Arlene Brown knew she was at high risk for breast cancer and stayed vigilant with regular screenings. But nothing could prepare her for the moment she found a lump — while 18 weeks pregnant with her first child.
What followed was a whirlwind of decisions, fears, and a treatment journey that would test her strength and reshape her future.
Brown was named after her Aunt Arlene, who died from triple-negative breast cancer. After Brown’s sister was diagnosed with the same cancer, Brown underwent genetic testing. It revealed that Brown had the BRCA-1 gene mutation, which elevated her risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
Her doctors suggested she undergo a bilateral mastectomy to remove her breasts and an oophorectomy to remove her ovaries. But Brown was 33, and she and her husband, Richard, wanted to start their family.
Instead, she opted for regularly scheduled mammograms and MRIs. The results came back clear, and in December of 2022, the Raleigh, North Carolina, philanthropy officer was thrilled to learn she was pregnant.
In March, after she felt a lump under her right arm during a shower, her doctor advised that lumps and bumps during pregnancy were common. In May, however, Brown had an ultrasound, then a biopsy. Like her family members, Brown was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.
