It's frightening to be diagnosed with cancer anytime. If the diagnosis comes when you are pregnant, that is even harder, emotionally and physically. That is what happened to MaKenna Lauterbach, who experienced a serious cough shortly before having a baby, per the New York Post. Her spells of coughing "would be so severe that I would become winded and nauseous to the point of vomiting," she said per Fox News Digital via the Post. Lauternbach, who resides in Illinois, noticed other symptoms, like shortness of breath. Doctors she saw allegedly scoffed at her complaints, ascribing them to her pregnancy. Then they looked into Lauterbach's case further and found a huge tumor.
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When MaKenna Lauterbach's Condition Worsened, Doctors Finally Detected A Lung Tumor
It Was The Size Of A Grapefruit
As bad as this news was, what made Lauterbach's situation even more concerning was the fact that the tumor was blocking an artery to one of her lungs. One doctor termed this condition "extremely rare."
She and her baby were in urgent trouble. Lauterbach was whisked to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago for treatment.
"When you're pregnant with a baby that's nearly full term, your lungs already aren't functioning at full capacity, and when you add a huge tumor on top of it, you run the risk of having respiratory collapse and cardiac arrest." said Lynn Yee, M.D., in a press release. Dr. Yee is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist.
Lauterbach's Problem Was Dire And Getting Worse Fast
She Had An Emergency Cesarean Section On Easter
After her healthy baby boy was born, Lauterbach's cancer had to be addressed. She had stage 3 melanoma, and it was thought that it metastasized to her lung. Lauterbach shared with Fox News Digital via the Post that she felt many emotions - relief at finally knowing the root of her medical issue, irritation at the doctors who downplayed her complaints, and fear over having cancer.
She Underwent Surgery
The Procedure Was Extensive And Risky But It Proved Successful
Immunotherapy shrunk Lauterbach's tumor a lot. Then doctors removed her "entire right lung, parts of the main pulmonary artery and her lymph nodes," per the outlet.
Happily, the surgery went very well. MaKenna Lauterbach, who is now 27, is slated to have immunotherapy for a year, along with CT scans to check her. She urges women not to let doctors ignore their symptoms that may indicate a major health problem.
