Northwestern Medicine Team Saves Pregnant Woman and Baby From Grapefruit-Sized Melanoma Tumor

Northwestern Medicine physicians saved the life of a pregnant woman and her baby after discovering a grapefruit-sized melanoma tumor in her chest. MaKenna Lauterbach, 26, developed a persistent cough while pregnant and was eventually diagnosed with a large tumor blocking the artery to her right lung. Due to her critical condition, MaKenna was flown to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where a team of specialists performed an emergency cesarean section and delivered a healthy baby boy. After diagnosing MaKenna with stage 3 melanoma, physicians used immunotherapy to shrink the tumor before removing her entire right lung. MaKenna will continue immunotherapy treatments for one year and is grateful for the Northwestern Medicine medical team that saved her life.
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