The 41-year-old made the devastating announcement Tuesday on his talk show “The Nick Cannon Show” while breaking down in tears.
“Over the weekend I lost my youngest son to a condition called hydrocephalus that is pretty much a malignant, midline brain tumor — brain cancer,” Cannon says.
After noticing his son, Zen, had a cough, Cannon decided to get him checked out.
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“He had this real interesting breathing and by the time he was two months old I noticed … he had this nice sized head too — I called it a Cannon head,” Cannon adds. “We didn’t think anything about it. But I wanted to take him to the doctor for his sinus and breathing. We thought it would be routine.”
However, it wasn’t a routine check-up. The fluid building up on Zen’s brain was causing it to expand. After the malignant tumor was discovered by doctors, Zen underwent surgery to drain the fluid. By Thanksgiving, Zen’s condition had worsened.
“The process sped up. Ultimately, it was cancer in the brain. The tumor began to grow a lot faster,” Cannon said. “This weekend I made an effort to spend the most quality time with Zen. We woke up on Sunday … and went to the ocean with him,” Cannon adds.
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Cannon, who dedicated his show to his “beautiful son”, shared that he got to spend the past weekend with Zen in California and hold him for the last time.
“I was preparing my day as it normally went. I didn’t know what it was going to be. But even by the time I got in the car headed for the airport, I had to turn around,” to be with Zen, Cannon shares. “I turned around and not only did we get to see the sunrise, but we got to see the sunset too.”
Cannon also shares 10-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe Cannon with singer Mariah Carey; son Golden, 4, and daughter Powerful Queen Cannon, 11 months, with Brittany Bell; and 5-month-old twins Zion Mixolydian Cannon and Zillion Heir Cannon with Abby De La Rosa.
What is hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus is the buildup of fluid in the cavities (ventricles) deep within the brain. The excess fluid increases the size of the ventricles and puts pressure on the brain.
Cerebrospinal fluid normally flows through the ventricles and bathes the brain and spinal column. However, the pressure of too much cerebrospinal fluid associated with hydrocephalus can damage brain tissues and cause a range of brain function problems.
Although hydrocephalus can happen at any age, it occurs more frequently among infants and adults 60 and over. Undergoing surgical treatment for hydrocephalus can restore and maintain normal cerebrospinal fluid levels in the brain. Different therapies are often required to manage symptoms or problems resulting from hydrocephalus.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus may vary depending on the age of onset.
For infants, common signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus include:
- Changes in the head
- An unusually large head
- A rapid increase in the size of the head
- A bulging or tense soft spot (fontanel) on the top of the head
Physical signs and symptoms:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sleepiness or sluggishness (lethargy)
- Irritability
- Poor eating
- Seizures
- Eyes fixed downward (sunsetting of the eyes)
- Problems with muscle tone and strength
For toddlers and older children, signs and symptoms might include:
Physical signs and symptoms:
- Headache
- Blurred or double vision
- Abnormal eye movements
- Abnormal enlargement of a toddler’s head
- Sleepiness or sluggishness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Unstable balance
- Poor coordination
- Poor appetite
- Loss of bladder control or frequent urination
Behavioral and cognitive changes:
- Irritability
- Change in personality
- Decline in school performance
- Delays or problems with previously acquired skills, such as walking or talking
When to see a doctor
You should seek emergency medical care for your infant or toddler if they have any of these signs and symptoms:
- A high-pitched cry
- Problems with sucking or feeding
- Unexplained, recurrent vomiting
- Seizures
Because more than one condition can cause the common problems associated with hydrocephalus, it’s important to get a timely diagnosis and appropriate care.
The loss of a loved one can be difficult at any age, especially for parents who are not prepared for the death of a child at such a young age. If you are dealing with the sudden loss of a child, visit Cancer.net for tips on grieving the loss of a child.
