PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The road to motherhood can be challenging for women with cancer. Meet Erin D’Avanzo, a Chester County woman who beat cervical cancer and became a mother.
She is a kindergarten teacher who planned to start a family right after her marriage, but things didn’t turn out the way she expected.
“My husband and I say every day, we’re so lucky to have him,” D’Avanzo said. “He’s happy, as you can see. He loves people. He was just, he was meant to be ours.”
Her journey to motherhood had one huge hurdle, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer at 27, just after her honeymoon. Instead of starting a family, she underwent chemotherapy and a radical hysterectomy.
“The thought of not being able to have one was just, I’ve always wanted to be a mom,” D’Avanzo said. “I have nieces and nephews, and I’m kind of a second mom to them. So I just wanted to be able to be a mom.”
And now she has Dr. David Holtz, chief of gynecologic oncology at Main Line Health, to thank.
“Women are much more likely to have children even if they have compromised their fertility for whatever reason,” Holtz said.
Holtz said infertility from cervical cancer can be prevented if people get the HPV vaccine, which is recommended for girls and boys at age 11 or 12.
“Cervical cancer is almost 100% preventable with HPV vaccination,” he said.
D’Avanzo received the vaccine as a teenager, but Holtz said she had likely already been exposed to the virus.
“I’m a teacher, I love kids, I’m a cheerleading coach and I’ve surrounded my life with kids,” she said.
In order to have Frankie, D’Avanzo underwent an egg retrieval before cancer treatments.
“The fertility rates for egg and embryo retrieval are much higher than they were, say, 10 to 15 years ago,” Holtz said.
Embryos were created using D’Avanzo’s eggs and her husband’s sperm. Frankie was born via surrogate.
“We started out as strangers and now we’re like family,” D’Avanzo said.
Frankie was born on her 33rd birthday and she plans to have another child through the same surrogate.
September is Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month and this month is also Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Friday, September 6 is Wear Teal Day to raise awareness.
Stephanie Stahl
