Understanding ‘The Little Couple’ reality TV star Dr. Jennifer Arnold’s cancer called ‘Choriocarcinoma’! Learn about her brave fight with this condition!
- American reality TV Star Jennifer Arnold has transferred her job and house from Texas to Florida.
- She took up the post of medical director at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in July 2017 and is eager to give her 100% to this job.
But it has not been long since short-statured Jennifer Arnold was down with cancer of her uterus called choriocarcinoma. She had bravely fought it back and is a survivor!
Let us go on her journey with this illness!
Jennifer’s cancer diagnosis
In October 2013, Jennifer and her husband Bill Klein (also a short-statured person due to skeletal dysplasia) visited India in order to adopt a daughter.
During this trip, Jennifer began bleeding per vagina. She started feeling increasingly giddy and decided to return home.
On her return to the US, Jennifer got herself examined and was surprised when it was revealed that she was suffering from uterine cancer. She was said to have stage 3 choriocarcinoma.
Talking about it later during her treatment, Jennifer said:
“There are moments I feel just terrible. I can’t believe it is happening. Other times, I feel like this is just a bump in the road.”
Jennifer found that she was pregnant in August 2013. An ultrasound showed that she was pregnant but the fetus had no heartbeat and was not viable.
Hence her pregnancy was terminated medically. The fetus was removed but probably few cells were left behind. This had led to her cancer.
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The treatment phase and remission
Intensive chemotherapy was started but the tumor continued to grow and also spread to the lungs. Surgeons were forced to perform the removal of her uterus in order to save her. That was the last resort, they said.
In February 2014, Jennifer had overcome her cancer and won. She tweeted:
“It’s official- ME 1 vs CANCER 0… I WIN! Thank you for all the prayers, thoughts, & support!”
It's official- ME 1 vs CANCER 0… I WIN! Thank you for all the prayers, thoughts, & support!
— Jennifer Arnold, MD (@JenArnoldMD) February 4, 2014
Quick-growing cancer, choriocarcinoma
Choriocarcinoma is a rapidly growing cancer that arises in the womb or uterus. The cells arise from the tissue that would normally have formed the placenta (the organ that feeds the fetus during pregnancy).
Though rare, it is cancer with a good prognosis. It arises from an early pregnancy that does not continue and ends in a miscarriage. It presents with irregular vaginal bleeding and pain. Examination, blood tests, and imaging confirm the diagnosis.
After assessing its spread and staging cancer, chemotherapy is started. Surgery and radiation treatment are rarely needed. This form of cancer has a high chance of being cured and does not recur.
Short bio on Jennifer Arnold
Jennifer Arnold is a renowned doctor neonatologist and motivational speaker. She is also best known as a TV Star and working for her television reality series, The Small bunch.
The series is about the lifestyles of Jennifer Arnold and her husband Bill Klein who both have skeletal dysplasia. More bio…
