Parents face devastating dual cancer diagnoses just months apart

27 July 2023 , 18:12

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Zak and Cori Salazar, a couple from Mission Viejo, California, received devastating cancer diagnoses just months apart from each other (Image: Gofundme)

When starting a life together, Zak and Cori Salazar never imagined they'd also be sharing a cancer journey. Living in California and taking care of their three children, fate dealt them a tough hand when they both received cancer diagnoses within a few months of each other this year.

Cori, aged 38, received the distressing news first. In March, she and her husband noticed a sizable growth on her neck, leading to a diagnosis of an aggressive form of thyroid cancer. She underwent two surgeries to remove the mass and some of her lymph nodes.

Just months later, Zak went to the ophthalmologist in June for a new prescription, only to be asked a seemingly innocuous question that lead to some devastating news, The Post reported.

"[The ophthalmologist asked] do you experience headaches?" Zak, 38, recalled, admitting that he does suffer from "horrible" headaches. The ophthalmologist reportedly told him that his optic nerves were swollen in both eyes, recommending he see a retina specialist immediately.

Cori, 38, was diagnosed with an aggressive type of thyroid cancer, while Zak, also 38, was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (Gofundme)

Zak said the retina specialist confirmed what the ophthalmologist predicted and sent him for an MRI scan. He said: "I didn’t really know what that meant, but he assured me that it wasn’t good news."

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him

Zak learned he had "a large mass" in the right frontal lobe of his brain. He underwent surgery to remove the 8-centimeter tumor days later, on July 3. The dad of three was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, a "fast-growing type" of tumor known as a grade 4 astrocytoma, per the National Cancer Institute.

Prior to his surgery, Zak managed to take a brief respite from the hospital to share cherished moments with his young daughters - Juniper, 4, Delaney, 3, and Luna, 18 months - along with other close family members and friends.

The medical prognosis for Zak's tumor is that it is treatable, though regrettably not curable, with doctors estimating a life expectancy of 12 to 18 months.

Zak, a father of three young daughters, expressed his determination to beat and survive the tumor (Gofundme)

Zak, renowned as the host of "The Ranger Zak Show" on YouTube, remains resolute in his determination to conquer and survive this tumor.

As for Cori, she continues to undergo blood testing "every three to six weeks" as a precautionary measure to ensure that her cancer remains in remission. If it does, she would have to undergo radioactive iodine therapy, which would take her away from her children for at least three days.

She told People magazine: "It’s really hard because I can’t be at home. There’s no way that I can be away from the girls."

Zak is set to undergo a six-week chemotherapy regimen starting in early August, hoping to make the most of the time he has with his loved ones (Gofundme)

The couple said they are thankful for the overwhelming support, with over $247,000 raised via GoFundMe for the family as of Thursday. Zak said: "Honestly, I have an entirely new outlook on life. It is a blessing, in a way. I feel like my eyes are open for the very first time, and I’m fully awake and aware of what life is all about."

Zak is set to begin a six-week chemotherapy regimen in early August — in the meantime, he’s determined to spend as much time with his loved ones as possible. He added: "From here on out, every additional second that I get to spend with my family — with my wife, my girls, and the people I love — is a total and absolute gift. I don’t intend on wasting a single second."

Lucy Williamson