Nick Cannon reveals heartbreak after his 5-month-old son dies of a brain tumour

He made the announcement on Tuesday morning's edition of his show

Actor Nick Cannon has announced that his youngest son, Zen, has died from a brain tumour. Cannon shared the heartbreaking news on Tuesday morning (December 7) on The Nick Cannon Show, telling the audience his 5-month-old son passed away after previously suffering from hydrocephalus - which occurs when fluid builds up around the brain. The 41-year-old said the tumour had developed quickly around Thanksgiving and as he broke down in tears on his show, he told how he spent this past weekend in California to share a few last moments with Zen.

The former America's Got Talent host said he took his son on a trip to the beach on Sunday and held Zen for the last time. He died soon after.

Zen was Nick's seventh child, delivered in June by former flame Alyssa Scott, 28.

He was the fourth of Nick's children born within the past year and a half, with twins Zillion and Zion born in June, and his daughter, Powerful, born last December.

Cannon explained on his show that the issues with Zen began when he was about two months old when he and Zen's mother noticed his head seemed large. They thought he had developed a sinus issue.

"I always noticed he had a cough and so I wanted to check it out," Cannon said. "He had this interesting breathing and by the time he was two months, he had this nice sized head too - a Cannon head.

"We didn't think anything of it. But I wanted to take him to the doctor for his sinus and breathing. We thought it would be routine."

Zen ended up requiring brain surgery and a shunt put in place. But Cannon said things got worse. He told the audience: "This weekend, I made a valid effort to spend the most quality time with Zen. "We woke up on Sunday and went to the ocean with him and Alyssa, and then I had to fly back to New York for the show.

"I got a call on my way to the airport to head back to Zen."

Cannon said he returned to work so soon after the tragedy because working in show business is all he knows.

He said: "I prayed for God's strength, and that's why I'm here today, because I know he puts the most and heaviest weight on the shoulders of his strongest shoulders."

He dubbed Tuesday's episode a "celebration of life" for Zen.

You can watch his full speech below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JcCc7ZivXY Hydrocephalus is a condition in which fluid builds up in the cavities of the brain and increases the size of the ventricles, putting pressure on the brain. According to John Hopkins Medicine, the condition affects one or two of every 1,000 babies born in the United States, Related news: 

• Sajid Javid pulls out of morning interviews in fallout over leaked Christmas party clip
• Met police to review leaked video of Downing Street aides joking about Christmas party
• Arthur Labinjo-Hughes' dad to release body to family for funeral