Maria Luisa Grohs received a cancer diagnosis last November. Now FC Bayern’s goalkeeper has overcome the disease. In “Blickpunkt Sport” she speaks exclusively about her diagnosis and the way back to football.
Actually, Maria Luisa – called Mala – should have made her debut in the national team last November, but then the shock. She gets the diagnosis of cancer. Grohs has now overcome the disease. Only a scar on the neck indicates her fight. In “Blickpunkt Sport” on BR television, the goalkeeper of FC Bayern first spoke about how she fought back. “It was a roller coaster ride, and everything was different than I imagined at the first moment of diagnosis,” Grohs described her way of suffering in an exclusive discussion.
Grohs had tumor in the almond
“At first we didn’t know what it was because it was so rare,” said Grohs. A little later the diagnosis followed. The 23-year-old had a malignant tumor in the almond, and the lymph nodes were also affected. “At first I had the picture in my head, ‘I have a cancer diagnosis, I might have to be in therapy’.” The tumor had to be removed surgically. The operation went positively. Shortly afterwards there was the first positive news.
“The moment the doctor told me that she does not recommend any further therapy and that we have a positive result with which you can go into the screening, regular tumor control, has fallen off a lot,” recalls Grohs. She couldn’t believe it herself, she reports on BR television: “I prepared myself that very uncomfortable, bad things are waiting for me and at that moment it was said: ‘You don’t need that, you’re done’ thought: ‘This is not enough to defeat this disease’. “
Grohs remains positive, also thanks to theirs Teammates
Grohs was very lucky. A tumor disease can also be fatal. The 23-year-old says that she did not deal too much with death. “I did not consciously have the moment I thought that life can take my life.” The doctors would have given her a lot of trust.
She received additional support from the club and especially from her teammates. This meant her “great a lot”, says Grohs. “You visited me, but I was also a lot on campus and you found the right words when I needed them, or one or the other hug.” It is “good to know that you have a team that strengthens your back”. The club also set all levers in motion.
In the video: Mala Grohs and her way back after the cancer diagnosis
Hainer about Grohs’ fate: “Get goosebumps now”
“The news was very shocking and I still get goose bumps when I hear the stories,” said FC Bavaria President Herbert Hainer in “Blickpunkt Sport”. That the association supported Grohs and also extended its contract with the publication of the diagnosis – for Hainer, of course. “This makes FC Bayern Munich to help people when they are in difficulties, regardless of whether they are at no fault of their own,” he said.
“If such a young person is affected by such a disease that belongs to our family, we try everything to help.” At the same time, the President of Munich also praised Grohs’ handling of the disease. With this she “inspired a lot of people”.
Grohs comeback in the second team
She had to pause for six weeks in the course of the disease. In the meantime, Grohs has already returned between the posts, played their second competitive game on Sunday at 2-0 over SC Freiburg II in the second team of Munich women in the 2nd women’s Bundesliga.
“It was a challenging time to prepare for a comeback because it is simply different from a physical injury,” Grohs describes her way back. Physically she was quickly fit again, mentally, “took a few days longer because the mental capacity was missing and was needed and used somewhere else”. Now she continues to collect game practice and wants to play a competitive game for the first team again this season. Then the “roller coaster ride” would be over for the time being.
In the video: The entire “Blickpunkt-Sport” conversation with Herbert Hainer and Mala Grohs
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Source: Sports Sport 16.02.2025 – 9:45 p.m.
