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Patient Conceives Despite Uterine Cancer 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.” HOPE FOR A BABY, DESPITE 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. THE LAST EMBRYO 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.”
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