{"id":553806,"date":"2026-03-30T07:49:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T07:49:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/553806\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T07:49:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T07:49:13","slug":"heartbreak-as-husband-battles-terminal-brain-tumor-while-wife-has-second-cancer-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/553806\/","title":{"rendered":"Heartbreak as husband battles terminal brain tumor while wife has second cancer fight"},"content":{"rendered":"

A California husband and wife with three children are still battling cancer together more than two years later<\/a> \u2014 with the wife facing another bout of cancer for the second time.<\/p>\n

Zak Salazar, 40, of Mission Viejo has a terminal diagnosis for an aggressive brain cancer<\/a>. Cori Salazar, 40, said Saturday that she was diagnosed with a slow-growing form of pancreatic cancer after a routine scan of kidney stones.<\/p>\n

The scan comes after Cori had already fought through thyroid cancer<\/a> around three years ago.<\/p>\n

\"Zak<\/p>\n

Zak and Cori Salazar never imagined they\u2019d also be sharing a cancer journey. GoFundMe<\/p>\n

\"Zak<\/p>\n

Zak Salazar, 40, has an aggressive brain cancer. Cori Salazar, 40, said she has a form of pancreatic cancer. GoFundMe<\/p>\n

The two are now facing the daily dread again of both parents not being able to be there for their children: Juniper, 6, Delaney, 4, and Luna, 3.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe thought of me not being around for them, or both of us not being around for them, was really scary,\u201d Cori told ABC7<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happens to the girls if we both go?\u201d Zak added.<\/p>\n

Zak found out about his illness when an ophthalmologist reportedly told him that his optic nerves were swollen in both eyes. He underwent an emergency MRI, which revealed a large mass in the right frontal lobe of his brain.<\/p>\n

His type of tumor \u2014 glioblastoma multiforme \u2014 gave him a a life expectancy of 12 to 18 months, doctors predicted, and is not curable.<\/p>\n

For Cori, a large neck growth caused alarm and was a symptom of thyroid cancer. She quickly got surgery to remove the mass and underwent routine blood testing to ensure the cancer didn\u2019t return.<\/p>\n

Then came the news of the pancreatic cancer. Doctors removed her spleen and part of her pancreas, according to ABC7, but she\u2019s still under continued monitoring.<\/p>\n

\"For<\/p>\n

For Cori, a large neck growth caused alarm and was a symptom of thyroid cancer. INSTAGRAM\/corijean<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The couple has three children: Juniper, 6, Delaney, 4, and Luna, 3.<\/p>\n

\"Zak<\/p>\n

Zak learned of his illness from an ophthalmologist. GoFundMe<\/p>\n

The years-long ordeal have given them a strong appreciation of life, they said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what we have is just like, right here, right now,\u201d Cori said.<\/p>\n

Despite their suffering from battling their cancers, their most important priority is their daughters.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want my girls to feel completely loved and cared for and safe, even when, you know, things are going wrong,\u201d Cori said.<\/p>\n

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