Cancer Diagnosis Doesn’t Stop Woman From Starting A Family

In 2007, Melanie Jaggard went to the hospital for a punctured ear drum and was given the shock of her life. She had cancer; a very rare form that was located at the base of her brain.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is the second most common cause of salivary gland cancer but can affect other areas of the body. Melanie is one of only 20 to 25 people in the United Kingdom to have ACC and had a 2-inch tumor removed from her head following a delicate 10-hour operation. She was single at the time, cancer free and one year later met the love of her life, Charlie Jaggard, on an online dating site. Charlie proposed three months after their first date and life was good, until she received the news that the cancer had returned, this time metastasizing to her lungs. Surgery was not an option because the tumors were too numerous and radiation was too risky to the lungs. However the couple was not discouraged. They married in January 2009 and Melanie decided to be a victor rather than a victim. Although 89 % of people with ACC survive after 5 years only 40% survive after 15. Melanie has a life-span of 15 years and she and Charlie have both decided to look at the glass as half full rather than half empty. After careful consideration regarding Melanie’s condition and prognosis, they decided to start a family.

Melanie is now pregnant with twins and is very optimistic about her future. While there may be people who will criticize her for starting a family, the Jaggards are convinced that 10 to 15 years will give them time to raise money for a cure or at least discover medicines that can shrink the tumor. Approximately 1 in 1500 pregnancies is affected by cancer. Melanie holds the distinction of being the only pregnant woman to have ACC in the medical annals thus far. She is treading in unchartered water but optimism will be her guide.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca once said: “Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.” Hopefully one day her twins will thank her.

*This blog post was originally published at Dr. Linda Burke-Galloway*


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