CANCER FELT LIKE AN INTERSTATE PILE UP, BUT NOW CLEAR ROADS AHEAD...

by Tiffany

For most people, cancer is an obstacle in a long and winding course. For me, it was more like a pile-up on the interstate. I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in late January of 2020, following my sister’s diagnosis several weeks earlier. My diagnosis was further complicated a week later when I confirmed my pregnancy. Talk about getting the best and worst news of your life in the same week! I was floored, overwhelmed, and scared out of my mind. I had tried so hard to have a baby, and would my HR+ cancer diagnosis change it? Luckily, I was told that I could have my cancer and my baby too, which was a huge relief. I worked with doctors down at the University of Iowa Hospital who took great care of me and my impending baby. At 11 weeks I had a bilateral mastectomy, at 15 weeks I started 2 chemo drugs that were afe in pregnancy (I didn’t know you could do chemo while you were pregnant, talk about a surprise!) After 4 chemo treatments every other week for 8 weeks I had been treated as much as was safe in my pregnancy. I got to take a treatment hiatus until November, about 6 weeks after my baby’s arrival. On October 1 I delivered the most perfect 6-pound 1 ounce baby girl, named Joy to celebrate the beauty in a really tough year. 6 weeks after Joy was born, I went back into chemo for another 8 weeks for the last drug I couldn’t have in pregnancy. Six weeks later I was transferred to the MercyOne Cancer Center for 25 radiation treatments, which concluded in March. I am currently cancer free and loving my life as a wife, teacher, and new mom.  While cancer isn’t the path, I would have chosen for myself, I am so thankful for the journey. I have learned so much about my own strength and have seen for myself the amazing village of people who have held me up during one of the hardest times of my life. I had a year where my life felt like an interstate pile up, but I feel like it is clear roads from here on out.