Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, which makes it the most deadly type of cancer when it comes to the female reproductive system.
The American Cancer Society estimates that, in 2021, about 21,410 women will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer, and another 13,770 will eventually die from it.
And, although ovarian cancer is something that most often affects older women, there are cases in which women under the age of 63 receive such a dreadful diagnosis.
Of course, there are treatments and chemotherapy, but it is thought that once ovarian cancer is back, then the news is really bad.
Unfortunately, this bad news was what a mom from Montreal, Canada had to break to her six-year-old son last week.
Nadia Chaudhri was born in Pakistan and moved to the US at the age of 17 to attend college.
Chaudhri became a neuroscientist who had been doing research on drug addiction over the last few years. However, she had to close her lab in September, when she received the news about her cancer returning.
Grateful for this glorious day pic.twitter.com/LovTzsqpD5
— Dr. Nadia Chaudhri (@DrNadiaChaudhri) May 15, 2021
The 43-year-old scientist and professor has been battling stage 3 ovarian cancer since last year. A few days ago, she was again hospitalized and doctors let her know that cancer had returned.
“Once ovarian cancer returns, it’s considered a terminal diagnosis,” Chaudhri told “Good Morning America.” “There is no treatment. You’re just buying time.”
Once Chaudhri realized she was dying, she had a serious conversation with her husband about whether it was a good idea to let their son know or not. They concluded it was best for him to know.
I had a beautiful day. Read so many of your tweets & kind messages. Then my sun & moon came to visit. I surprised my moon with these gorgeous jackets by Hogan’s Alley Clothing, a black-owned apparel brand in Vancouver. https://t.co/UtZOFYXpcN pic.twitter.com/qbbtGB2rpb
— Dr. Nadia Chaudhri (@DrNadiaChaudhri) May 12, 2021
“My husband and I made the decision that we needed to tell our son what is going on because all the treatments are failing me,” she said.
The boy, whose name the mother wishes to remain undisclosed, already knew his mom had been battling cancer all this time. Of course, he had no idea how bad it was, though.
So, Chaudhri went to bed on Monday, knowing the next day was the day when she would tell her son she would no longer be around. But, Tuesday morning found her weaker than ever before.
Today Is the day I tell my son that I’m dying from cancer. It’s reached a point where he has to hear it from me. Let all my tears flow now so that I can be brave this afternoon. Let me howl with grief now so that I can comfort him. pic.twitter.com/PDgy8qbTIL
— Dr. Nadia Chaudhri (@DrNadiaChaudhri) May 11, 2021
That’s why she felt the need to make a tweet about it, in hopes that by sharing it and receiving some love from close friends, she would feel stronger.
“Let all my tears flow now so that I can be brave this afternoon. Let me howl with grief now so that I can comfort him,” she wrote in her post.
Chaudhri didn’t check her Twitter until many hours later, and she was really overwhelmed by the love and support the online community had sent her way.
I’m overwhelmed by the response to this tweet, which I wrote while howling in bed. Since you’re here, I am raising funds to support underrepresented scholars in my field. If you’d like to help me make my fundraising goal that would make my❤️swell.https://t.co/Ie0Nu27rMV
— Dr. Nadia Chaudhri (@DrNadiaChaudhri) May 11, 2021
“A lot of people have written to me unsolicited and told me how important it was that their parents had that conversation and they assured me how they turned out fine, or they told me about situations where they didn’t have the conversation and how dreadful that was,” she explained.
Our hearts broke. We cried a lot. And then the healing began. My son is brave. He is bright. He will be okay. And I will watch him grow from wherever I am. Today was the hardest day of my life. Thank you for all for your love. pic.twitter.com/sCZFW9d8T5
— Dr. Nadia Chaudhri (@DrNadiaChaudhri) May 11, 2021
Her son, however, said he didn’t want to know. He said he’d be better off not knowing what was to come, but his mother explained he deserved to know as a family member. This was also a chance for him to ask any questions he had regarding the situation.
“It just worked out well even though it was the hardest conversation I’ve ever had,” she said.
I have been sprung from the hospital. In my happy place, the backyard, enjoying the weak rays of sunshine with my little love. pic.twitter.com/ZinQcott8i
— Dr. Nadia Chaudhri (@DrNadiaChaudhri) May 13, 2021
Chaudhri is now home from the hospital and enjoying every single moment with her tiny human and family.
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