella's own words capture that combination, and they show what it can look like in the life of a young woman who is back in the classroom, keeping her appointments and spending more time with the people she loves.
Questions and answers
What cancer did Isabella Strahan have?
Isabella Strahan was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor. She told E! News she was declared cancer-free in July 2024.
How often does Isabella Strahan get MRIs?
She said she gets MRIs about every three months. She described the scans and checkups as a source of peace of mind.
What does Isabella Strahan do when she has symptoms?
She said that when she gets a headache, nausea or dizziness, she contacts her nurse practitioner and asks for a doctor's appointment. She said she prefers to act quickly.
Who are Isabella Strahan's parents?
Her parents are Michael Strahan and Jean Muggli. She also has a twin sister, Sophia Strahan.
Topics: Isabella Strahan, Michael Strahan, Medulloblastoma, Cancer survivors, Aflac, University of Southern California, Brain tumor follow-up care
Sources: E! News