Full Breakdown
Florida Mother Chooses Cancer Treatment Over Pregnancy Termination
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
At 14 weeks pregnant, 37-year-old Alicia Harris of Tampa was diagnosed with an aggressive, grade-three form of early-stage breast cancer. Physicians advised that terminating the pregnancy would allow immediate initiation of standard treatment. Harris, already a mother of two, declined the recommendation and instead pursued surgery and chemotherapy while carrying her baby.
Treatment Path and Medical Challenges
After consulting multiple specialists, Harris found a physician who had previously treated a pregnant patient with a similar regimen. That doctor approved the same protocol, citing the earlier case in which the infant was born healthy. Harris endured the physical toll of chemotherapy in the third trimester, reporting severe nausea, vomiting, frequent nosebleeds, and headaches that required frequent emergency-room visits. Mid-treatment, she contracted COVID-19, prompting a temporary pause in chemotherapy while she recovered. Throughout, Harris noted that many clinicians were uncertain how to counsel pregnant cancer patients, often deferring responses.
Emotional Support and Community
Facing isolation, Harris joined an online community of pregnant women undergoing cancer treatment. The group provided peer-to-peer emotional support, helping her cope with fear and uncertainty. While she continued to rely on her medical team for clinical decisions, the shared experiences of other members offered reassurance during the most difficult phases of her illness.
Post-Recovery Advocacy and Career Shift
Following the birth of her daughter, Journi, Harris transitioned to a career as an oncology nurse at the hospital where she received care. She founded Journi for Two, a nonprofit that assists pregnant women confronting cancer diagnoses, and became involved with the About Damn Time campaign, which highlights survivorship issues often overlooked after active treatment. Harris emphasizes that survivorship extends beyond the “bell-ring” moment of remission, encompassing ongoing medication, reconstruction, emotional healing, and relationship rebuilding.
Impact and Ongoing Work
Harris’s experience underscores the complex medical and emotional landscape for pregnant cancer patients. By turning her personal journey into advocacy and professional service, she aims to improve support structures for others navigating similar challenges.