Woman Develops Rare Cancer Upon Being Pregnant; Baby Miraculously Survives

Danielle Jones, a new mom from North Wales woke up to a nightmare, shortly post-childbirth— of having contracted cancer that branched out to her spine and brain. Mrs. Jones, 29, was shocked by her diagnosis, termed molar pregnancy, which usually affects one in 600 women giving birth. Out of which, one in ten cases become cancerous.

Precisely two weeks post-delivery, Mrs. Jones was informed about her medical condition: choriocarcinoma cancer. This also came with the advice of her having to undergo weeks of grueling chemotherapy soon after. The days ahead were gloomy as the young mother had to let go of a lot of things, which included breastfeeding her newborn, because of the drugs she was on.

“I was told the cancer was in my liver, lungs, brain, and spine,” said Jones to a media outlet. “I thought I would be leaving my husband behind on his own with our new baby and our son Wesley. I had never heard of this condition before and had no idea I had it while I was pregnant,” she added.

The silver lining was that unlike most cases of cancer, 99 percent of those caused by molar pregnancies are curable. And, Jones was among those lucky ones. Despite being clear for a year, she continues to face a high risk of relapse if she gets pregnant again.

Which is one of the reasons why Jones and her husband have decided to not have any more children. She’s all set to start life afresh as a clerk in NHS cancer unit. “I didn’t know having Averly meant I would get cancer but I’d do it all again if it meant I could have her. I am blessed I didn’t lose her, as many women with molar pregnancies do,” she said.

Jones is now treading on a path to educate and help women after signing up for a molar pregnancy research study. Helmed by Dr. Victoria Parker, the research is funded by Sheffield-based Weston Park Cancer Charity – one of two specialist centers that focusses on diagnosing and treating patients in the UK.