Moving On After Losing a Parent to Cancer
- Comedian and actor Kevin Hart, 42, is celebrating his daughter's first birthday. And we know there's one person he wishes was still here to see it: his mother.
- Hart's mother, Nancy, died from ovarian cancer in 2007. It's been nearly 15 years since her death, but he still aims to make her proud; remembering the ways your loved one enriched your life can be a powerful way to move forward.
- September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month; this cancer has often been called the "cancer that whispers" since women often don't experience symptoms until the disease has reached its late stages.
"Daddy's little girl is 1yr old today!!!! Where does the time go???? My little nugget is getting so big so fast 😂😂😂 #Harts #RatPack," Hart posted to Instagram on Wednesday in honor of Kaori Mai Hart's first birthday.
Read MoreView this post on Instagram
Hart's mother, Nancy, died from ovarian cancer in 2007. It's been nearly 15 years since her death, but he still aims to make her proud. Just last year, Hart posted a picture of his newest billboard in Times Square to Instagram, writing, "Hope I'm making you proud momma. I miss you & I wish you were here to physically see some of the stuff that I have been blessed enough to see & experience. I love you."
View this post on Instagram
Hart's mother supported his comedic dreams, and he's made it a point to go after them in full force since her death. Even though we wish no one had to lose a loved one to cancer, it's important to remember there are still happy moments to be had post-cancer.
Moving On After Losing a Parent to Cancer
It's hard to lose anyone you're close to in life to cancer, especially a parent. What can be even harder is living your life again after losing that person. But remembering all the wonderful ways your loved one enriched your life while they were alive and moving on from there can be such a powerful way to move forward and honor them.
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Caleb Farley tells us about his mother's battle with breast cancer and how he opted out of his position as a cornerback for the Virginia Tech Hokies due to COVID-19 concerns. Having lost his mom to breast cancer in 2018, he knew he wanted to be extra careful during the pandemic. (Farley trained for the NFL Draft instead of playing for Virginia Tech, and his efforts paid off; in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans selected Farley as the number 22 overall pick.)
Farley announced the news of his opt-out in an Instagram video saying, in part, "I cannot afford to lose another parent or loved one … Though the competitor in me badly wants to play this season, I cannot ignore what's going on in my heart, and I must make the decision that brings me the most peace."
Farley's mother fought two battles with cancer. He watched as she went through multiple rounds of chemotherapy while still working and taking care of their family. Even though his "superhero" mother won't ever get to see him play in the NFL just as Hart's mother will never see his billboard in Times Square Farley will take many lessons he learned from her and apply them to whatever challenges he faces in life.
Understanding Ovarian Cancer
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, which is fitting in this case as Hart’s daughter was born on Sept. 29 it’s as if she was born to honor his mother. This cancer has often been called the "cancer that whispers" since women often don't experience symptoms until the disease has reached its late stages.
The term ovarian cancer refers to a number of different tumors that grow in the ovary. The ovaries produce the sex hormone, estrogen, as well as eggs. Every woman has two ovaries, one on either side of her uterus. The fallopian tube picks up the egg from the ovary and carries it to the uterus for fertilization.
Genetic Testing Can Offer Valuable Information About Ovarian Cancer Risk
Many ovarian cancers actually begin in the fallopian tubes. A few cancerous cells first grow on the fallopian tubes and then, as the fallopian tubes brush over the ovary, these cells stick to the ovaries and eventually grow to form a tumor.
Dr. Monica Vetter, a gynecological oncologist at Baptist Health Medical Group in Lexington, Ky., tells SurvivorNet that most ovarian cancer cases are caught in stage 3 or stage 4, as it's a difficult cancer for which to screen. And about 70% to 80% of those women are going to have their cancer come back within the first five years.
However, despite these daunting statistics, genetic testing for ovarian cancer can lead to life-saving actions and screening tests for early detection. And when it comes to ovarian cancer, which is curable in more than 90% of cases when diagnosed early enough, genetic testing can be a valuable option.
Contributing: Abigail Seaberg
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
