Toowoomba mum Amy Jenner diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, discovers she is pregnant, gives birth to Halo

A Toowoomba woman has shown the incredible power of a mother’s love, strength and the human body after giving birth just seven months after she was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer.

Weeks after doctors told Amy Jenner she had a 50 per cent chance of surviving an aggressive breast cancer, she discovered she was also eight weeks pregnant.

Despite still coming to terms with her devastating health news, the 28-year-old woman had to make a decision – have a termination and start chemotherapy or continue with the pregnancy and fight the cancer later.

Already a parent to two daughters named Ella and Mya, Ms Jenner’s motherly instinct kicked in and she knew she had to do whatever she could to have this baby.

“Knowing I had another little Ella or Mya inside my belly just ignited this motherly instinct in me and I just felt I needed to protect this baby at any cost,” Ms Jenner said.

During her pregnancy she underwent a double mastectomy and a few months later on March 28 she gave birth to her third daughter Halo.

Toowoomba woman Amy Jenner who was diagnosed with Stage III cancer and discovered she was pregnant less than a month later, with two of her three children Ella (left) and Mya.

Born five weeks premature via caesarean, little Halo weighed four pounds 12 and remained in the special care unit while Ms Jenner commenced chemotherapy the week after giving birth.

The treatment left Ms Jenner bedridden, unable to walk and unable to connect to her newborn daughter until after they both left the hospital.

“It felt like a miracle being pregnant because it was my last chance to have a child, so we named her Halo – she’s our angel baby, our little fighter,” Ms Jenner said.

“All the other mums were spending time with their babies except me so that was really hard.

“But the midwives would hold my hand, check in on me and cut my food up to make sure I was eating every day.”

Extraordinarily, only one in 3000 pregnant women will have breast cancer according to Cancer Research in the UK.

With no family history of cancer, it made Ms Jenner’s diagnosis of Stage 3 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma on August 28, 2022 all the more shocking.

“That date will forever be etched in my mind and for all the wrong reasons,” she said.

“I went through a whirlwind of emotions … I just broke down and I couldn’t breathe.”

Toowoomba woman Amy Jenner who was diagnosed with Stage III cancer and discovered she was pregnant less than a month later, with her newborn baby Halo.

In addition to the physical impacts her cancer treatment has had on her body, the entire ordeal has also impacted Ms Jenner’s mental health.

Months following her double mastectomy she was handed booklets about why “breastfeeding is best” – a sight which began to make her feel inadequate.

This feeling only intensified every time she had a paediatric appointment and was surrounded by photos of breastfeeding mothers in the waiting room.

After commencing chemotherapy, Ms Jenner also struggled with the loss of independence, the need to rely on others and isolation from her children when her immune system was vulnerable.

“The worst feeling in the world is not being able to kiss my children goodnight,” she said.

“The community behind us here in Toowoomba has been incredible and I’m so grateful for my support network.”

Following seven rounds of chemotherapy, Ms Jenner treatmrnt will include hormone, radiation and steroid therapy, with specialists telling her she now has a 70 per cent chance of living for the next decade.

The prognosis has filled the mum of three with hope after being told she had just a 50 per cent chance of survival when she first received her diagnosis.

Ms Jenner said while her faith has helped get her through, her three children have also been paramount in her ability to remain strong, positive and resilient.

“If anything happens to me, I want my children to remember me as being brave and for having fun with them, not for being unwell,” she said.

Originally from Bundaberg before relocating with her family to Toowoomba, Ms Jenner said she hopes by sharing her story she can help raise awareness for other women to check their breasts.

“It could save your life,” she said.

“At the end of the day if this saves just one woman it’s so worth it.”

A family friend has launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist the family with living costs during Ms Jenner’s treatment. To make a donation click here.