Mariela's Twin Pregnancy Complicated by Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Unexpected Twin Pregnancy

• 🤰 Mariela, already a mother to a 9-year-old son, discovered she was pregnant again at age 35, despite using birth control.
• 😲 The surprise pregnancy turned into a bigger shock when an ultrasound revealed she was carrying twins, two girls, which was unexpected but welcomed by her and her husband, Steven.
• 🧬 While twins do run in her family, with her grandmother having 18 children including two sets of twins, it was not a common occurrence.

Breast Cancer Diagnosis During Pregnancy

• ⚠️ At 23 weeks pregnant, Mariela discovered a hard, sizable lump above her chest while applying moisturizer.
• 🩺 Initially dismissing it as a pregnancy-related change, she mentioned it to her doctor, leading to a sonogram and a recommendation for a biopsy.
• 💔 The biopsy results confirmed invasive ductal carcinoma, grade three, stage 2B, a diagnosis delivered unexpectedly on a Monday morning.

Navigating Treatment and Motherhood

• 🎗️ Despite the terrifying diagnosis, Mariela's doctors confirmed that chemotherapy could be administered during pregnancy, starting in the second trimester.
• 🏥 Treatment involved a port placement surgery and a rigorous chemotherapy regimen, including dose-dense infusions and Taxol, while also managing pregnancy symptoms and the growing babies.
• 💖 The cancer responded well to treatment, shrinking significantly, which provided some relief amidst the overwhelming circumstances.

Birth and Post-Cancer Journey

• 👶 The twins, Saraphina and Magdalena, were born via C-section at 37 weeks, with Saraphina crying immediately and Magdalena requiring NICU care due to fluid in her lungs.
• 😔 Mariela experienced guilt over not being able to bond immediately with Magdalena and the challenges of breastfeeding due to chemo residue.
• 🤕 Following the birth, Mariela underwent a bilateral mastectomy and then radiation treatment, managing physical pain and emotional recovery while caring for her newborn twins.
• 💪 She found strength in support groups for young women with cancer and pregnant women facing similar challenges, normalizing her experiences and reducing fear.
• 🌱 After completing treatments, she was put on hormone blockers, inducing menopause, and has since been monitored annually, with her hair eventually growing back, including her distinctive white lock.