Human interest
A New Jersey mother had just given birth when she received a life-changing cancer diagnosis — and her biggest fear was not being able to have more children.
When Kelly Spill started bleeding, her doctors attributed it to pregnancy and childbirth, especially considering her young age of 28.
But then came the weight loss, fatigue and loss of appetite. “I knew deep down it was cancer,” she told Fox News Digital.
After a colonoscopy, Spill’s fears were confirmed: she had stage 3 colorectal cancer.
Her baby boy, Chase Bonito, was only a month old.
The initial plan was to visit three hospitals to learn about treatment options and gauge their comfort level, she said.
The first stop, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, ended up being the last.
“They checked all the boxes,” Spill said.
“The original plan was to undergo chemotherapy, radiation and surgery,” Spill told Fox News Digital.
“But that would have meant I would probably never be able to carry another baby again – and that’s really hard to hear at only 28,” she said.
Cancer treatment and fertility
Traditional cancer treatments are known to impact a woman’s ability to have children, according to Amanda Schwer, MD, a radiation oncologist at the City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center in Irvine, California.
“Radiation targeted or absorbed by a woman’s reproductive organs can affect fertility, as can chemotherapy, which can cause women to lose fertility-related hormones,” said Schwer, who was not involved in Spill’s care, at Fox News Digital.
Madhu Shetti, a radiation oncologist and founder of the skin care company Balmere in California, noted that some chemotherapy drugs can shift hormone levels in a premenopausal woman toward menopause, making it difficult to conceive. a child.
“Ultimately, every woman should speak with her care team to understand her individual risks, benefits and alternatives,” Shetti, who has not treated Spill, said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
An unexpected new treatment
Just before scheduling his first day of chemo, Spill was introduced to a new treatment pathway.
Based on her biopsies, doctors told Spill she was a match for a new clinical trial led by the SU2C Colorectal Cancer Dream Team, a Memorial Sloan research team committed to improving access to care alternatives against cancer.
The trial would test an immunotherapy drug – dostarlimab – as a first-line treatment instead of grueling rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.
“All I knew at that time was that the side effects of this immunotherapy would be much less harsh on my body than those of chemotherapy, and that I would have a chance of having a better quality of life – and maybe even another baby,” Spill said.
Immunotherapy works by activating the patient’s immune system to attack cancer cells, Schwer said.
“This is an important advance in cancer treatment and a lot of progress has been made in this area,” she said.
“However, this continues to evolve. We know that success rates for immunotherapy can differ and that not all patients respond or have a long-lasting response to it.
Age, lifestyle factors and other existing medical conditions can all impact the effectiveness of immunotherapy treatments, Schwer added.
“Genetic testing can help detect more effective treatments for patients, but more research is still needed in this area. »
“It’s all a question of timing”
After talking with her care team and weighing the potential risks and benefits, Spill decided to proceed with the clinical trial.
“I decided to give it a go. For me, it was all about timing. »
Spill was only the fourth person in the country to participate in the trial.
She received dostarlimab by infusion every three weeks for six months.
Although side effects are possible with immunotherapy, Spill said she only felt fatigue — “which, sometimes, I think was mostly due to motherhood.”
During her fourth treatment, Spill learned that her tumor had shrunk in half.
“By the ninth treatment, my tumor was completely gone, which was extremely exciting,” she said.
New chance in life
Before starting treatment, Spill and her husband had frozen some embryos as a safety precaution.
After being declared cancer-free, her first desire was to become pregnant again.
“But my doctor advised me to wait at least two years, because if the cancer were to return, it would likely be within that time frame,” Spill said.
It was difficult for her to hear that, she said – but she now considers it a wise decision.
“One of the hardest parts of cancer is coming out of survival mode, realizing you’re human again and getting back to life,” Spill said.
During these two years of waiting, she took emotional intelligence courses to help her understand what she had experienced.
“I came out a much better person than I was before,” Spill said.
In July 2023, she gave birth to her second child, a healthy baby girl.
“Her name is Maya Grace and she is an angel,” she told Fox News Digital.
Today, Spill remains cancer-free.
She has exams and biopsies every six months and has just been cleared for annual exams.
Spill and her husband are already talking about a third baby, she shared.
To others facing a new diagnosis, Spill’s advice is to “feel your feelings.”
“Feel whatever you’re feeling in that moment, because it’s important,” she said.
“It helps you understand what you’re going through.”
Spill and her husband are already talking about a third baby, she shared.
To others facing a new diagnosis, Spill’s advice is to “feel your feelings.”
“Feel whatever you’re feeling in that moment, because it’s important,” she said.
“It helps you understand what you’re going through.”
Anyone interested in exploring immunotherapy should consult their healthcare provider, experts advise.
“It’s important to speak with your oncologist to understand your individual risks, benefits and alternatives,” Shetti said.
Women who are considering having children should ask their provider about the potential impact of any treatment, Schwer added.
“If you’re facing cancer, thinking about starting or expanding a family right now can add to the feeling of being overwhelmed,” she told Fox News Digital.
“Remember, you are not alone and you will benefit from talking to your doctor about your concerns and which fertility preservation options are best for you.”
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News Source : nypost.com
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