Meningiomas are the most common type of brain tumor, accounting for about 30% of all diagnosed brain tumors in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. While most are benign (noncancerous), they can still cause significant health problems.
Sadly, no one is immune to the development of meningiomas. Many celebrities have been diagnosed with meningiomas, including Sheryl Crow, Maria Menounos, Mary Tyler Moore, Kate Walsh, and Elizabeth Taylor.
Did you know? Depo-Provera® birth control can increase the risk of meningiomas by more than 400% in women who use the shots for more than 1 year, according to the BMJ.
Learn more about 6 celebrities and famous people with meningiomas, as well as your options if you used the Depo shot and were later diagnosed with a brain tumor.
1. Sheryl Crow, Musician
In 2012, Sheryl Crow revealed that she had been diagnosed with a meningioma, which is a typically benign brain tumor that develops in the meninges, the protective layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
She discovered the tumor after experiencing side effects like troubling memory lapses, including forgetting the lyrics to her own songs while performing on stage.
"I worried about my memory so much that I went and got an MRI. And I found out I have a brain tumor," Crow said, explaining her first symptoms.
The diagnosis was especially alarming given her prior history of health challenges — just a few years earlier, she had successfully battled breast cancer.
For Crow, the diagnosis was a wake-up call to slow down and prioritize her health. She credited her healthy lifestyle of exercise, a balanced diet, and mindfulness for helping her manage both the stress and the physical demands of ongoing medical monitoring.
At the time, she chose not to undergo surgery, preferring to live with the tumor under medical supervision unless it began to grow or cause new symptoms.
2. Maria Menounos, Journalist & TV Host
In 2016, Maria Menounos was taking care of her mother, who was diagnosed with a type of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme. As she hosted her radio show, she suddenly began experiencing intense ear pain, which she initially dismissed.
However, Menounos started noticing other maladies: headaches every day, dizziness whenever she stood up, slurred speech, all things she had seen in her mother before.
"I know you're going to think I'm crazy, but I feel like I have a brain tumor like my mom," Menounos remembers saying to her doctor.
Ultimately, Menounos was diagnosed with a golf-ball-sized meningioma that was pressing on her facial nerves and underwent a 7-hour surgery. But learning to slow down, stop, and prioritize her well-being was a new experience for Menounos — just like it is for many women with meningiomas.
"And it was only when I stopped working that I realized how much pain I was in. I had shushed my body for so long. That was my big lesson in all this: You really have to put your health first," she explained. "As women, we're caregivers and we want to be everything to everyone, but then we're nothing to ourselves."
3. Kate Walsh, Actress
In 2015, Grey's Anatomy actress Kate Walsh was diagnosed with a meningioma. The tumor, located in her left frontal lobe, was approximately the size of a lemon. Initially, Walsh attributed her symptoms of fatigue and cognitive difficulties to stress and overwork.
"It was like, 'Hey, I'm really tired.' And then it's like, 'Oh, the right side of my body is dipping,'" Walsh said, recounting her early symptoms.
An MRI confirmed the presence of the tumor, leading to surgery. Walsh said she noticed a difference immediately after her surgery. "The fog has lifted," she said.
“I was so relieved to know that it was something that could be fixed,” Walsh recalled. Her advice to others? “Trust your instincts. Trust your body.”
Walsh took approximately 9 months off to recover, during which she experienced significant physical and cognitive challenges. This period of recovery prompted a profound shift in her perspective on life and health.
"I know how important it is to advocate for one's own health because people were like, 'You're just depressed,’” she recalled. "I'm like, 'No, something's off.'"
4. Paul Kraus, Former Longest Mesothelioma Survivor
In 1997, Paul Kraus was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Given only months to live, he defied expectations, surviving for 27 years.
In addition to his battle with mesothelioma, Paul also battled metastatic prostate cancer and a meningioma, a benign brain tumor. Despite these challenges, he continued to live a full life. His approach to health was holistic, emphasizing the power of positivity, meditation, and lifestyle changes.
Paul's story serves as an inspiration to many, demonstrating that even in the face of serious health issues, hope and determination can lead to remarkable outcomes.
As a national personal injury and mesothelioma law firm, Sokolove Law is dedicated to fighting on behalf of asbestos exposure victims nationwide and helping families pursue the compensation they deserve.
5. Mary Tyler Moore, Actress
While Mary Tyler Moore didn't reveal when she was diagnosed with a meningioma, she announced she would undergo surgery for the tumor in 2011. Despite being aware of the tumor beforehand, Moore decided to proceed when doctors felt the risk-to-reward ratio favored removal.
"At the recommendation of her neurologist, who has been monitoring this for years, and a neurosurgeon, Mary decided to proceed with this fairly routine procedure," explained her spokeswoman at the time.
The procedure lasted about 4 hours, and her doctors were able to remove the tumor entirely, with no additional treatment needed after the surgery.
Moore’s experience highlights a few common threads in meningioma cases: Many may be slow-growing and only require surgery when they reach a size or position that threatens function.
6. Elizabeth Taylor, Actress
In 1997, Elizabeth Taylor underwent surgery to remove a benign meningioma brain tumor. Approximately the size of a golf ball, the tumor was located in the lining of her left parietal lobe.
It had been discovered during an MRI following a series of severe migraines that Taylor had been experiencing — but had attributed to stress. She underwent a 3-hour surgery, which removed the tumor.
After surgery, Taylor was reported to be resting comfortably in the intensive care unit. She was expected to remain hospitalized for about a week.
However, she experienced some temporary side effects, including a slight stroke and disorientation, which were attributed to the effects of the surgery and medication.
Get Help for Depo-Provera Meningiomas
If you or your loved one used Depo shot birth control and received a meningioma diagnosis, you may be eligible to take legal action against Pfizer, the drug's manufacturer. A Depo-Provera settlement can help cover medical care, lost wages, and more.
Pfizer may have known about these risks, even warning about meningioma side effects in Canada, but the company failed to warn American women.
Our Depo shot lawyers have more than 45 years of experience holding powerful pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer accountable, and we're prepared to fight for your family too.
Get a free case review now. We can help you understand your legal options and file your claim before any legal deadlines.
