Sasha Sabrina Azeez, 32, received a dual shock in April 2024 when she discovered she was pregnant with twins, only to learn shortly after that a large cyst on her right ovary was cancerous. The diagnosis presented a harrowing decision: undergo surgery during her pregnancy, risking the lives of her unborn babies, or delay treatment until after birth, jeopardizing her own life.
Initially, doctors monitored the cyst, which measured nine centimeters, assuring Azeez that it was unlikely to be cancerous due to her youth and health. However, over the following months, the cyst more than doubled in size, reaching 19 centimeters, raising significant concerns. "The conversation shifted from, 'Let’s monitor this and see what happens,' to, 'We should probably get this out as soon as possible,'" Azeez recounted.
At 20 weeks pregnant, Azeez underwent open abdominal surgery to remove the cyst, her right ovary, and fallopian tube. "We had no idea if the twins were going to be okay. There were no guarantees," she stated. Doctors confirmed the cyst was malignant and, discovering the cancer had spread, determined that Azeez needed to begin chemotherapy immediately. This necessitated an early delivery.
Despite her preference to wait until at least 32 weeks of gestation, a medical team advised an earlier birth to allow for timely treatment. "I remember my oncologist, who I truly credit with saving my life, looking at me and saying, 'Do you want to be around to watch your babies grow?'" Azeez shared.
Her twin daughters were born via C-section on October 4, 2024, weighing two pounds and five ounces each. Immediately after their birth, Azeez was rushed into emergency surgery for an omentectomy to remove all visible traces of cancer from her abdomen. She then began chemotherapy, undergoing extensive treatment from October through December.
Azeez described the period as living two different lives, balancing time in the NICU with her newborns and attending chemotherapy sessions. "I didn’t have the luxury of falling apart for very long because I had two little babies who needed me," she said. "Looking back, I think I just went into survival mode."
On December 30, 2024, Azeez completed her treatment and was soon declared cancer-free. She is now cherishing time with her daughters, who are nearly two years old. Reflecting on her experience, Azeez urged others to appreciate life's preciousness and live without regret. "If there is one thing cancer gave me, it’s an overwhelming sense of gratitude," she stated.