Imagine facing the joy of new motherhood, only to be slammed with a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis weeks later. That’s exactly what happened to Emily Hausman, and her story is a powerful reminder of life's unpredictable nature. But here's where it gets controversial... While many might crumble under the weight of such adversity, Emily is choosing laughter and resilience.
"It’s been such a crazy year," the 43-year-old shared with TODAY.com, summarizing a whirlwind of events that began with the miracle of birth and spiraled into a series of devastating health challenges.
Let's break down the sequence of events that turned Emily's world upside down: She became a mother, then faced a job layoff, dealt with a hematoma, moved back home, discovered a blood clot, battled an infection, and finally, received the life-altering diagnosis of Stage 4 cancer. It's a lot to take in, isn't it?
In a moment of vulnerability, Emily questioned if her experiences were truly as overwhelming as they felt, or if she was simply exaggerating. To find some perspective, she turned to TikTok, sharing her story in a video. “I didn’t think anyone was going to care,” she admitted. But here's the part most people miss... Her raw and honest account resonated deeply, amassing over 1.6 million views. (You can watch her video here: https://www.tiktok.com/@emilyhausman/video/7547814928703343886?q=emilyhausman&t=1761574774889)
Emily explained that she felt like she was drowning in a sea of overwhelming circumstances and simply needed to vent. To her surprise, the response was overwhelmingly supportive. “I also thought, like, ‘Oh, maybe I’m being a baby, and this isn’t really as crazy as I think it is.’ But then everyone’s like, ‘No, girl.’”
She then shares a story about nearly dying just a month prior, adding another layer of complexity to her situation. Despite the seemingly endless blows, Emily is determined to keep moving forward. As she puts it, she doesn't have a choice.
But let's rewind a bit and understand the journey that led her to motherhood.
Driven by a deep desire to become a mom, Emily decided to take proactive steps. Her former employer offered fertility benefits through Progyny, and she seized the opportunity. “I just didn’t want to lose the chance to become a mom,” she explained. “and I was just like, ‘You know, what? If it’s available to me, I’m going to do it.’”
In February 2020, she made the important decision to freeze her eggs, a process that allows women to preserve their fertility for the future. (For those curious about egg freezing, you can learn more here: https://www.today.com/health/womens-health/best-age-to-freeze-eggs-rcna243194). In July of that same year, she met someone she believed to be her soulmate. Sadly, that relationship didn't last.
Fast forward to May 2024, Emily chose a donor and successfully underwent an embryo transfer in September. However, life threw another curveball in November 2024 when she was laid off from her position as a senior entertainment manager at a magazine in New York City. The day after Thanksgiving, doctors discovered and treated a hematoma. Following this, she made the decision to move back to her parents' home in Salt Lake City.
Finally, in May 2025, Emily welcomed her son, Ezekiel, into the world, describing him as “a little angel.”
For about three weeks, things seemed to be going well. However, in June, doctors detected a blood clot, necessitating a dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure to remove tissue from her uterus.
The D&C was followed by an infection that landed her in the hospital for four days. It began with a high fever, signaling the onset of endometritis, an inflammation of the uterine lining caused by infection, according to the Cleveland Clinic (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24334-endometritis). While the exact cause of the infection remains unclear, the Cleveland Clinic notes that D&C procedures can increase the risk of endometritis.
Despite these health challenges, Ezekiel continued to thrive.
“He’s really become, like, a little person,” Hausman proudly shared. He gained weight, reaching a healthy 23 pounds, and was babbling and on the verge of sitting up independently.
But while Ezekiel flourished, Emily's health continued to decline.
Feeling depleted after the D&C and endometritis, Emily decided to stop breastfeeding, as she wasn’t producing much milk anyway. (For more information on breastfeeding, check out this article: https://www.today.com/parents/parents/breastfeeding-tips-rcna37802)
As time passed, she noticed a persistent hardness in one of her breasts. “It wasn’t hard before while I was breastfeeding, so I just thought it was, like, mastitis, or like milk build-up, or something like that that hadn’t resolved,” she explained.
During her six-week post-operative appointment for her cesarean section in August (learn more about C-sections and potential complications here: https://www.today.com/health/essay/c-section-blood-clot-rcna146468), she brought up the issue. Following an ultrasound and biopsy, an oncologist delivered the devastating news: she had Stage 4 metastatic melanoma (learn more about melanoma here: https://www.today.com/health/melanoma-pictures-warning-signs-rcna83417) in her breast. Further scans revealed that the cancer had also spread to her pancreas and the lymph nodes surrounding her lung, necessitating the likely removal of a portion of her lung.
Most melanomas, a type of skin cancer, originate on the skin due to UV light exposure, according to the Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/melanoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20374884). However, Emily's case is perplexing. She's meticulous about sunscreen use.
“I don’t have any evidence of melanoma on my skin," she said, emphasizing that the cancer has only been found beneath her skin, or subcutaneously, suggesting it originated elsewhere and spread. This is where it gets controversial... Doctors aren't sure where it started.
Doctors conducted extensive searches to locate the primary source of the cancer, including examinations of her colon and eyes, “two places melanoma can hide,” Emily explained. However, all tests came back negative.
Doctors believe that Emily likely developed the cancer relatively recently, possibly after giving birth.
Originally scheduled for four rounds of aggressive immunotherapy, Emily was only able to complete two in October. “I was having really bad side effects, and I felt like (I could) barely even get off the couch at all,” she recalled.
Suspecting ulcerative colitis (learn more: https://www.today.com/health/disease/chloe-melas-ulcerative-colitis-rcna132063), a common side effect of her medications, she sought medical attention. Instead, emergency doctors discovered that her kidneys were failing. She was hospitalized for five days and forced to discontinue treatment.
Currently, she’s on a steroid, and her kidney function is improving. “But I was really, really sick,” she stated. She's scheduled for another CT scan and MRI to assess her recovery and is hopeful that she can resume treatment early next year.
Despite the immense challenges, Emily emphasizes that she’s not alone in this journey. She leans heavily on her support network, including her parents, who have selflessly given up their bedroom and are sleeping in the nursery with Ezekiel so that Emily can rest.
Her friends in New York provide support from afar, and her best friend, Leia, drives her to countless doctor’s appointments. Even former colleagues, unsure of what to say, have reached out to offer their support. “Checking in helps so much,” she says.
Emily is also grateful for her medical team. “What was really helpful is at the (Huntsman Cancer Institute), they have a team called the SOS team (https://healthcare.utah.edu/huntsmancancerinstitute/treatment/supportive-oncology-survivorship), and it’s palliative care, which sounds horrifying, but palliative care is actually, like, a really good thing,” she explains. The SOS team has connected her with a nutritionist and a psychiatrist, and she’ll soon begin the Power Program, a combination of physical therapy and workouts to rebuild her strength.
The online community has also provided unexpected support. Emily laughs about having only 50 followers when she initially shared her story. Now, her comments section is flooded with supportive messages from people she never imagined could relate.
Emily acknowledges that she has given considerable thought to her future and the various possibilities it holds. “You try and stay positive, but there is like, that overarching reality, like, you know, kind of…” she trails off. “I think I’m trying my best to keep it together and just take it one day at a time. Yeah, that’s the best I can do right now.”
Emily's story is undeniably powerful. What do you think about her positive outlook despite facing such immense challenges? Do you agree with her perspective that cancer needs a 'rebrand'? How does her story inspire you to approach your own challenges? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
