SURVIVOR

researchresearchthatwouldcompletely consumemeforcountlessdaysandeven moresleeplessnights. by Roxanne Martinez Online,IfoundHopeforTwo,anorganizationdedicatedtoprovidingsupport towomendiagnosedwithcancerwhile pregnant.Throughthisresource,Iwas abletoconnectwithadoctor whowasresearchingcancer duringpregnancy.Her knowledge,along withmyphysiciansassurance, gavemetheconfidenceIneeded toproceedwith tinez Roxanne and Roxanne Mar her daughter treatment. BecauseIwasdiagnosedwithstage maginelearningyouarepregnant, II,triplenegativebreastcancerearlyin thenbeingdiagnosedwithanag- mypregnancy,myphysicianrecomgressivebreastcancerdayslater. mendedthatIhaveamastectomyfirst ThatwasthepredicamentIfoundmyself andwaituntilmysecondtrimester, inlastNovember.Daysafterreceiving whenthebabysorganswerefullydethedevastatingdiagnosisandwitha veloped,tobeginchemotherapy.Even whirlwindofemotions,Ischeduledmy thoughIexperiencedsomedreadful firstobstetricianappointmentandmy effectsfromchemo,Iwastoldthatmy initialmeetingswithmysurgeonand oncologistallonthesameday. Myobstetricianappointmentwas scheduledearlierintheday.Itwasthen thatIfirstheardmybabysheartbeat.The babywouldprobablyonlyexperience staffseemedreluctanttoofferanultra- mildsideeffects,suchasalowbirth sound,butIjumpedattheopportunityto weightandpossiblybaldness. seethattherereallywasalittlelifegrow- Thephysicalsideeffectsoftreatment inginsideofme.Althoughmybaby wereonlypartofthebattle.Copingwith lookedlikenothingmorethanasmall breastcancerwhilepregnantwasatospeckonthescreenatthetime,Iwanted tallydifferentbeast.Therewasabsolutely nothingmoreinlifethantomeether. nothinganydoctorcouldtellmethat Notknowingenoughaboutmydiag- wouldcompletelyalleviateallmyfears. nosis,myobstetricianadvisedthatIwait IwouldntbeateaseuntilIcouldphysiuntilafterImetwithmyoncologistand callyseeandholdmybabyinmyarms. establishedatreatmentplantodetermine Theysayittakesavillagetoraisea thebestcourseofactionforthepregchild.Inmycase,ittookanationwide nancy.Butitwastoolate;Ihadalready networkofsupporters,nicknamedTeam madeupmymind.Iwouldbefighting Roxy,tohelpgetmethroughoneof thisbattlefortwo. thetoughestfightsofmylife.MyclosSubsequentmeetingswithmysurestfamilyandfriendshelpedmehold geonandoncologistdisheartenedmeat tighttomyfaith,raisedfundsformy first.Neitherwashighlyexperienced medicalexpenses,andkeptmyspirits withtreatingapregnantwomanwith uplifted.Butitwasfellowsurvivors breastcancer.However,bothreassured thatgavemehope.Throughsocial methattherewasextensiveresearchthat networkingsites,suchasTwitterand provedpromisingforpregnantwomen Facebook,Iwasabletoconnectwith battlingbreastcancer.Whilemyphyafewotherwomenwhohadrecently siciansconsultedwithotherexpertsand battledthesamediagnosiswhilepregcollaboratedonthebesttreatmentplan, nant.Theynowhadhealthybabiesand IlookedtotheInternettodomyown hadphotostoproveit.

Fighting for Two

Afewdaysaftermyfifthroundof chemo,tooearlytodeliver,Ibeganhavingsharppainsandwasadmittedtothe hospital.Everytimethenursetriedto fastenthemonitoronmyswollenbelly, mybabymovedandkicked.Youhave afeistylittleoneinthere,thenursetold me.ItwasthenIknewIwasnotfighting alone.Wewereinthisbattletogether. Iwouldhavetwomoreroundsof chemobeforeIwasbackatthehospital withevensharper,moreintensepains thatturnedouttobecontractions.On thedaythatIwassupposedtoreceive myfinalchemotreatment,Iinsteadgave birthtomydaughter.Bornsixweeks premature,butperfectlyhealthy,mytiny miraclehadarrivedandIfinallyhad serenity.Thus,hernamewouldbe SerenityMilagrosMilagrosmeaning miraclesinSpanish. Unlikeme,whowascompletelybald, Serenitywasbornwithafullheadof hair.Somethingaboutthatreassuredme thatIhaddonemyjobashermotherin protectingherfromharm.Fivedays afterdelivery,SerenityandIwereable togohome.Withinthefirstfewmonths,

On the day that I was supposed to receive my final chemo treatment, I instead gave birth to my daughter.
shegrewandflourished,whileIrecoveredfromalongandgruelingbattle. IstilllookatSerenitywithamazement inthefactthatIbroughtforthnewlife whilefightingformyown. Onthetoughestdaysoftreatment, thelifegrowinginsideofmewasall themotivationIneededtoremainstrong. Thus,IknewIwantedtobeapartof anorganizationthatwouldhelpother womeninmyshoes.SoIsignedup fortheHopeforTwonationalregistry andagreedtodonatemyplacentato advanceresearchonhowchemoaffects unbornbabies.Iamalsoasupportpersonforotherwomenbattlingcancer whilepregnant.
Editors Note: Roxanne Martinez is a breast

cancer survivor living in Fort Worth, TX. She is enjoying her role as a new mom and is dedicated to helping other women battle breast cancer. Visit Roxy at team-roxy.com.
Action!Learn more about pregnancy and

cancer at pregnantwithcancer.org. Hope for Two The Pregnant with Cancer Network is a national non-profit organization for women diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy. n

56 COPING q January/February 2012

Experience the Coping with Cancer website at copingmag.com