For KSNV anchor, Michelle Velez, an abnormal pregnancy led doctors to a cancer diagnosis.
“Last week, I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that was caused by an abnormal pregnancy. It’s extremely complicated so I’ll try to make it as easy to understand as possible. Before I do – I want you to know that my kind of cancer is treatable. We have every reason to believe I will recover free and clear,” she said in a Facebook post that explained her absence from the anchor desk.
Velez explained that she had a molar pregnancy. That happens when an non-viable egg implants itself in the uterus.
“Since the placenta is still there, the body mimics a pregnancy and spikes the pregnancy hormone (HCG) to astronomical levels. Essentially it was as if I was pregnant with 5 babies at once. It made me extremely sick and caused excessive bleeding. Normally this can be treated with a surgical procedure to clear the tissue and then we just monitor the HCG levels until they reach zero. However.. In some very rare cases that tissue can turn into cancer.. and spread to other organs in the body. That is what happened to me. No good reason, just unfortunate dumb luck,” she said.
Velez said while doctors caught it early, they’ll need to treat her with chemotherapy to kill the cancer.
You can read more Velez’s journey on her Instagram page.