Maria Kang made her name by promoting fitness, healthy eating and wellness for mothers. Despite that background, she told Fox News Digital that a Stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis changed what she believed about health.
Kang, now 46, is a California mother of three who built her career around helping other moms prioritize wellness. She said she had believed healthy eating and regular exercise would help protect her.
In 2013, Kang became an internet sensation after a photo showed her sculpted physique alongside her three young sons. The image included the caption "What’s your excuse?" and helped lead to her being called the "No Excuse Mom."
The viral attention also inspired hundreds of wellness communities around the world. More than a decade later, Kang learned in November 2023 that she had Stage 4 colon cancer.
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"It was definitely a complete shock because I was the healthiest person I knew," she shared with Fox News Digital. "I wanted to blame the food, but I didn't eat bad food. I filtered my water. There was no excuse why I had this cancer."
Looking back, Kang said persistent digestive problems had been part of her life since adolescence. She described chronic constipation and bloating that became worse with stress.
"It didn't matter how many fiber pills or laxatives, it just took a long time to go," she said. "So, that's been an ongoing journey throughout my life."
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Over time, Kang said she persuaded herself that those digestive issues were simply something she had to accept. "One thing that I realized is that we normalize problems, and we think it's OK, but it’s not OK," she said.
A tumor was detected through a biopsy after a colonoscopy. Kang said she initially pursued holistic approaches for 12 weeks, but the tumor did not shrink and may have grown slightly.
In 2024, she began FOLFOX, a combination of chemotherapy drugs used to treat some gastrointestinal cancers. After one treatment, Kang went to the emergency room when her colostomy stoma retracted.
A scan reportedly showed that the tumor had shrunk substantially. Kang then asked to stop chemotherapy and move forward with surgery.
She later underwent extensive surgery to remove the tumor and about a foot of her colon. Multiple reproductive organs and her appendix were also removed.
Kang temporarily required a colostomy and later an ileostomy. Today, she says her MRIs have shown "no suspicious mass detected."
She also receives regular blood screenings and scans every six months. Kang has not been formally declared NED, meaning no evidence of disease.
"Much of what remains appears related to postoperative healing and inflammation," she shared. "Because of my history, my doctors continue surveillance, but I have not been formally declared NED (no evidence of disease)."
According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 158,850 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2026. Around 55,230 people will die from the disease this year.
Although colorectal cancer incidence has declined overall, the decline has been largely among older adults. The article linked that trend in part to increased screening and changes in certain risk factors.
At the same time, rates are rising in younger age groups. Among adults younger than 50, colorectal cancer incidence increased by 2.9% per year from 2013 to 2022.
The American Cancer Society and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend that people at average risk begin regular colorectal cancer screening at age 45. People with certain risk factors may need to start earlier.
Kang told Fox News Digital that the diagnosis forced her to reconsider outward signs of wellness. "It was a really big, humbling look in the mirror when you say to yourself, 'I look healthy, but I'm not healthy,’" she said.
She also said her fitness and nutrition routines are now very different from before cancer. "I used to train five or six days a week, but now I only move when I want to," she said.
Kang said she no longer does anything that feels forced. "If there's anything that I feel forced to do, I don't do it," she said. "If I feel awful, my body's going to express awful."
Her approach to food has changed as well. "In the past, there were bad foods and good foods and cheat days … what I understand now is balance," Kang said.
She said she naturally leans toward fruits and vegetables, describing them as "things that have water and life and light in them." However, she said she remains open to eating other foods, including pizza.
Overall, Kang wants people to understand that healthy habits do not remove the possibility of cancer. "It could happen to anybody. That was the most humbling realization," she said.
The American Cancer Society recommends seeing a healthcare provider about persistent changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss or other concerning gastrointestinal symptoms. Such symptoms can have many causes other than cancer, but they should be evaluated regardless of a person’s age.
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