After conquering breast cancer, Marloes (32) conceived naturally against all expectations. She even successfully breastfed with just one breast.
“The moment I felt the lump, I thought I was pregnant. The doctor assumed it was a swollen mammary gland and advised me to return after giving birth. That pregnancy ended in miscarriage, but as I noticed the lump growing, I insisted on further checks. It turned out to be breast cancer—a one-and-a-half-inch tumor requiring mastectomy. I was never scared it wouldn't end well for me, but the fear of infertility gripped me. Chemo would induce temporary menopause and reduce my fertility. I'd just married a wonderful man, and children were in our plans—then came the breast cancer. So, before starting chemo, we underwent IVF, freezing 12 embryos.
It was a surreal time: fighting for survival while nurturing new life with hormone injections. Knowing I could still have children gave me strength through the treatments. A compassionate nurse encouraged me: 'Live your life. Don't dwell on the chemo—many people recover fully.' I held onto those words. I needed to be cancer-free for two years before embryo transfer, but it never came to that. Just one month after treatments ended, despite my diminished fertility, I was pregnant—spontaneously. I couldn't believe my battle-worn body could achieve this.
Two weeks ago, we welcomed our beautiful son, Aaron. Looking at him still feels like a miracle. Breastfeeding works perfectly with one breast; the body is remarkably adaptable, producing enough milk for two. I'm not afraid of the cancer returning. My body has proven its resilience, and I trust it now.”
Santé Magazine, Text Rosa Koelemeijer, Image: Getty Images
