Lifesaving Story of a Second Opinion

During her first trimester of pregnancy, Reggie Hong noticed a change to the skin on her breast. This was not her first pregnancy, so she knew something wasn’t right. Immediately, she showed her obstetrician, who recommended an ultrasound. The ultrasound results were devastating: Reggie had stage II breast cancer.

Her physician at the time said Reggie and her husband, Allen, should consider terminating the pregnancy. Her type of breast cancer required hormone therapy, which would not be safe for the fetus. The couple left the appointment grief stricken. Soon after, they met with Reggie’s surgeon, who offered a ray of hope. The Hongs’ surgeon recommended they get a second opinion at The University of Kansas Health System.

A second opinion ended up being exactly what the Hong's needed. At the health system, Reggie met with maternal-fetal medicine physicians. She clearly remembers one of the doctors mentioning they were currently caring for 3 pregnant patients with cancer. She would be the fourth!

With the insight her second opinion provided, Reggie found relief. She now had hope that she and her baby were going to be all right. Reggie said, “I called all my family members, and I said, ‘I'm going to live. The baby's going to live.’”

Reggie’s healthcare team’s goal was to buy her time by slowly shrinking the tumor with chemotherapy treatments until her baby arrived. Allen and soon-to-be big sister, Lily, would be her support. And to help keep the Hongs’ baby safe? Increased monitoring and a watchful eye.

Her team included Marc Parrish, DO, a maternal fetal medicine specialist specializing in breast cancer, Ryan Rader, MD, a hematologist and oncologist specializing in breast cancer and Megan Thomas, MD, a maternal fetal medicine specialist that would eventually deliver baby Elena. This highly specialized multidisciplinary team came together with a shared objective. “To make sure we’re watching both mom and baby really closely, which we did. We wanted to balance what was good for the baby and what is good for mom,” says Dr. Thomas.

A typical treatment plan would not have included chemo; instead it would have been composed of hormone treatment, surgery and radiation. With Reggie’s type of breast cancer, hormone therapy is necessary to fight back the cancer. Unfortunately, hormone therapy is not an option while pregnant. Her healthcare team came up with a plan to save both mother and baby. Reggie would undergo chemo treatments during pregnancy. Then, 3 weeks after the birth of her baby, she would restart chemo treatments followed by surgery, radiation and the lifesaving hormone therapy she needed. As Reggie’s type of breast cancer uses hormones to grow, she will continue hormone therapy treatments for 5 to 10 years.

Outside of chemotherapy, other medications must be checked to be sure they are safe for both mother and baby. Reggie and her baby were regularly monitored for potential side effects, such as the baby’s growth and evidence of anemia. Additionally, placental function was monitored weekly in her third trimester to ensure it was not being impacted by her chemotherapy treatments. The team kept a close eye on her baby to ensure she was still safe and they could continue to move forward with Reggie’s treatment plan that offered the best outcome for both her and her baby.

One thing was clear before the Hongs’ baby girl was born – her name. The name Elena means light, torch, which represented light in the darkness for both Reggie and Allen.

“We decided to name the baby Elena because it means torch, so a light in the darkness. Chemo and cancer treatment can be dark, and the diagnosis itself can be dark, but it's been really a bright day every week when I get to go see her on the ultrasound. She's been the best part of cancer,” explained Reggie.

Thanks to Reggie’s multidisciplinary care team at The University of Kansas Cancer Center and The University of Kansas Health System, baby Elena, the Hongs’s light, arrived safe and sound. Reggie has continued her cancer journey with the planned treatment set out in her initial second opinion. She has advice for other women in a similar situation. “You don’t only have one option … you can make it through.”