Kirsten Vulgamott, a registered nurse at UT Health Tyler’s emergency department, was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, a common type of breast cancer, when she was 12 weeks pregnant. Her diagnosis and subsequent treatment journey occurred at UT Health East Texas facilities in Tyler, ultimately leading to the birth of her daughter, Hazel, and her return to work assisting patients. Vulgamott now uses her personal experience to encourage others facing their own difficult health diagnoses.
Vulgamott discovered redness and a lump under her left breast after finishing a night shift. Given that it was her first pregnancy after months of trying to conceive, she initially hoped the lump was related to pregnancy hormones or mastitis. She sought medical attention, and the area was lanced as it was believed to be an abscess. However, when the condition did not heal after three weeks, she went to the UT Health East Texas Breast Center for an ultrasound. An ultrasound technician began measuring in her armpit, and Vulgamott “knew” there was a mass. A biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma the following day. She was 34 years old at the time, and quickly learned that a breast cancer diagnosis during pregnancy was rare.
Within days of her diagnosis, Vulgamott met with oncologist Dr. Marc Usrey at UT Health East Texas HOPE Cancer Center. Dr. Usrey informed her she was the second patient he had treated for breast cancer during pregnancy and connected her with the previous patient, who was doing well years later. This connection provided Vulgamott with comfort and hope. Later that week, she met breast surgeon Dr. Christine Moulds-Merritt, who had just joined UT Health East Texas from a long-time surgical practice in Longview. Dr. Moulds-Merritt remembered thinking about the profound situation of caring for Vulgamott and her unborn baby at the same time, recognizing the future joy of motherhood alongside the immediate medical challenge. The following day, Vulgamott underwent surgery to remove the cancerous tumor. While surgery during pregnancy was nerve-wracking, Vulgamott found reassurance in hearing her baby’s heartbeat before and after the procedure.
After four weeks of recovery from surgery, Vulgamott began chemotherapy when she was approximately 20 weeks pregnant. She described the initial experience as "absolutely terrifying," but within a few days, she realized she could manage it. She continued working until she was 34 weeks pregnant, finding that staying busy helped her to manage the emotional toll of her situation. Her chemotherapy regimen continued throughout much of her pregnancy, pausing for six weeks to allow her to give birth. After her daughter Hazel was born, Vulgamott resumed treatment, later undergoing 35 rounds of radiation.
Following Hazel’s birth, Vulgamott took time away from work to recover from the demanding treatment schedule. She found that caring for a newborn while undergoing radiation was exhausting but also provided a joyful focus, which she described as one of the blessings of the experience, allowing her to stay home with Hazel for a while. Eventually, Vulgamott returned to UT Health Tyler, transitioning to a new role as a nurse in pre-operative day surgery. This new schedule offers her more time with Hazel, who is approaching her fourth birthday in December. In her current role, Vulgamott frequently works alongside many of the physicians who provided her care, which she finds "really cool." She noted that she no longer thinks about cancer much, which is a positive change.
Today, Vulgamott leverages her dual perspective as both a registered nurse and a cancer survivor to provide encouragement to patients facing their own frightening diagnoses. Dr. Moulds-Merritt now sees Vulgamott regularly at work and observes her former patient acting as a source of support for others. Dr. Moulds-Merritt remarked on the “wonderful to see how things have come full circle,” noting that Vulgamott encourages her after long days and offers incredibly supportive words to scared patients, telling them, “You don’t know how strong you are until you’re going through it.”
