Nick Cannon Shares How He Learned About Late Son’s Cancer Diagnosis + Explains Why He & Alyssa Scott Decided Against Chemotherapy: It Was All About Quality Of Life

Nick Cannon, Alyssa Scott

Nick Cannon Shares How He Learned About Late Son’s Cancer Diagnosis + Explains Why He & Alyssa Scott Decided Against Chemotherapy: It Was All About Quality Of Life

Multitalented entertainer Nick Cannon is opening up about the death of his infant son.

During a recent interview, the 42-year-old media personality revealed the details of finding out about his late son Zen’s cancer diagnosis. Additionally, Nick Cannon explained why he and his child’s mother Alyssa Scott opted not to treat their son with chemotherapy.

According to Cannon, baby Zen was happy and healthy for the first two months of his life. The new parents noticed inconsistencies in the child’s breathing, however, prompting them to have the situation checked out. Cannon stated:

“He was healthy, active, always smiling…Being a father of multiple kids, it’s always the biggest guilt on me is that I don’t get to spend enough time with all my children, one ’cause I’m constantly working and two because I’m just spread thin.”

In addition to breathing concerns, “The Masked Singer” host said he and Scott did consider Zen’s head size. Joking, he stated:

“We [also] noticed his head was a little larger, [but] all my kids have big heads. I was a big-headed baby.”

Cannon went on to explain that while he considered baby Zen might just be suffering from asthma, things turned serious after a hospital visit. He continued:

“They did a lot of tests. They didn’t let him leave the hospital…You could imagine you think you’re taking your son in to get a checkup for — at the worst, I was thinking asthma, you know? And to know that he gets diagnosed with brain cancer, that was a shock.”

Subsequent to the cancer diagnosis, Cannon said he asked doctors to be extremely candid with him. Reportedly, medical professionals explained that Zen was suffering from “high-grade glioma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer”. Cannon shared he and Scott immediately took action. The parents reportedly authorized a procedure that used a shunt to drain fluid from Zen’s head, in an effort to stop the rapid growth. Speaking on that decision, Cannon stated:

“When we first went to the hospital, just to decrease his head from rapidly continuing to grow, there were a couple of procedures we were all for…That [shunt], to me, made logical sense. There was less pain on him and the procedure was quick. It was all about quality of life,”

However, the “Wild N’ Out” creator noted that Zen was given the chance of only living until about 3 or 4. Upon learning about this, Cannon stated:

“When I heard that, I thought quality of life. I wanted him to have the best existence he could have.”

When it came to the decision not to have Zen undergo chemo, Cannon expressed that he and Scott couldn’t imagine putting the child through the grueling process. Doctors informed the parents that chemo wouldn’t prolong the baby’s life or suppress his suffering. Cannon stated on the decision:

“Seeing your son hooked up to all of those machines — and he had to go for a shunt two or three times, and that was heartbreaking every time — even in that short amount of time, I couldn’t imagine him having to go through chemo.”

“I knew how as a full grown man, that process … My hair was falling out…I wouldn’t even call it pain; it just sucked everything out of you. I couldn’t imagine that on a newborn and what that would do.”

“I definitely couldn’t have did it without her. The fact that she was the one, from every aspect she handled it…Luckily we did everything from the sunrise, going to the beach, the sunset, said some beautiful prayers as a family, and really came together as a family in a very beautiful way. I’m grateful for that, but it was definitely tough.”

Zen Cannon

“The next time I post, he or she will be here! Thank you to everyone who is following along with love and compassion for my journey. Im a private person on a very public platform. I know with time I will be ready to let the people who truly care into my world a little more than I have. love”