What happened, in summary

Jenna was 28 weeks pregnant when she felt a lump in her right breast while putting on lotion after a shower. She first wondered if it could be a clogged milk duct or cyst, but she contacted her OB. An ultrasound led to biopsy, and the results confirmed Stage II hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. She had no family history and tested negative for inherited BRCA mutations. Because the cancer was thought to be in her lymph nodes, treatment needed to start before delivery. One oncologist recommended 3 rounds of chemotherapy during pregnancy; a second opinion said she could begin with 2 rounds and weekly hydration. Jenna was frightened about exposing her baby to chemotherapy, but her team reassured her that the baby would be monitored closely. During treatment, she had an allergic reaction to Taxol. After completing chemotherapy, she had surgery. Pathology confirmed cancer in just 1 lymph node, so radiation was not needed. Jenna chose a double mastectomy rather than lumpectomy because she wanted to reduce worry about recurrence. As of April 2026, she was on hormone therapy planned for 10 years while rebuilding life with a newborn, a toddler, and a changed sense of identity.