Aussie mum's 'miracle baby' after 'heartbreaking' pregnancy journey
Dani Donne was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was just five weeks pregnant.
Finding out she was pregnant was "one of the happiest moments" of Dani Donne's life. Having already suffered a miscarriage she was excited to finally be a mum.
But her joy was short-lived when just seven days later she was diagnosed with breast cancer — and nothing could prepare her for the gruelling eight months that followed.
"I was just five weeks pregnant when I was diagnosed with breast cancer," the Queensland mum said. "I was in total shock. There was no history of breast cancer in my family. I was scared for my unborn bub and scared for myself."
The 36-year-old feared her second pregnancy would end tragically just like the first. But thanks to cancer specialists and obstetricians at Mater Hospital in Brisbane, Donne is the proud mum of her 'miracle baby' Parker, now 10 months old.
Mum's breast cancer 'slightly harder' to treat than most
Dr Catherine Shannon, Mater Cancer Care Centre Senior Medical Oncologist, said Donne’s breast cancer was "slightly harder" to treat as she presented very early in her pregnancy. She was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer, which tests positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). This protein promotes the growth of cancer cells.
"She was only seven weeks pregnant when I first met her. You can’t safely give chemotherapy in pregnancy until the second trimester, so she had the surgery first as this is a safer approach early in pregnancy," Dr Shannon said.
"We [also] had to wait until after Parker was born to start the HER-2 directed treatment which she has just recently finished. The drugs used are the same as those we would use in women who aren’t pregnant at the time."
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Relief after 'miracle baby' born safely
Holding her precious baby in her arms, the proud mum revealed she was scared about having chemotherapy treatment while pregnant with Parker, who was born four weeks early at Mater Mothers’ Hospital.
"I think I stressed the entire pregnancy that something would go wrong," she said. But hospital staff were "amazing" and she felt cared for and supported throughout her cancer journey.
Mater Cancer Care Clinical Nurse Consultant Esther White said Donne had been incredibly engaged with her treating team which helped "empower Dani throughout her pregnancy and cancer treatment".
"There continues to be ongoing advances in cancer research that offer hope and reassurance – and Mater ensures our patients have access to world-class treatments including those within the clinical trial space," she said.
"Despite a heartbreaking diagnosis of breast cancer during early pregnancy, Dani and her husband Mark were able to access evidence-based specialist care that not only offered hope but supported them in their dreams of having a family with the safe arrival of their beautiful little girl, Parker."
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