No one ever said pregnancy is easy. A mom-to-be’s body goes through monumental changes while she prepares to bring another life into the world. During pregnancy, women often feel aches and pains, and although these can be normal, that isn’t always the case. Women must listen to their bodies, and if something doesn’t feel right, there is no shame in speaking to their medical team about those concerns.
Jaclyn Lin was already a mom to a toddler when she became pregnant with her second daughter. She was well-versed in the woes of pregnancy and felt she had a pretty good idea of what to expect. But when she started to experience flu-like symptoms at 27 weeks pregnant, the 35-year-old mom knew something was wrong. She began a journey of self-advocacy that ended in a shocking diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Now, Lin wants to help other women find their voice when it comes to advocating for their health.
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Lin knew it was more than just the flu.
According to a news release provided to CafeMom, Lin had flu-like symptoms and lower back pain during her second trimester. Her OB-GYN recommended she go to the hospital. She was initially diagnosed and released with medication for a urinary tract infection. The medication helped at the beginning, but Lin still didn’t feel like herself.
A month later, she went back to the hospital, and test results showed increased liver enzymes, but she was once again released.
“At Lin’s 32-week appointment, she advocated for herself requesting additional care and screenings for herself, and not just baby, who was healthy. Though the OB-GYN placed referrals at her request, she ended up back in the hospital two days later with the same symptoms. This time, she was sure to advocate for abdominal scans, and an ultrasound of her abdomen and a CT scan were ordered,” the release explains.
The findings were shocking.
Lin tells CafeMom she needed to get to the bottom of what was making her feel so terrible. An August 2023 MRI showed tumors on her pancreas and liver.
“During my pregnancy I knew something wasn’t right. Some of my symptoms, like back pain and some atypical lab values, were typical pregnancy symptoms as well. No one, not one of the dozen doctors I saw, had pancreatic cancer, or cancer of any kind for that matter, on their radar. Advocating for myself led to the MRI and other tests that revealed my diagnosis,” she says.
Her daughter was born prematurely but healthy.
Lin says she gave birth to a healthy baby girl five weeks early.
“My baby girl is thriving. She will be 8 months old on 4/21/24 and is the happiest baby girl. Delivered five weeks premature, she only spent one week in the NICU and has been growing like a champ ever since," she explains.
She had a biopsy four days postpartum, and on August 31, it confirmed a diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
It was a lot for the mom to digest.
The mom of two young girls had to come to grips with the devastating diagnosis and life change very quickly. She wants to share her story so other moms will not be afraid to advocate for themselves.
“It took a while to wrap my head around everything that happened. It wasn’t just a cancer diagnosis I was wrestling with, but all the hormones and everything that comes with the postpartum period as well. Not to mention continuing to care for my then two year old and a newborn baby," she explains.
"It’s been quite the emotional roller coaster. I was very sick in the initial months of my diagnosis, but the chemotherapy has helped save my life. I am finally feeling like myself again on the good days and in a place mentally where I am ready to share my story. There are so many reports of younger individuals being diagnosed with cancer, and I hope my story can help bring awareness to a growing concern.”
More from CafeMom: Pregnant Mom Shocked by Stage 3 Cancer Diagnosis but Vows To Fight for Herself & Her Baby
Lin has a special message for moms.
She says motherhood isn’t easy in the best circumstances, but she wants all moms to feel seen and loved. She encourages us all to find our voice when we need help.
“Raising little humans is not an easy job and often a thankless job. Never be afraid to speak up, advocate for yourself, and ask for help," she says. "Don’t forget to take care of yourself – physically, mentally, emotionally – as we moms so often forget to do.”
