A young mother diagnosed with breast cancer during her first pregnancy has received the greatest gift for Mother’s Day: she has overcome the disease, after a year marked by childbirth and numerous chemotherapy sessions.
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“The chemotherapy was very difficult both on my morale and [sur mon] physical. When I wanted to give up the fight, I said to myself that Roxanne needs her mother. She gave me the strength to carry on. With her by my side, anything was possible,” says Jessica Dagenais.
Her doctor recently confirmed to her that there was no trace of her breast cancer in her body. The 27-year-old mother had received the terrible diagnosis a little over a year ago. She was then 26 weeks pregnant.
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Jessica Dagenais during her pregnancy.
She was able to do two sessions of chemotherapy before taking a short one-month break to prepare her body for childbirth.
“During my cesarean, I was terrified, I was afraid that there had been repercussions on the health of my baby because of the chemotherapy. After the sessions, I could be 24 hours to feel it move less in my belly. It scared me,” she recalls.
Invincible
His little Roxanne was born in perfect health on April 19, 2022. “When I took her in my arms, I felt a feeling of immense happiness, as if I was invincible. At that moment, my fight took on another meaning.”
Photo Pierre-Paul Poulin
Jessica Dagenais with her daughter, Roxanne.
A dose of courage that was essential to him for the future. Shortly after giving birth, she went through 12 chemotherapy treatments in as many weeks.
“With a young baby, it was the most difficult and intense period, she drops. I am alone to take care of Roxanne [au quotidien] and I had a lot of symptoms like headaches and fatigue.”
Luckily, she could count on the support of her godmother, who looked after her baby a few days a week.
“I don’t know how I would have gotten through it without her otherwise. It takes a whole network,” she said, also thanking those who helped her financially through a campaign on social networks.
Jessica Dagenais also had to do radiation therapy in addition to undergoing a partial mastectomy, which led to some post-operative complications.
The best to come
The mother is delighted today to know that the most difficult part is behind her. His little Roxanne, a little clown on two legs who is always smiling and full of energy, celebrated her first birthday last April.
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Jessica Dagenais during her first pregnancy.
Then Jessica received another good news that filled her with happiness: the chemotherapy did not affect her fertility.
“I love being a mom. It was one of my biggest fears of not being able to have more. I hope to have the chance to have a better pregnancy experience and to be able to enjoy the first year of my baby’s life more”, she allows herself to dream.