Pregnant with twins (13 weeks) and just diagnosed

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Gatomal
Gatomal Member Posts: 483
edited August 2014 in Just Diagnosed

I got the call from the surgeon Sunday night (bad news indicator) and this is so surreal. I meet with my surgeon today, but due to my twin pregnancy, she does not want to operate, rather she is suggesting 4-6 rounds of chemo every three weeks beginning in two or three weeks. I'll be meeting with the medical oncologist at UC San Francisco, on Wed to get more details about chemo. We may do a lumpectomy at 31 weeks, and would dissect out nodes then. I already have two two-year old girls, and I am worried about leaving them. Any current success stories, or details about going through this when they are pregnant? I haven't yet gotten the official diagnosis, grade, etc. instead of decorating a nursery, I am researching cold caps and chemopause. Just awful.

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited July 2014

    In my Sept chemo 2013, Cougarlicious was pregnant while undergoing treatment.  She is on our Facebook so I will let her know.  I'm sure she will be happy to help. BTW she has a healthy happy baby boy.

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  • Gatomal
    Gatomal Member Posts: 483
    edited July 2014

    Thanks for the tip! I am collecting stories, experiences, and researching treatment and acronyms for treatment. This is an awful new hobby that no one wants to take up.

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited July 2014

    I forgot to say I'm sorry u have joined the club & give you a big hug!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited July 2014

    Hello Gatomal,

    We're sorry you have to be here, but glad you've found us. This is a wonderfully supportive community and there is a wealth of information on the site. You may want to check out our page on Breast Cancer Treatment During Pregnancy.

    Keeping you in our thoughts,

    The Mods

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited July 2014

    I have no great words of wisdom, but UCSF is an excellent facility. I also believe they were doing a clinical trial on Dignicaps, which are similar to cold caps.  I'm right down the road in San Jose. Wishing you the best and feel free to contact me.

    Caryn

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  • Gatomal
    Gatomal Member Posts: 483
    edited July 2014

    Thanks Caryn,

    I did see the article in SfGate re the digicaps trial. I like that the cap doesn't need to be changed, but I think the trial is over. I will ask my doc today if it's still going on or how to facilitate getting one for use. Thank god we are in the Bay Area for treatment, right? What a road you have been on (signature). It's so difficult now not having much info, not even an actual dx. I hope that once treatment gets going, and the shock wears off, that I can just get on with it. Today it's scary. Thanks for reaching out.

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  • beacon800
    beacon800 Member Posts: 922
    edited July 2014

    so sorry you are facing this.  I don't have a personal experience, but quite a few have gone thru treatment while pregnant. Fortunately the chemo will not hurt the baby.   It seems hard to believe, but that is how it works out.  So you can have the treatment you need and not endanger your babies.  You are at one of the best camcer hospitals in the country so take heart that they will do the best for you.

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  • MomtoIrishQuads
    MomtoIrishQuads Member Posts: 128
    edited July 2014

    Gatomal,

    I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis.  I have a friend who had chemo while pregnant.  The baby was fine.  

    Do you have another set of twins, too?  I hope you are going to be nearly done with treatment when they are born.  We had triplets - plus a 20 month old when they were born....which is enough without dealing with treatment.  

    It's just not fair that instead of enjoying the twin news....and afterglow that you now have to deal with the cancer treatments.

    I lived in the Bay Area for 25 years.....and you are blessed to be there.  I had my first surgery at CPMC with Dr. Grisom, Dr. Horton and Dr. Garrett Smith.  

    Good luck with your treatment and your new baby!

    Irish Deb

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  • Gatomal
    Gatomal Member Posts: 483
    edited July 2014

    Hello there MomtoIrishQuads,

    I've been reading some of your other posts. I'm so sorry to read your history. This whole thing just sucks. 

    Yes I do have another set of twins, two girls, almost 2.5 y.o., but I think that after six rounds of AC, we may do a lumpectomy at 31 weeks, then start up with more chemo after delivery, then maybe radiation. My doc said it will be a long 12-14 months. I got more path info last night, ER+, PR+, HER 2-, grade 2 just like my mothers stage 1 at 73 y.o. I have stage 2, but we won't do a node excision now, so I guess we will never really definitively stage it at the outset. Yet having more info still feels better than the terror of just knowing it's cancer without type, stage, aggressiveness, etc. 

    I am fixated on the hair loss right now, and feel stupid about it when there are two babies at stake. My friend says that contemplating something happening to the babies is too emotionally difficult, so I focus on my hair instead. Who knows? I like my hair and eyebrows.  I do know that I have stopped thinking about decorating the nursery for now, and just want to focus on my independently living children, and me. We were going for five kids total, but now it looks like that won't happen. 

    I'm not sure how badly I'll react to the chemo, but wanted the kids with me at home (instead of our house farther away from the city) My mother thinks it's a bad idea, but I feel it's important to be able to see them, hug them, hear them and focus on the future instead of laying in bed with no one around. What was your experience? Did kids around make it better to focus on something positive, even though you felt awful? 

    I don't know those specific docs at CPMC, but that is a great center. How is your treatment going in NC compared with here? Is there a med school there? 

    Thanks for the comforting words, I'll cross my fingers we all make it through. I could easily be run over by a cable car tomorrow, so you really never know.

    Hugs.

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  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 3,257
    edited July 2014

    Just wanted to send you a hug. So not freaking fair that you have to endure BC during pregnancy. It is a time in life to enjoy and cherish. F&^*%ing cancer! I will keep you and your babies in my thoughts and prayers. BC does not discriminate..that is for damn sure.

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  • boxofrockstar
    boxofrockstar Member Posts: 56
    edited July 2014

    Hey, Gatomal, I am also pregnant and was diagnosed at 20wks. Since then I've had a lumpectomy and one round of chemo so far (3 more to go and then we re-evaluate). I'm 27 weeks now and so far the baby is totally fine. I've been feeling surprisingly ok physically, but emotionally, I can't lie, it's been tough. Starting chemo was the worst, because I couldn't stop feeling like I was poisoning the baby even though everyone assures me that it won't affect him. Logically I get that, but it's hard to shut off the worry. I've felt a little better about that as the days pass.

    I also have an older son who's 2.5 and he's definitely been helpful as something to distract me and make me smile. I wouldn't want to be without him at all right now, but there are definitely days when I'm just too tired to parent effectively, and I've been taking people up on their offers to help. It was a little weird, but I basically made an announcement about my diagnoses on Facebook, and the offers just rolled in. It was kind of amazing. I am still very new to this, too, so the only advice I can reliably give is, let people help you. It sucks and it isn't fair at ALL, but we will get through this and the babies will be all be ok.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited July 2014

    Welcome baxofrockstar.

    Sorry you have such a thing happen, let alone during pregnancy. Such a time should be one of joy, but is now stress and tiredness.

    We wish you and your growing familyall the best.

    The Mods

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  • Hopingforthebest33
    Hopingforthebest33 Member Posts: 49
    edited August 2014


    Hi, just wanted to let you know that I was six weeks pregnant when I got diagnosed with breast cancer. I underwent surgery for a mastectomy, and had five rounds of chemotherapy starting at 12 weeks pregnant, my baby boy was born early at 31 weeks but was healthy and beautiful. He is now two years old, and you would never know what he had to go through. I then continued with three more rounds of chemo and six weeks of radiation, I am now in remission going on two years . It can be done , and know you are not alone

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  • Tinkerbells
    Tinkerbells Member Posts: 211
    edited August 2014

    I have a friend with similar stats who was pregnant with twins when diagnosed. She had chemo and delivered via scheduled c-section early (not sure when, but twins were closer to term). She then had a mastectomy and, I believe, more chemo. That was 10 years ago and she, and her boys, are just fine. Hang in there.

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited August 2014

    So. Unfair. You should enjoying this time not worrying about cancer and chemo. I wish I could take your cancer. So sorry you have to go through this praying for and the twins.

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