Dr. Jerri Nielsen: The doctor who was diagnosed with breast cancer in Antarctica and operated on herself

In 1999, Dr. Jerri Nielsen was the lone doc connected a year-long ngo astatine a distant U.S. probe presumption successful Antarctica, meaning months of endless darkness, temperatures reaching 60 degrees beneath zero, and nary anticipation of flight during the winter.

So erstwhile she discovered a lump successful her breast, she could not instrumentality home. But she did not springiness up. She trained members of the team, including a carpenter and a welder, to assistance her execute a biopsy procedure, which she carried retired connected herself. She sent the images to the United States for analysis, wherever it was confirmed that she had breast cancer.

Then, successful the mediate of winter, each the indispensable supplies for chemotherapy were parachuted successful to her, and she besides administered the attraction to herself portion continuing to attraction for her squad arsenic their doctor.

She survived the full wintertime and, aft returning to the United States, underwent a bid of operations and a mastectomy. For galore years the crab remained successful remission, during which clip she remarried (she had divorced earlier the Antarctic mission), began giving nationalist speeches, and adjacent had a assistance established successful her honor.

In 2005, the crab metastasized to her bones and brain. She continued making nationalist appearances until 3 months earlier her decease successful March 2009.

Her communicative was turned into an autobiographical book, Ice Bound: A Doctor’s Incredible Battle for Survival astatine the South Pole, arsenic told to writer Maryanne Vollers. The publication became a bestseller and was adapted into a movie starring Susan Sarandon.