‘Blessed and Fortunate’: Comedian Kevin Hart Turns 42 Today and Continues to Celebrate Life after His Mother's Passing from Ovarian Cancer

“Caught this crazy view and thought about how blessed and fortunate I am to still be here and to be seeing another year of life,” Hart wrote. “Turning the big 42 tomorrow and I couldn't be happier. Life is a roller coaster….this sh*t will take you up & down but in the end we will all have a story to tell. Live ya life for you….Live Love & Laugh!!!! I love y'all #ComedicRockStarSh*t”

Hart's mother supported his comedic dreams, and he's made it a point to go after them in full force since her death. Although we wish no one had to lose a loved one to cancer, there is something to be said about the widened perspective a person can have after their lives have been touched by cancer.

Understanding Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is when the ovaries which produce the sex hormone, estrogen, as well as eggs become cancerous. Women have two ovaries, one on either side of the uterus.

The fallopian tube, which brings the egg from the ovary to the uterus for fertilization, is actually where many ovarian cancers begin. First, a few cancerous cells develop on the fallopian tubes, then these cells stick to the ovaries as the fallopian tubes brush over the ovary. From there, the cancerous cells grow to form a tumor.

Dr. Beth Karlan, a gynecologic oncologist at UCLA Medical Center, says the term ovarian cancer refers to a number of different tumors that reside in the ovary. She also says that ovarian cancer can be difficult to recognize as its symptoms may be subtle.

RELATED: Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Can Be Hard to Spot

"Ovarian cancer does not have any specific symptoms," Karlan said in an earlier interview with SurvivorNet. "It's often referred to as the cancer that whispers, in that it has symptoms that are really very vague…and nothing that may bring your attention directly to the ovaries."

Ovarian Cancer: The Cancer That Whispers

Dr. Karlan advises women to keep an eye out for a variety of possible symptoms.

"The symptoms include things like feeling full earlier than you usually would when your appetite is strong," she said. "Feeling bloated," is another symptom, she added. "Some changes in your bowel habits. Some pain in the pelvis. These are symptoms women may have every month. These are not very specific. But what we've found from multiple studies, it's this constellation of symptoms."

Losing a Loved One to Cancer

Living life after the loss of a loved one to cancer is never going to be an easy journey, as Kevin Hart can surely attest to. But remembering all the wonderful ways your loved one enriched your life and moving on from there can be such a powerful way to move forward.

In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Caleb Farley talked 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 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."

2021 NFL Draft Prospect Caleb Farley Tells SurvivorNet His "Mom Was Like a Superhero" Before She Lost Her Battle with Breast Cancer; Here's What Got Him Through

Farley trained for the NFL draft instead of playing for Virginia Tech, and his efforts paid off. He was selected by the Tennessee Titans as the number 22 overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.

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 her family. Although his "superhero" mother will not get to see him play in the NFL, Farley will take many lessons he learned from her and apply them to whatever challenges he faces in life moving forward.

"My mother raised me to be very religious, very God-conscious. That's been everything to me, and my life. That's like the building blocks of my, of my life," Farley told SurvivorNet. "Anything that's happened to me, any adversity, any good times, any bad times, I've always kind of stood on that rock of faith. I can't thank her enough for how she raised me and because it was her who gave me all of that, um, spiritually, she, she just filled my heart with love and joy. I've had a happy life because of her."

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