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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.”
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 in 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.”
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