I Was 39 Weeks Pregnant-Then I Found a Lump That Changed Everything
At 39 weeks pregnant, Abby Wilson was preparing to enter the next phase of her life as a new mom, but she had no idea that one discovery would dramatically change the next few months of her life entirely.
After finding out that she was pregnant in February 2025, Wilson, from Chattanooga, Tennessee, was overjoyed by the prospect of starting a family. She told Newsweek that her pregnancy was “healthy and fairly normal” for the most part, with no major complications.
However, by the time she reached 39 weeks, everything changed. Wilson, 24, noticed a lump in her breast that she just couldn't ignore.
“Given how far along I was, it would have been easy to brush it off as pregnancy-related changes, but I decided to get it checked out. As it didn't feel right, that decision ultimately led to further testing and my diagnosis,” Wilson said.
“The main symptom was the lump. I didn't have pain or other obvious warning signs, which is why it could have easily been overlooked.”
The lump was scanned and tested, leading to a horrifying outcome. Wilson was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer that was low hormone receptor positive. She was only days away from welcoming her first child, and suddenly becoming a mother would coincide with unexpected cancer news.
The experience was “overwhelming and surreal” for Wilson, whose birth plan had to be altered. In November 2025, she was introduced and welcomed her healthy daughter, weighing 7 pounds, 12 ounces.
“I had just been preparing to welcome my baby, and suddenly I was facing a cancer diagnosis at the same time. There was fear, uncertainty, and a lot to process all at once,” Wilson said.
Just four weeks after welcoming her daughter, Wilson started TCHP chemotherapy, which was incredibly grueling on her body. She completed chemotherapy in March 2026, and was able to ring the bell to mark the occasion.
However, her journey is far from over, as the new mom is continuing her targeted therapy. Once she is ready, Wilson will also undergo a double mastectomy procedure in the hopes of preventing a return of the cancer.
While the first few months of parenting have been completely different to what she once imagined, Wilson told Newsweek that she is “doing well overall” and responding positively to the treatment.
“I'm continuing to trust the process and take things one step at a time. Navigating the physical recovery from childbirth while starting chemotherapy was exhausting, both physically and emotionally. At the same time, my daughter gave me a strong sense of purpose and motivation to keep going,” Wilson said.
She continued: “It feels like a whirlwind when I reflect on the last few months. There have been incredibly hard moments, but also so much growth, perspective, and reliance on my faith. I've seen God's faithfulness in ways I never expected.”
Wilson documented her pregnancy on TikTok (@theabby_wilson) and planned to continue sharing videos about motherhood once her daughter was born. What she didn't anticipate was that her content would in fact center around being a new mom with breast cancer. Nonetheless, she has shared her journey online to raise awareness, connect with others, and offer some optimism to other cancer patients.
Many of the TikTok videos have gone viral, with a clip about her diagnosis story generating over 77,000 views, and a video of her ringing the bell amassing more than 27,000 views at the time of writing.
By sharing her experience, Wilson said she hopes to show others the importance of listening to their body and advocating for themselves if they are concerned. She easily could have overlooked the lump as a simple change caused by pregnancy, but she trusted her instincts and got it checked.
“Even in seasons that feel overwhelming or uncertain, there can still be purpose and hope,” Wilson said. “Walking through both new motherhood and cancer at the same time has completely changed my perspective. It's taught me to cherish the small moments, lean on my faith, and trust God, even when life doesn't look the way I planned.”
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This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 3:59 AM.