In the fall of 2019, my family faced an emotional rollercoaster, delivering both heartwarming and heartbreaking news within just a month. At the end of July, I received the joyful confirmation that I was expecting our third child, a little girl. Just weeks later, I was hit with the devastating news that I had cancer. Two monumental moments—one filled with joy and the other with despair—came crashing down on me all at once, leaving me feeling utterly overwhelmed.
During a family game night in August, as we played Monopoly, I experienced a moment that would change everything. After passing “Go,” I bent down to pick up some cash I had dropped, and that’s when I felt it: a lump beneath my skin. Panic surged through me as I realized I needed to seek medical advice immediately. I scheduled an appointment with my doctor for the next morning.
As I walked into the doctor’s office, I tried to calm my nerves by convincing myself that it could be something benign, like a cyst. Yet, I could hardly focus on anything else. I yearned for the appointment to be over so I could return to the bliss of my pregnancy. My relief was short-lived when the doctor revealed the lump looked suspicious, and she recommended a biopsy that same day to rule out any serious issues.
After a frantic day, I was informed that I would receive the biopsy results in a few days—a seemingly endless wait. To distract myself, my family and I headed to the Jersey shore for our annual vacation. I pushed the looming uncertainty to the back of my mind, hoping for good news so I could fully enjoy the remaining days of summer.
However, on the third day of our trip, while playing shuffleboard with my son, I received the call I dreaded. As I answered, my heart raced with the hope of hearing reassuring words. Instead, I was met with the devastating diagnosis: “You are positive for breast cancer.” Everything after that was a blur of confusion and tears. I had to turn away from my son, who was blissfully unaware of the storm brewing within me. All I could think about was how to break this news to my children, especially when I didn’t have answers myself.
I struggled to hide my tears, but my son noticed and innocently asked, “Mom, why are you crying?” At that moment, I knew I had to be honest with him. I explained what cancer was, assuring him that mine was a type that was treatable. I gave my younger daughter a simplified version that she could understand. We decided to wait to share the news of our growing family until I had more clarity on my treatment plan. When we finally told the kids, they were ecstatic, and we celebrated with a fun scavenger hunt revealing, “We’re having a baby!”
Now, I’m a year and a half into my treatment. Each night at dinner, we share our “highs” and “lows” of the day, creating a space for open dialogue about our experiences. This journey has been filled with ups and downs, and our children have been a part of it all, even participating in shaving my head for the first time. By being transparent, we’ve all learned to navigate this challenging path together.
For those interested in similar subjects, check out this blog post for more insights. Also, if you want to explore pregnancy and related topics, Healthline is an excellent resource.
Summary
This article recounts a mother’s journey of discovering her pregnancy shortly before being diagnosed with breast cancer. It covers her emotional turmoil, the importance of open communication with her children, and how they navigated this challenging time together.
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Discovering pregnancy, breast cancer diagnosis, emotional journey, family communication, navigating challenges.