Fit Mom Maria Kang Recounts Stage 4 Colon Cancer Diagnosis: Health Isn't Just Appearance

Fit Mom Maria Kang Reveals How Stage 4 Colon Cancer Reshaped Her View of Health

Maria Kang, known as a healthy living icon, said her stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis taught her that health is not just about outward appearance. Kang stated that she got cancer despite thinking she did everything right, and that this can happen to anyone.

Scraper SystemJuly 25, 2026, 10:35 PM

Fit Mom Maria Kang Reveals How Stage 4 Colon Cancer Reshaped Her View of Health

A well-known figure in the healthy living and fitness world, Maria Kang became famous as 'Fit Mom' in 2013 after posting a photo with her three young sons captioned, 'What's your excuse?' However, her stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis in November 2023 upended all her thoughts about health and well-being.

Speaking to Fox News Digital, the 46-year-old California mother said, 'It was absolutely a huge shock, because I was the healthiest person I knew.' Kang, who thought she didn't eat unhealthy, filtered her water and took all the right steps, stated, 'There was no excuse for me to get this cancer.'

Long-standing Digestive Problems

Looking back, Kang realized she had experienced digestive problems such as chronic constipation and bloating since adolescence, which worsened especially during stressful times. 'No matter how many fiber pills or laxatives I took, it took forever to go to the bathroom,' Kang said, admitting that she normalized these issues over time.

From Holistic Treatment to Surgical Intervention

After a colonoscopy and biopsy detected a tumor, Kang first tried holistic methods for 12 weeks. When the tumor did not shrink, she started FOLFOX chemotherapy, which is used against gastrointestinal cancers, in 2024. When scans after the first treatment showed the tumor had shrunk significantly, Kang opted to stop chemotherapy and undergo surgery.

In the extensive surgery, about 30 centimeters of her large intestine, part of her reproductive organs and her appendix were removed along with the tumor. After using a colostomy bag for a while and then an ileostomy bag, Kang says that MRI scans now show 'no suspicious mass detected.' Kang, who undergoes blood tests and scans every six months, added that she has not been officially declared 'no evidence of disease' (NED).

Incidence Rises Among Young Adults

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 158,850 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the U.S. in 2026 and about 55,230 will die from the disease. Especially among adults under 50, the incidence of colorectal cancer increased by 2.9% per year between 2013 and 2022. Experts recommend that people at average risk begin screening at age 45.

Health Isn't Just About Appearances

Kang emphasized that cancer taught her anew what health really is: 'When I looked in the mirror, I looked healthy, but I wasn't. Even if our weight is normal, we cannot know what is going on inside us.'

While she used to work out five to six days a week, she now only moves when she wants to; she prefers walking, dancing and lifting weights because she enjoys it. Her approach to nutrition has also changed: 'Before, there were good and bad foods, cheat days... Now I've learned balance.' Her greatest realization is this: 'Healthy habits don't eliminate the possibility of cancer. This can happen to anyone; that was the most humbling lesson.'

Fit Mom Maria Kang Reveals How Stage 4 Colon Cancer Reshaped Her View of Health