US news presenter's pregnancy bump turns out to be rare cancerous mass

The news anchor shared a photo of her and her mum hugging after her first round of chemo.
The news anchor shared a photo of her and her mum hugging after her first round of chemo. Photo credit: Michelle Velez / Facebook

An American news anchor has revealed that a rare form of cancer caused by an abnormal pregnancy was responsible for her supposed baby bump.

Michelle Velez, a presenter for the Las Vegas news outlet KSNV News 3, shared her heartbreaking story in a candid Facebook post last week. 

"Last week I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that was caused by an abnormal pregnancy... what I had was called a molar pregnancy," she explained on her page.

"It's a pregnancy that is not viable - meaning a fetus never formed - but instead of miscarrying, the pregnancy continued to grow and produced invasive tissue."

Velez said it's "very rare" for the tissue to turn cancerous.

"That is what happened to me. No good reason, just unfortunate dumb luck," she wrote.

Velez said the type of cancer is fortunately treatable and her doctors believe she will be given the all-clear following "aggressive" chemotherapy.

"Yes, I will probably lose my hair and experience other side effects of chemo - but all that is temporary," she said in the post.

"I have already made it through my first two treatments this week. [The] total number of rounds all depends on how long it takes the tissue to disappear."

Velez reiterated her Facebook explanation was a "very vague" summary of "extremely complicated" events over a three-month period.

The news anchor appears to be remaining positive and said people can follow her journey through social media. 

"I can't really put into words what it is like to find out you have cancer... devastating, shocking and terrifying for starters... I plan to be as open and transparent about this journey as I can," Velez told her Instagram followers on Friday.

She also shared a photo of her and her mother embracing following her first round of chemotherapy.

"I know it seems sad, but I don't see it that way," said Velez.

"I look at it as a warrior hug. One step closer to the end."

Newshub.