Read Time: 6 minutes
Takeaways:
- Multidisciplinary care and cutting-edge research at Huntsman Cancer Institute made it possible for Autumn to receive cancer treatment while pregnant and deliver a healthy baby.
- Evidence-based, patient-centered treatment plans give hope and options to people facing complex diagnoses once thought impossible.
Impact: Groundbreaking research on safe cancer treatments during pregnancy is transforming care worldwide—offering hope, guidance, and lifesaving options for families facing the unimaginable.
When Autumn Durham felt a lump in her breast in April 2024, she didn’t think much of it at first. At 26, she had recently finished nursing her son and was often tired and rundown.
“I was catching every cold that went around,” she remembers. “But I thought that was just what it meant to be a new mom—exhausted all the time.”
Then came two life-changing moments—just weeks apart.
“On April 1, I found out I was pregnant,” Autumn says. “Two weeks later, I found out I had breast cancer.”
Her diagnosis came while she was stationed in Montana, serving as a nuclear missile operator in the U.S. Air Force.
The position demanded focus, discipline, and resilience—traits that would soon become essential in an entirely different kind of mission.
“When the doctors first told me I had cancer, I was shocked,” she recalls. “I thought, I’m only 26. How could this be happening?”
Worse, the local doctors told her something even more devastating: She needed to terminate her pregnancy in order to begin treatment immediately.
“I remember sitting there, trying to process everything,” Autumn says. “I was scared, confused, and heartbroken. I wanted to live, but I also wanted my baby to live.”
Searching for Hope
In the middle of that fear, she reached out for help. She asked her military doctor if she could seek a second opinion and called friends and family in Utah, where she grew up. Several of them had parents who were oncologists at Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah.
“They told me, ‘Come to Huntsman Cancer Institute. They’ll take care of you. They have the best people and the best research,’” she says. “So, I reached out—and everything changed.”
From her very first conversation with her Huntsman Cancer Institute team, Autumn felt something she hadn’t felt in weeks: hope.
“I wasn’t just a cancer patient—I was a pregnant woman fighting for two lives. And my doctors never lost sight of that.”
“They told me they had the data and treatments that would allow me to continue my pregnancy safely,” she says. “That was the first time anyone had said those words to me.”
The Air Force approved her transfer to Utah so she could receive care at Huntsman Cancer Institute. Her case was quickly reviewed by a multidisciplinary team, that consisted of a radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, surgical oncologist Kirstyn Brownson, MD, and plastic surgeon Fatma Tuncer, PhD. Together, they designed a plan that prioritized both her health and the safety of her unborn baby.
“They worked closely with my obstetrician and every other specialist,” she explains. “I wasn’t just a cancer patient—I was a pregnant woman fighting for two lives. And my doctors never lost sight of that.”
A Plan for Two
Because she was pregnant, her care team had to consider every detail of her treatment plan—from the type of anesthesia used in surgery to the timing of chemotherapy cycles. They began with a single mastectomy and lymph node removal, carefully limiting her time on the operating table to protect the baby.
Next came eight rounds of chemotherapy using medications proven safe during pregnancy.
“When my doctors first told me it was possible to do chemo while pregnant, I didn’t believe them,” Autumn says. “But they showed me studies and data from other women who had done it safely. That gave me peace of mind.”
Her care team also helped her manage symptoms and side effects with compassion and creativity.
“My radiation oncologist recommended acupuncture for my neuropathy, which helped,” she says. “And they were always asking how I was feeling emotionally. My medical oncologist wasn’t just treating the cancer—he cared about my mental health, and even what my husband was going through. He saw us as a family, not just a case.”
Throughout treatment, her doctors kept her OB closely informed. “When it was time for my son to be born, the delivery team at University of Utah Hospital was in constant communication with my Huntsman Cancer Institute doctors,” Autumn says.
Her baby arrived one month early—and perfectly healthy.
“The first time I held him, it felt like a miracle,” she says. “Every fear I had about his safety melted away. I knew the research and my care team had made that moment possible.”
Recovery and Resilience
After delivery, Autumn faced the next phase of treatment: 21 rounds of radiation therapy, followed by a second mastectomy and DIEP flap reconstructive surgery. Through it all, she kept drawing strength from her care team’s support and from the community of women she found online.
“My mother-in-law encouraged me to join a breast cancer support group on Facebook,” she says. “At first, I didn’t feel ready to share, but hearing from other women who were pregnant during treatment helped so much. Now, I share my story whenever I can to help others feel less alone.”
Today, she is cancer-free and continuing hormone therapy at Huntsman Cancer Institute with Roma Bhatia, MD, MPH. She knows the next couple of years carry the highest risk of recurrence, but she faces the future with cautious optimism.
“It’s tough sometimes,” Autumn admits. “But every day I wake up cancer-free and see my two kids—it’s worth every struggle.”
Her care team also helped her understand that future pregnancies might still be possible.
“I worried they’d tell me I could never have more kids,” she says. “But they were encouraging. They explained the risks and helped me understand my options. That gave me hope for the future, not just survival.”
The Power of Research
For her, the difference between despair and hope came down to one thing: research.
“The research saved my baby,” Autumn says simply. “It showed my doctors that treatment during pregnancy could be safe and effective. Without that knowledge, I don’t know if I’d have my son today.”
Her care team gave her copies of studies and clinical data showing that chemotherapy doesn’t cross the placenta in certain stages of pregnancy. That evidence allowed her to make informed choices with confidence and peace of mind.
“When I was diagnosed in Montana, I felt like an outlier—pregnant and fighting cancer. But here, they made me feel like I belonged. They had answers, they had data, and they had compassion.”
Now, she’s passionate about spreading the word about the importance of funding cancer research.
“Private donations make this kind of research possible,” Autumn says. “The people who give might never know the impact they have—but I do. Every time I look at my son, I’m reminded of what that support means.”
![[field.image-button-alternative-text]](/huntsmancancerinstitute/sites/g/files/zrelqx336/files/media/images/2025/autumn-durham-5.jpg "“Huntsman Cancer Institute didn’t just save my life—they saved my baby’s life. Because of them, I’m a survivor and a mom.\"")
Sharing Hope Forward
Autumn continues to connect with other women who find themselves in similar circumstances—scared, searching, and hoping for reassurance.
“Whenever I tell people I did chemo while pregnant, they’re shocked,” she says. “I tell them I was scared, too. But I want them to know there’s hope. There are specific drugs and methods that are safe. There’s research that proves it.”
Her story has already inspired women to reach out for second opinions or ask their doctors about treatment options during pregnancy.
“That’s the most rewarding part,” Autumn says. “Once, I was the one looking for hope. Now I get to offer it to someone else.”
A Family Made Possible by Hope
Today, she’s back home, adjusting to life after treatment and cherishing every milestone. Autumn is grateful for the strength she found within herself—and for the team that guided her through the impossible.
“Huntsman Cancer Institute didn’t just save my life—they saved my baby’s life,” she says. “Because of them, I’m a survivor and a mom. That’s something I’ll never take for granted.”
She pauses and smiles, thinking of her journey.
“When I look at my son, I see everything research and compassionate care can do. He’s living proof that hope is stronger than fear.”