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When I was diagnosed with triple-negative inflammatory breast cancer in October 2020, it was jarring, to say the least. I was only 38 ¨C still too young to have started getting regular screening mammograms. I was also 14 weeks pregnant with my first child.

My mind immediately filled with questions: What about the baby? Can we even still have this child? What¡¯s going to happen?

Triple-negative inflammatory breast cancer was definitely a life-altering diagnosis. But going to MD Anderson for my treatment brought a much-needed sigh of relief.

Post-diagnosis surprise: chemotherapy was safe during my pregnancy

I never would¡¯ve guessed that it was safe to receive some types of chemotherapy during pregnancy. Fortunately for me, my MD Anderson medical team ¨C medical oncologist , surgical oncologist  and radiation oncologist  ¨C assured me that I could safely fight my cancer with chemotherapy while pregnant.  

The chemotherapy I needed wouldn¡¯t hurt the baby. I didn¡¯t even have to alter my course of treatment except to take two weeks off to give birth. My plan was exactly the same as it would¡¯ve been if I hadn¡¯t been pregnant: chemotherapy, followed by surgery and then radiation therapy. That was an amazing thing to hear.

COVID-19 pandemic safety measures pose no problem

By the time I was diagnosed, we were well into the pandemic, so my entire cancer treatment thus far has been administered under strict quarantine and safety protocols. Going by myself to check-ups and chemotherapy treatments just seems normal ¨C I know no other way.

But the nurses at MD Anderson are so attentive that I never feel alone or sad to be there by myself. I feel very safe at MD Anderson, too ¨C I know its employees are taking all the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their patients, like requiring masks on campus.

The hardest part of my triple-negative inflammatory breast cancer treatment

So far, the hardest part of my cancer treatment has been chemotherapy. I completed the first four rounds before giving birth to my son on March 23, 2021. I got an infusion of flourourasil, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (a combination known as FAC) every three weeks, starting on October 29. And those three months were really rough. I had to deal with the nausea, fatigue and lack of appetite from chemotherapy on top of pretty severe pregnancy-induced morning sickness.

I only threw up once, though, thanks to the anti-nausea medications I was prescribed. And the acupuncture I received at the Integrative Medicine Center has been really helpful, too. I got it as a preventive measure before each chemotherapy session, and it has been incredibly effective.

Counting my blessings after a triple-negative inflammatory breast cancer diagnosis

The only other side effects I¡¯ve experienced so far are hair loss, which was almost immediate, and shortness of breath, which was kind of expected, since I¡¯d essentially been carrying a bowling ball around in front of me for several months. I used ice packs on my hands and feet to stave off neuropathy, and my appetite returned after I finished the FAC infusions. So, overall, I felt very lucky.

Unfortunately, my cancer diagnosis also meant that breastfeeding was not an option. Sometimes, I look at my breasts, shake my head, and think, ¡°You had one job ¡­¡± But after hearing how hard breastfeeding can be from friends and others, I am at peace with it.

I would¡¯ve liked to breastfeed my son, but if it¡¯s not in the cards, I can live with that. He was born healthy at 36 weeks gestation. And I have the best possible care team in place for this type of cancer. So I have a lot to be thankful for.

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