32-Year-Old Mom Endures Chemo for Breast Cancer While Pregnant

To raise awareness for Breast Cancer Awareness this month, a local mother is sharing her story about her battle with breast cancer. Breast Cancer Awareness is a perfect time for all women regardless of age, to take preventive action.

More than two years ago, Abigail Valletta and her then-unborn baby, together endured a battle against breast cancer.

A news report said it caught 32-year-old Valletta by surprise, while she was taking a shower and ding a self-breast check.

While checking, she felt a lump, which she knew was uncommon or rare at her age. Valletta was only 14 weeks into the pregnancy when she felt the lump.

(Photo: Pixabay)
The National Institutes of Health said breast cancer is affecting roughly one in every 2,000 pregnant women.

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Breast Cancer and Pregnancy

The National Institutes of Health said breast cancer is affecting roughly one in every 2,000 pregnant women. The health agency added this illness is the "second most common malignancy affecting pregnancy."

After she discovered the lamp, the 32-year-old contacted her doctors. Recalling their initial reaction, she said, the doctors thought it was maybe merely because of the changes she was experiencing during pregnancy.

Valletta also said, "Because of my age and because I was pregnant," that was all they wanted to believe. To be sure about her condition, she requested an ultrasound.

As a result, her ultrasound showed the discovery of an aggressive "ductal triple-negative breast cancer." Furthermore, tests exposed, "It was due to a BRCA-1 gene mutation." The mutation places a woman, and at times, even men, at higher risk for breast cancer.

Gene Mutation

Valletta shared they knew her grandparents had a history of breast cancer although they did not know anything "about the gene mutation."

Fortunately, she shared, the fast-growing lump was caught early at stage 2 that she and her unborn child would endure the procedure like chemotherapy for one, and a double mastectomy later on.

In addition, Valletta asked for assistance via the "Hope for Two," offering support for free, for women who were diagnosed with cancer while they are pregnant.

Despite undergoing therapy, the then cancer-stricken mom gave birth to her daughter Madelyn, unharmed. The baby girl was born full-term at 37 weeks.

Laughingly, Valletta, who spent most of her pregnancy period bald because of the side effects of chemotherapy, shared the baby had more hair than she had when she was born.

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The Essentiality of Breastfeeding

As a nurse and lactation consultant, Valletta was aware of the Triangle Milk Share, and a Facebook group chat connects moms who need a donor breast milk to mother with excessive milk supply.

According to Valletta, her milk donors underwent screening through WakeMed's Milk Bank so she was guaranteed that the donated breast milk was safe,

For 15 months, she added, the donors fed Madelyn when she was not able to. Her other two kids, she continued, who are now 10 and 12 years old, were breast-fed, too, and for her, she said, it was something very essential to her.

Valletta firmly believes it was that very moment in the shower and forcing answers that saved her life and her baby's. Consequently, she recommends that all women, even if they are still in their teenage years, do regular self-breast checks each month.

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