Community Story

Breast Cancer During Pregnancy: Mandy’s Story of Finding Support

Breast Cancer During Pregnancy and the Need for Support

My journey was a little odd in the fact that I was 17 weeks pregnant when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Less than a week later, my oldest daughter, who was 3 at the time, was diagnosed as autistic. And then a few days after that, I was receiving chemotherapy as a pregnant woman.

So for me, it was pretty early on that I realized:

a) I had no idea about any of these things (cancer, autism, treatment while pregnant, etc.)

 b) I needed to surround myself with people who knew more than me.

I knew it was going to require the whole dang village to walk alongside of me and to lend whatever knowledge, talents and assistance they had. There was no reason to convince myself that I could figure it out on my own. The mountain was too high for me to climb by myself.

Finding Physical Support During Chemotherapy and COVID-19

Mandy knew she needed a village, but staying safe during the pandemic meant keeping her family close in spirit and at a distance in person.

Physical support was most difficult for me to find as I was going through cancer treatment during COVID. Due to the fact that I was immunocompromised from treatment, my husband, daughter and I had to be incredibly isolated so as not to risk getting ill.

My medical team and I were trying to get as much chemotherapy done as we could before it was time to give birth, so everything was very timeline oriented. To get ill in the middle of that and risk not receiving chemotherapy due to contracting COVID - or any illness - was something I wanted to avoid at all costs.

In addition, due to COVID, I had to do all of my chemotherapy treatments by myself in the cancer center. Spouses and/or family members were not allowed inside of the chemo center for understandable reasons. In summary, being physically supported in-person was difficult.

Finding Women Who Understood Cancer Treatment During Pregnancy

Mandy couldn’t have family with her in the cancer center, but she could look for women who had lived through a similar experience. On Instagram, she found people who understood what she was facing.

It probably sounds silly, but Instagram has been an incredible resource for me in navigating cancer survivorship. Since my cancer experience was “uncommon” (to say the least), I found myself seeking out other women who had been in my same situation, and the best way to do that was through Instagram. I found other women who had gone through/were currently going through cancer treatment during pregnancy, and their friendship has been an incredible gift in navigating this journey. Finding other people who could understand what I was experiencing physically, mentally and emotionally would have been impossible without Instagram.

Cancer Support Resources: Where to Begin

When another survivor asks where to look for help, Mandy points first to the people who know their care. She also encourages them to seek out others who understand, wherever they may be.

The first place I would start would be your cancer/medical team. Your oncologist, surgeon, nurses, etc. are not only knowledgeable about cancer, but they are also knowledgeable about other local cancer support resources. I was given some wonderful referrals to non-profit organizations who support cancer survivors in our area by my medical team, which was incredibly helpful.

And of course, social media! Yes, social media can be a place of endless doomscrolling, but it can also be an amazing tool to find other people who understand what you’re going through - no matter how “bizarre,” that thing may be. Finding other people across the country - and/or the world! - who “get it,” will be life-giving through your healing process.