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After trying unsuccessfully
for eight months to become pregnant, Dana Waldron thought
her biggest concern was possible infertility. Unfortunately,
the cause of the infertility was a more serious problem,
uterine cancer. For Mrs. Waldron, who was in her late
twenties, the prospect of having cancer and not being
able to have children was devastating. “First you
think, ‘Am I going to die? ” she relates. “Your
next concern is kids. I just knew I wanted to have a
family, to get pregnant, to hold a baby in my arms. For
a woman without children, this seemed like the worst
cancer.”
After a biopsy from her gynecologist confirmed cancerous
cells in her uterus, Mrs. Waldron was referred to Thad
Denehy, M.D., gynecologic oncologist with the Division
of Gynecologic Cancer and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
at Saint Barnabas Medical Center.
Dr. Denehy listened to Mrs. Waldron as she discussed
her desire to still have children despite the challenging
situation.
“He could see that I was very emotional and was
equally sensitive to my situation,” recalls Mrs.
Waldron.
Dr. Denehy suggested a treatment that one of his partners
(now retired), the gynecologic oncologist Caterina Gregori,
M.D., had successfully pioneered using progesterone in
young endometrial cancer patients as early as the 1970s.
The hope was that the medication would regress the cancer
cells temporarily so she could become pregnant. After
delivery, a hysterectomy would be recommended, as the
likelihood of the cancer returning would be very high.
“It is highly unusual for someone so young with
so few classic risk factors to develop uterine cancer,” says
Dr. Denehy. “Because of her age, fertility was
naturally an important issue.”
Mrs. Waldron tried the treatment for eight months. Finally,
on her fourth and final attempt, the dilation and curettage
(D&C) came back disease-free. The Waldron’s
were filled with relief and the race was on to become
pregnant.
Because timing was a huge issue for the Waldrons, who
feared the return of the cancer, they sought fertility
treatment through Saint Barnabas. The couple went through
3-1/2 in vitro fertilization cycles, a year of attempts,
without success.
Down to their last frozen embryo, the Waldron’s
decided to try one final time. Mrs. Waldron feared the
phone call that would come two weeks later to let her
know if a pregnancy had occurred.
“At that point I just had a breakdown,” she
recalls. “I remember thinking that if I didn’t
get pregnant, that this was it for us. When the phone
call came I made my husband answer it because I could
not handle it.”
Fortunately, the news was terrific; Mrs. Waldron was
pregnant. Over the next weeks and months the pregnancy
progressed, despite placental bleeding in the 11th week.
On November 29, 2000, the Waldrons welcomed baby Faith
into the world, bestowing on her a name that reflected
their years of belief that one day they would have a
child.
Shortly after delivery, the Waldrons met with Dr. Denehy
to discuss and plan the definitive therapy of her known
endometrial cancer removal of her uterus, tubes and ovaries.
Much to everyone’s surprise, before the surgery
could be scheduled, the Waldrons spontaneously conceived.
Baby Billy was born on November 8, 2001. Mrs. Waldron
completed her surgery shortly thereafter, without evidence
of persistent cancer.
Now a family of four, the Waldrons returned to Dr. Denehy
for Mrs. Waldron’s continued treatment, and to
show him their new additions. “No one was happier
for us than Dr. Denehy,” she says. “I brought
Faith in for one of my check ups, and he was smiling
and telling everyone in the office about her. Dr. Denehy
was wonderful.” Looking back on her struggle to
fight cancer and create two new lives, Mrs. Waldron feels
blessed to have her children and her restored health.
“The children make me smile every day and they
show me what I worked so hard for.” she says.”
Gynecologic Cancer and Pelvic Surgery LLC treats patients
from throughout New Jersey and the surrounding tri-state
area. It has one of the highest volumes in the Northeast.
For an appointment, call (973) 243-9300.
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