Breast cancer is one of the most recurrent diseases in women, and although you can touch either the lower your chances of appearing not more, and be much less informed. Breast cancer is the rapid proliferation, disordered and uncontrolled cell with mutated genes, which normally act by suppressing or stimulating the continuity of the cell cycle from different tissues of a glandula breast, they …read the rest of this entry»

Welcome and Participant Introductions

Glenda Durham:
Hello and welcome to the American Cancer Society Cancer Survivors Network. I’m Glenda Durham, your host. Today I will be talking with three women who were diagnosed with cancer while they were pregnant. As a cancer survivor myself, I am pleased to be your host for today’s conversation about: being diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy; making treatment decisions; future pregnancies or adoption; fear of recurrence and shortened life expectancy; and listening to your body.

Our first guest is Angel, a 30-year-old breast cancer survivor from Texas. Angel is married and has two sons, one of whom is two years old and the other two months. Welcome to the show, Angel.

Angel:
Thank you.

Glenda:
Your doctor found a lump in your left breast during your first prenatal visit, when you were pregnant with your firstborn son. You had a needle biopsy, which confirmed that you had cancer. You underwent a mastectomy, and the cancer was found to be stage II. You underwent five rounds of chemo while you were pregnant and are currently finishing another round of 12 sessions. Thank you for joining us today, Angel.

Angel:
Thank you.

Glenda:
Also joining us is Heike, a 36-year-old ovarian cancer survivor from Idaho. Heike is married and has a two and a half-year-old son. We’re glad to have you with us today, Heike.

Heike:
Thank you.

Glenda:
Like Angel, you were pregnant with your first child when cancer was found. You were at your first prenatal visit and your doctor thought your pregnancy seemed abnormally advanced. An ultrasound showed that you had a cyst on your left ovary. The doctor predicted the cyst would shrink after three months and recommended that you have an ultrasound every two weeks to check it. The cyst continued to grow rather than shrink. You declined to have surgery, fearing this might hurt the fetus. When the pain was too much to endure you agreed to the surgery, and the cyst was found to be cancerous. Late in your pregnancy you underwent a Cesarean section and had a full hysterectomy. You’ve also had six cycles of chemo. Your baby is healthy, and you are cancer-free. And thank you for joining our group, Heike. …read the rest of this entry»