Cancer and pregnancy – Polly’s story

3 minute read time.

Finding out you have cancer is difficult and upsetting at any time. But being diagnosed with cancer when you are also pregnant can be even more frightening and confusing. This is what happened to Polly when she found a lump in her breast when she was 12 weeks pregnant. In this blog, Polly tells her story, and we talk more about cancer and pregnancy.

Polly’s story
When I fell pregnant, my partner and I were thrilled. Our daughter, who was two, had been begging us for a little brother or sister. But at 12 weeks, I found a lump in my left breast and my doctor sent me for tests. The results were devastating. I had breast cancer.

The first stage of treatment was surgery – either a lumpectomy or mastectomy. Instantly I wanted a mastectomy. I wanted to get rid of it. Yet I was torn between worry about leaving my daughter and the effects of the operation on my unborn child.

I lay awake at night wondering whether I should end the pregnancy to give myself a better chance of being around for my first child. It was an impossible decision.

But, I decided to have the operation and less than a month after being diagnosed I had a mastectomy. Afterwards I felt groggy and sore. But all that seemed irrelevant when the doctor arrived with a monitor to check the baby’s heartbeat. It was such a relief to hear. Yet, I still wasn’t sure whether he or she would be born. The future just seemed so uncertain.

A few weeks later, I began chemotherapy. I switched off from being pregnant. I wouldn't buy anything and envied other expectant mums. Emotionally, I felt robbed.

My son was born by C-section five weeks early. When I finally got to hold him, it was incredible. Throughout the pregnancy, I hadn’t let myself imagine what it could be like. Now, here he was. Fully formed and perfect. He’d survived it all. My little miracle.

I went home a week later but I wasn't allowed to breastfeed. Two weeks after he was born I continued chemo. It was hard looking after a young baby during the treatment, but my mum was a great help. My daughter also loved helping me look after him.

I can’t believe Alfie is nearly four now and I will be celebrating my 40th birthday this year. One thing I have learnt along my journey is be grateful for the simple things in life.

More information about cancer and pregnancy
Being diagnosed with cancer while you are pregnant can be very hard to cope with. You may feel no one can understand what you are going through. But there is help and support for you. Mummy’s Star can put you in touch with other women who have been in a similar situation. They offer support for women and their families when a cancer diagnosis is received during pregnancy, or within 12 months after a new birth. If you would like to get support from Mummy’s Star, visit their website mummysstar.org

It is natural to have lots of different worries. But understanding more about your situation may help to reassure you. That’s why, in partnership with Mummy’s Star, we have written a booklet about Cancer and pregnancy. It explains the emotional and practical issues you may experience in this situation. It also talks about the treatment you may have and support that will be available to you. 

To order a free copy, visit be.macmillan or call us on 0808 808 00 00. You can also find the information on our website.

To see what else Macmillan's cancer information team has been blogging about, please visit our blog home page! You can subscribe to receive our blogs by email or RSS too.

We're with you every step of the way

The Macmillan team is here to help. Our cancer support specialists can answer your questions, offer support, or simply listen if you need a chat. Call us free on 0808 808 00 00.

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Keep in touch Follow Macmillan’s cancer information team on Twitter @mac_cancerinfo

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