Mom Learns She Has Breast Cancer Days After Giving Birth

Imagine the joy of welcoming your first child after a “perfect pregnancy.” Then, picture your world being shaken with a breast cancer diagnosis two days after giving birth.

That’s the rollercoaster ride Marissa Sweitzer began in early February of 2024.

In hearing that the lump in her breast “looked like cancer,” Marissa says she felt like she couldn’t breathe. “Is this really happening to me,” she remembers thinking. “When do I exhale?”

She exhaled about nine days later when she met with oncologist Daniel Silbiger, DO, and discussed treatment options to fight the aggressive form of breast cancer known as triple-negative breast cancer. A team of medical professionals, led by Dr. Silbiger, collaborated on the plan that would provide her with the best possibility for a successful outcome.

Marissa, 33, wasn’t intimidated by the fact treatment would take about a year. She says she thought, “Let’s go. Let’s do this.” Dr. Silbiger says Marissa was an inspiration because she always looked forward and faced every obstacle with grace.

Marissa’s village of supporters included her boyfriend Austin, family members, friends and her medical providers. A key member of the team was Diane Young, MD, who has been Marissa’s Ob-Gyn since she was 16.

“Marissa is a warrior, a real fighter,” Dr. Young says. “She put on her boxing gloves and didn’t take them off.” Dr. Young states Marissa stayed positive and focused throughout her cancer journey and could always see the silver lining.

When Marissa was late in her pregnancy and close to her due date, she found a lump in her breast while applying lotion to help prevent stretch marks. She discussed it with Dr. Young at her next weekly check-up.

Since it is common for breasts to change during pregnancy, especially when a mother’s milk comes in, they decided to take action after the baby was born. An order for a breast ultrasound was put in the system for that time, Dr. Young says.

On Feb. 3, Marissa delivered a healthy baby girl named Melody.

The workup on the breast started right after the baby was born, according to Dr. Young. Before leaving Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital, Marissa had a breast ultrasound, her first mammogram and a biopsy of the lump.

When the breast radiologist told Marissa it looked like cancer but needed to be confirmed, she broke down and cried in the postpartum suite with her mom and boyfriend.

Dr. Young contacted Marissa directly to give her the news that cancer had been confirmed and to tell her she was in her corner. “We’ll get through this together.”

When the full report came back, Marissa was thankful because she saw the silver lining. The cancer was confined to her breast and some lymph nodes, but it had not spread anywhere else.

“I’m a big believer your mind leads your body,” Marissa says. “When I first met Dr. Silbiger, he was so positive. He said, it’s not your cancer; it’s the cancer that invaded your body and we will get rid of it as soon as possible. I knew then that he was the right doctor for me.”

Marissa’s treatment plan included months of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and five weeks of radiation therapy. Although there is a history of breast cancer in her family, Marissa did not have a genetic mutation for the disease.

“The vast majority of patients with breast cancer do not have a genetic mutation,” Dr. Silbiger says, “but they may be predisposed to breast cancer.”

Dr. Silbiger says Marissa had a complete response to her treatment plan and currently has no evidence of cancer.

Before starting chemotherapy, Marissa and Austin, who live in Concord Township, Ohio, decided to go through one round of in vitro fertilization. “Austin and I have been together for five years,” Marissa says. “He’s Melody’s dad, and one day we may decide to have another baby, a sibling for Melody.”

Until then, Marissa says she is excited to be a full-time mom, since she often couldn’t take care of Melody. Marissa’s mother stepped in to help take care of the baby while Marissa went through cancer treatments. “Now, I can’t wait to go to parks or the zoo with her,” Marissa says.

She calls Melody, who is now 10 months old, her saving angel because it was the pregnancy that helped reveal the breast cancer. “She saved my life.”

Marissa says cancer changed her in that she more fully understands life is short and kindness matters. “I like to do one positive thing each day for someone,” she says. That habit began when she was 18 years old. “It’s the little things that spread positivity. Life is too short to get angry or be mean. You don’t know what someone else is going through.”