Breast Cancer Survivor’s
Story of Hope
Zoila Leiva was 38 years old and four-and-a-half months pregnant with twins when she received the shocking news the day after Christmas: She had breast cancer.

The pronouncement from her oncologist was even worse. “The first thing he said to me was that he couldn’t treat me unless I terminated the pregnancy,” Zoila recalls. “I was devastated.”

Determined to find a way to save both her pregnancy and her life, Zoila decided to get a second opinion. She remembers the first day she met Bichlien Nguyen, M.D., medical director of breast research at the MemorialCare Breast Center at Orange Coast Memorial. “She immediately gave me a big hug and told me that we were going to get through this together,” Zoila says. “And right then, I knew I had come to the right place.”

Beginning Treatment
At the time it was diagnosed, Zoila’s cancer was already stage III—an advanced stage— and had spread to her lymph nodes. But after carefully reviewing her case, Dr. Nguyen and the Breast Center team gave Zoila uplifting news: Her breast cancer could be successfully treated without harming her unborn babies. The treatment would begin with a course of chemotherapy.

“Until fairly recently, delivering chemotherapy to a pregnant woman was considered controversial,” says Dr. Nguyen. “Studies have now shown that chemotherapy appears safe during the second and third trimester.“

That’s reassuring news for women like Zoila. While breast cancer during pregnancy is fairly rare—in the U.S., one in 3,000 pregnant women are diagnosed with the disease each year—it is the most common cancer diagnosed during pregnancy. Complicating this fact is that pregnant women tend to be diagnosed later than those who are not pregnant.

Early Detection is Key
“A woman’s breasts do change during pregnancy, so sometimes they can dismiss or ignore an early symptom,” says Dr. Nguyen. “Some changes, like increased swelling or tenderness, are normal, but a hard lump is not. That’s why it’s important for pregnant women to continue with monthly breast self-exams and immediately report any concerns to their doctor. Early detection is key.”

At Orange Coast Memorial’s Breast Center, early detection is aided by leading-edge imaging techniques, including a high-resolution breast MRI, which will be housed in the hospital’s new Imaging Center when it opens this fall. “Our new equipment enables us to perform a highly-detailed MRI of the breasts,” says Richard Reitherman, M.D., medical director of breast imaging at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center. “It’s an essential tool in screening for breast cancer, particularly in women with dense breast tissue and other factors that put them at high risk for the disease.”

A New Outlook on Life
Zoila’s first course of chemotherapy was a success. She was even able to dance at her teenage daughter’s quinceañera celebration shortly after starting her chemo treatment. And that April, at 32 weeks of pregnancy, she delivered two healthy baby boys by C-section: Julian and Joel. “They were perfect,” Zoila says proudly. Almost immediately afterwards came a second round of more aggressive chemotherapy and later in the fall, Zoila elected to have a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. “I didn’t want to take any chances,” Zoila says. “I have too much to live for.”

Jane Kakkis, M.D., medical director of breast surgery at Orange Coast, performed the mastectomy. “Although some women have a mastectomy because it’s recommended in their case, other breast cancer patients may have a personal preference for this option based on their particular set of circumstances. Our state-of-the-art mastectomy and reconstruction techniques allow for a beautiful restoration, which is highly pleasing to our patients.”

Today, Zoila is cancer-free and enjoying every minute with her now 16-month-old twins. “Every day is a blessing and I am so thankful to Dr. Nguyen and the whole team of doctors and nurses at Orange Coast Memorial for being there with me every step of the way,” she says. “I can’t say enough good things about the care I received. It’s given me a whole new outlook on life.”

For more information visit MemorialCare Breast Center.