21.10.2026 13:44
Berru Sağır, a 40-year-old teacher living in the Karadeniz Ereğli district of Zonguldak, was diagnosed with breast cancer in the 6th month of her pregnancy with her son, whom she became pregnant with after 9 years through IVF treatment. Sağır, who underwent surgery and received chemotherapy while pregnant, gave birth to her son Bertuğ in good health, completed her treatment, regained her health, and called on women to get early diagnosis.
Berru Sağır, a teacher in Zonguldak who was diagnosed with breast cancer while 6 months pregnant, is experiencing the joy of both beating cancer and raising the son she brought into the world healthily, despite the difficult treatment process she went through.
Berru, an information technologies teacher residing in the Karadeniz Ereğli district, and her husband İbrahim Sağır learned about 3.5 years ago that they would have a baby boy, after longing for a child for a long time.
SHE NOTICED A MASS DURING SELF-EXAMINATION
Sağır, who noticed a mass in her breast during a manual examination in the sixth month of pregnancy, was referred to the general surgery department after sharing her condition with her obstetrician.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer at a hospital in the district, Sağır was referred to Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University BEUN Hospital. Sağır's condition, diagnosed during pregnancy, was evaluated by a multidisciplinary oncology council after additional tests.
Sağır, who was more worried about her baby than herself, was informed that the process would not harm the baby and that it was possible to treat her disease without removing her breast.
Sağır's breast cancer surgery was performed by Prof. Dr. Güldeniz Karadeniz Çakmak, Head of the Department of General Surgery at Zonguldak BEUN, using the oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery method.
In this process, Sağır gave birth healthily to her baby, whom they named Bertuğ (3.5), and regained her health after completing the chemotherapy process, one dose of which was given while she was pregnant, and also receiving radiotherapy.
Sağır, 40, who continues her oncological follow-up, warns all women as an “awareness ambassador” about early diagnosis, saying they should perform breast self-examinations, have screening mammograms, and not skip doctor's examinations.
EARLY DIAGNOSIS HAD A VERY IMPORTANT PLACE
Berru Sağır told the AA correspondent that the process she went through was very difficult, but thanks to early diagnosis, she got through it healthily.
Stating that she was a patient who experienced breast cancer during pregnancy, Sağır said, “For this reason, early diagnosis had a very important place both in my child's coming into the world and in our continuing our lives healthily. Because I noticed it early, I did not experience situations that would affect physical appearance, which is important for women, with breast-conserving surgery. I took my son in my arms in good health.”
Sağır noted that there were periods when she was far from many emotions a mother should feel, and continued as follows:
“Because one day I was talking to the baby in my belly, and the next day I had my last 3 months under intense stress with the worry of ‘Will I be able to take him in my arms healthily?’ Because I was diagnosed with the disease in the sixth month, and within 3 months I both had surgery and started chemotherapy. I thought about him more than myself, thinking ‘Will my son live?’ Because I had gone through an IVF process. At the end of 9 years, I had reached a point where I could carry him in my belly. When I was diagnosed, my only fear was losing him. Even after coming out of surgery, I closely followed the processes regarding his health. I had to be strong because he needed not only a life but also a mother.”
Expressing that they believed the difficult processes would pass, knowing that happy days would come, Sağır emphasized that those going through this process should never give up.
Sağır said that after going through processes such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, they continued to live life beautifully in a stronger way, even with a very different perspective.
Stating that they forgot the days left behind, Sağır said, “When my child was first born, he was bald, and when I gave birth to him, I was also bald because I had received chemotherapy. We grew up with him. Our hair grew back; it was truly a special process. We have now forgotten those days. We only care about our follow-ups.”
HER DOCTOR: HER CHILD WAS HER GREATEST PRIORITY
Prof. Dr. Güldeniz Karadeniz Çakmak also stated that they see breast cancer quite frequently, especially in young women, and at this point pregnancy is one of the most important periods for them.
Saying that encountering breast cancer especially during pregnancy causes very great fears, Çakmak emphasized that at this point it is important for women to perform breast examinations during pregnancy as well, and to consult a doctor if they detect something.
Explaining that they can treat breast cancer depending on the period of pregnancy in which they diagnose it, Çakmak said, “Beyond concerns about herself, Berru had fears about her child. She conveyed to us that her greatest priority was her child. We designed her treatment by taking into account our patient's values and the criteria she cared about. We carried out both her drug and surgical treatment in the way we wanted and our patient approved, ensuring that she returned to life with her baby.”
Mentioning that they performed the patient's surgery during the pregnancy process, Çakmak noted that they then arranged her treatment and ensured that at the end of 9 months the patient took her child in her arms healthily.
Çakmak added that Berru continues her life happily and productively and has no problem in terms of quality of life.