Nationwide — Talicia Durham, a 32-year-old African American mother from Columbia, South Carolina, was diagnosed with breast cancer while five months pregnant with her fourth child. She underwent chemotherapy during pregnancy, gave birth to her daughter, and is now in remission.
The discovery came after she had a dream that she had breast cancer. When she woke up, she checked her right breast and felt a lump. She contacted her gynecologist and had it examined, but doctors initially believed it was benign. By the time she reached 20 weeks of pregnancy, however, the lump had grown. Because breast cancer runs on her father’s side of the family, her doctor recommended a biopsy.
Two days after the biopsy, Durham received the diagnosis. Her first concern was her unborn baby, but she soon began treatment while continuing her pregnancy. She completed four rounds of chemotherapy, including AC chemotherapy, which she called “the red devil.” The treatment left her extremely tired, adding to the exhaustion she already felt from pregnancy. She initially tried to keep working, but her husband encouraged her to stop and focus on her health and their family.
According to 11Alive, her husband, children, parents, siblings, extended family, friends, and coworkers became a major source of support throughout the treatment. Her brother watched the children when she felt too sick or needed to attend medical appointments. Her coworkers also held a baby shower during her cancer treatment and gave her and her baby gifts, including diapers and wipes. Durham said the experience showed her how many people were willing to stand beside her. Her faith also helped her manage the fear and stress, as she turned to prayer whenever she felt overwhelmed.
After completing chemotherapy, Durham was induced and delivered her daughter, Ava, who weighed 5 pounds, 5 ounces. She chose to give birth without an epidural and later called Ava her “chemo baby.” The cancer treatment did not end after delivery. Two weeks after giving birth, she returned for additional treatment while caring for Ava and her three older children. Earlier this year, she also underwent a double mastectomy.
Durham is now in remission and works full-time as a nurse practitioner. She graduated from nurse practitioner school in 2024 but did not start working in the field until 2026. Her experience has changed how she approaches life, and she now encourages women to pay attention to changes in their bodies and speak up when something feels wrong. She also wants women to take symptoms such as unusual tiredness seriously instead of automatically blaming them on stress or a busy schedule. With Ava turning 1 this month, Durham is focused on moving forward with her family and career.