Meet the Models, New England: Michelle Maloney
Michelle Maloney is walking proof of how strong women are. In October 2010 she felt a lump in her left breast and went to the doctor to have it checked out. After a routine urine test, she received news she was five weeks pregnant. It was a total shock, made more complicated by the news, shortly after that she had breast cancer. It was the sweetest joy coupled with the scariest unknown, but a self described “overachiever,” Michelle gathered the best team around her to face the next nine months: “when you talk about the amazing care around New England, I can’t even say enough. My team has spoiled it for any other doctor in the world. My oncologist visited me when I had the baby!”
Her journey wasn’t easy. She had to wait until she was 12 weeks pregnant to address the breast cancer, which came in the form of a mastectomy and chemotherapy. Indeed, she laughs, describing her walking around, hair growing back in grey, with a large belly, convincing the the world that despite being pregnant with breast cancer, she “was doing just fine!” She knew she had to prioritize her health to deliver a healthy baby, which prompted her decision to step away from work. She was amazed at how her inner circle rallied around her: “navigating through cancer and trying to have a healthy baby meant I had to minimize as much stress as possible. My brother stepped up to help us financially and even my old coworkers donated funds to support us during that time.” She would go on to give birth to a healthy baby boy. While she credits the seamless medical care between all of her teams during that time, we are certain it is her incredible positive spirit that played a large roll.
Today, she has a happy and thriving 13 year old. Amongst the busy lifestyle of raising her son, she ignored symptoms that she attributed to cold/allergies until her husband encouraged her to go to the doctor. The doctor ordered scans on her lungs, where spots were found and in March of 2022 she was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. Without skipping a beat, she focuses on the positive- that she has nearly no side effects from the medications she is on and around the same time as diagnosis, she transitioned to a fully remote job, which has allowed her to adjust to increased tiredness and her “new normal.”
Still an overachiever, she has learned to “grasp that stable is good,” but quickly admits, “that is what has hit me the hardest. I want more than stable for me and my family.” For now, cyclical scans means she is still adjusting to being “excited when things don’t grow.”
Reflecting on her journey with breast cancer she has advice for the newly diagnosed: “listen to your body. Advocate. If you aren’t comfortable with your doctor, seek other opinions. Always find people you can trust.”