Mom Diagnosed With Breast Cancer at Six Months Pregnant After Breathlessness, Chest Pain and a Breast Lump Now Has No Evidence of Disease

When her symptoms arose in October 2024, Husband’s symptoms were initially likened to a blocked milk duct or pregnancy-related body changes.

“As time passed, I developed a sinking feeling that it may be something more serious, which prompted me to seek further investigation,” Husband, who first tried a warm compresses on her breast to see if the lump size would decrease, said.

After undergoing a biopsy during her third trimester, Husband was diagnosed with breast cancer one week after giving birth to her son, Ted.

“Becoming a mom again was suddenly overshadowed by fear,” she admitted.

RELATED: Do You Have HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer? Here’s A Breakdown Of Some Of Your Treatment Options

However, Husband—who first underwent six rounds of pre-operative chemotherapy to shrink the tumor in her breast—insisted, “Motherhood doesn’t stop because you have cancer. My boys gave me a reason to keep putting one foot in front of the other.”

Following chemotherapy, she underwent a skin-sparing mastectomy and lymph node removal. A temporary, inflatable device called a tissue expander was then placed beneath her skin or chest muscle to gradually stretch the surrounding tissue and create room for a permanent breast implant.

RELATED: What is Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy?

Husband then underwent 14 rounds of chemotherapy after surgery, along with five high-dose radiotherapy treatments, and a targeted drug to reduce cancer recurrence.

Now she’s praising cancer research for giving her “hope” and leading he to become “cancer-free.”

“Every breakthrough represents another family who may have more birthdays together, more first days at school and more cuddles,” Husband added.

“After experiencing something over which I have such little control, making thoughtful changes helps me feel like I’m doing everything in my power to support my recovery,” she said.

HER2-positive breast cancer, the type of cancer Husband battled, has higher‑than‑normal levels of the HER2 protein on the surface of tumor cells. That excess protein essentially acts like a stuck accelerator, driving the cancer to grow and spread more quickly than many hormone-driven tumors.

WATCH: Treatment for HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

HER2 — short for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 — is one of the many receptors found on most cells in the body. Its job is to help regulate when cells grow, divide, repair themselves, and survive. In healthy tissue, HER2 signals at the right moments to keep cell growth in balance.

During diagnosis, breast cells are tested to see how much HER2 protein they carry. When there’s an overabundance of HER2 receptors (a condition called overexpression), breast cells can multiply too rapidly. That uncontrolled growth can lead to tumor formation.

HER2-positive breast cancers tend to grow faster, spread more easily, and have a higher chance of coming back. The good news is that they respond very well to targeted therapies designed to block the HER2 protein and slow the cancer down.

RELATED: When to Order Immunohistochemistry Testing: With Tailored Therapies for HER2-Positive Cancers, IHC is More Relevant for More Patients

“The HER2 receptor and the discovery of it have really revolutionized and changed the landscape for how we treat breast cancer,” Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, previously explained to SurvivorNet.

Treatment for HER2-Positive breast cancer may include the following approaches (or a combination of several):

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation
• Targeted drugs

“[HER2-positive breast cancer] can be very responsive to what we call targeted antibody therapies. What does that mean? So, again, this HER2 receptor sits on the outside of the cell, but there are ways that we can actually block the ability of that HER2 receptor to stimulate the cell from growing,” Dr. Comen explained.

HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer: Resources, expertise, and survivor support to help you after a diagnosis

Some drugs that help treat HER-positive breast cancer include: trastuzumab (brand name: Herceptin), pertuzumab (brand name: Perjeta), and ado-trastuzumab emtansine (brand name: Kadcyla) that specifically target HER2+ cells, inhibiting their growth and reducing the risk of recurrence.

These treatments can be used together with chemotherapy and are usually used as front-line treatments. That means it will be the first treatment you receive, says Dr. Comen.

WATCH: Treating Advanced Breast Cancer

Coping With Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer

Approximately once in every 3,000 pregnancies breast cancer occurs, Dr. Natalie J. Klar, MD, medical oncologist at NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center, said in an earlier interview with SurvivorNet.

Dr. Klar says the definition of a pregnancy associated breast cancer varies from practitioner to practitioner, but it’s typically defined as a breast cancer diagnosed and discovered during pregnancy, or within the first few years postpartum.

“Usually we say within one to two years of delivery, some people say within one to two years of completion of breastfeeding, so that can sometimes even be a little longer depending on how long you breastfeed for,” Dr. Klar explained.

The frequency of these incidents has been increasing recently, adds Dr. Klar. Which she attributes to the rise in women deciding to have children later in life.

The American Cancer Society notes that treating breast cancer in pregnant women mirrors that for non-pregnant women – cure the cancer or control it and minimize the risk of spread. However, protecting the fetus makes treatment more challenging.

Research published in Obstetrics and Gynecology says women most impacted by pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) are in their 30s.

Most women with PABC are found to have a “painless mass in the breast or thickening of the skin of the breast.”

Researchers say a diagnosis usually comes after the cancer has matured because “pregnancy-induced breast changes, such as engorgement, often make it difficult to discern a concerning breast mass from a normal breast in a pregnant woman.”

Surgery with modified radical mastectomy (lumpectomy) is often the first line of treatment for pregnant women facing breast cancer. After giving birth, radiation and hormone therapy may be treatment options.

After the first trimester, chemotherapy may be used for adjuvant treatment following surgery.

“The majority of chemotherapeutic agents, including taxanes and vinorelbine, were safe for use during the second and third trimesters,” the researchers said in their report.

It’s important to note since the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer is so rare, limited research exists.

More on Cancer During Pregnancy

The American Cancer Society says in addition to breast cancer, other types of cancer pregnant women may experience include:

• Melanoma
• Leukemia
• Cervical cancer
• Thyroid cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Colon cancer
• Lymphoma

Remember, during pregnancy, the body undergoes several changes making cancer-related changes harder to detect. Still, some things to be watchful for include:

• Hormone levels change during pregnancy, which causes breasts to become larger, lumpy, and/or tender.
• Rectal bleeding could possibly be due to benign hemorrhoids, a common occurrence during pregnancy, or from colon or rectal cancer.
• Feeling tired could be from pregnancy weight gain or from low red blood cell counts (anemia), which can be seen in leukemias and lymphomas or during pregnancy.
• As the fetus and uterus grow throughout pregnancy, ovarian tumors get more difficult to detect.

Staying current on all of your health and cancer-related screenings will help you manage your cancer risk.

Remember: Trust Your Body

Dr. Linda Moy, a radiologist that specializes in breast imaging at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, previously spoke to SurvivorNet on the topic of pregnancy-associated breast cancer, advising woman to bring a lump or any concern to a doctors attention immediately.

“I would say for any woman that has a lump in a late stage [pregnancy], they should go ahead and see their doctor. But for those in particular who are a late maternal age or any family history of breast cancer, those are the ones that really need to see the doctor and I would recommend additional imaging with a breast ultrasound to begin with,” Dr. Moy told SurvivorNet.

During pregnancy and while you’re breastfeeding your body is changing, so one of the most important things to do is to watch for signs that seem abnormal to you, added Dr. Klar.

Dr. Klar explained further, “I think it’s always important for young women because typically the mammogram screenings start at 40. So young women aren’t used to necessarily screening tests on their breasts, but I think they know their body.

Further adding, it’s important to advocate for yourself and to tell your doctor you’re worried if the doctor doesn’t seem as concerned. Additionally, with the rise in pregnancy associated breast cancer primary care physicians and obstetrician/gynecologists (OBGYNs) should become more educated on this diagnosis.

What Should I Ask My Doctor If I’m Pregnant And Find A Lump?

If you find a lump or an abnormality with your breasts the number one thing to do is to push your doctor for additional testing, such as an ultrasound, according to the experts.

As hormone levels increase during pregnancy, the breasts will get bigger and continue to grow throughout your pregnancy. The breast feel more swollen and sore due to increased blood flow and fluid retention, according to Dr. Moy.

“So it’s easy to assume that a new lump is related to these physiologic (normal changes). Oftentimes we may ignore the lump and say, ‘oh, you know, it’s a lump, it’s normal.’ So these women are diagnosed a little bit later and may present with a more advanced cancer,” she added.

Similarly, Dr. Klar says worst case scenario is an extra test or ultrasound that shows normal results. Women should “get an ultrasound or get get the imaging of their breasts to make sure that it’s nothing more than just normal pregnancy or breastfeeding related changes.”

The main message here is ask your doctor for additional tests and don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself.

 

 

 

When to Screen for Breast Cancer

Guidance on mammograms varies slightly by organization, which can cause confusion among patients, but we’re here to help.

In April 2024, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated its recommendation, advising all women at average risk to get a mammogram every other year starting at age 40 and continuing through age 74 — a change from its 2016 guidance, which set the starting age at 50.

The USPSTF said moving the starting age to 40 could save roughly 19% more lives, and noted that Black women face a 40% higher breast cancer mortality risk than white women, a disparity the earlier guidelines didn’t address.

The American Cancer Society’s guidance is close but not identical: annual mammograms starting at 45, moving to every other year (or annual, if preferred) starting at 55.

Screening For Breast Cancer

Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, a BRCA mutation, chest radiation before age 30, early menstruation (before 12), or dense breast tissue are considered higher risk and may need to start screening earlier—however, that conversation should happen with a doctor rather than by following a general guideline.

Leading Experts Urge Us to Be Proactive

“If I had any advice for you following a cancer diagnosis, it would be, first, to seek out multiple opinions as to the best care,” National Cancer Institute Chief of Surgery Steven Rosenberg told us in a previous interview, “because finding a doctor who is up to the latest of information is important.”

As highlighted in several areas of SurvivorNet, highly respected doctors sometimes disagree on the right course of treatment, and advances in genetics and immunotherapy are creating new options. Also, in some instances the specific course of treatment is not clear cut. That makes it even more important to understand the possible approaches to treating your disease.

At the National Cancer Institute, there is a patient referral service that will “guide patients to the right group depending on their disease state so that they can gain access to these new experimental treatments,” Rosenberg says.

Cancer Research Legend Urges Patients to Get Multiple Opinions

Additionally, seeking a second opinion can help you avoid potential doctor biases. For example, some surgeons own radiation treatment centers. “So there may be a conflict of interest if you present to a surgeon that is recommending radiation because there is some ownership of that type of facility,” Dr. Jim Hu, director of robotic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center, tells SurvivorNet.

More reasons to obtain a second opinion include:

• To see a doctor who has more experience treating your type of cancer
• You have a rare type of cancer
• There are several ways to treat your cancer
• You feel like your doctor isn’t listening to you, or isn’t giving you good advice
• You have trouble understanding your doctor
• You don’t like the treatment your doctor is recommending, or you’re worried about its possible side effects
• Your insurance company wants you to get another medical opinion
• Your cancer isn’t improving on your current treatment

RELATED: Be Pushy, Be Your Own Advocate, Says Leading Expert 

Ultimately, being proactive about your health can be a matter of life or death. The more you learn—and the more expert perspectives you gather—the more confident you can be that you’ve done everything possible to take control of your health.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

If you have a breast cancer screening coming up or have recently had one, you may have questions you want answered. SurvivorNet’s proprietary AI tool “My Health Questions” is designed specifically for patients and caregivers.

WATCH: How One Cancer Survivor and Her Sister Used “My Health Questions” to Navigate Care

This powerful resource is embedded across the SurvivorNet website and delivers structured responses grounded in clinical guidelines and medically reviewed research to help people better understand their treatment options and feel more confident navigating care.

My Health Questions can also help patients come up with useful questions ahead of their next appointment.

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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