MNN - Mother Nature Network

After months of emotional and physical struggle, Giuliana and Bill Rancic have announced that they're expecting. 

 

"We are so thrilled that our prayers have been answered," the couple told E! News. "We are absolutely ecstatic to be sharing this with everyone who has been following our journey."

 

According to the site, the child will be born via a gestational surrogate — but will genetically be the Rancics' baby. 

 

Giuliana, 37, and longtime E! News anchor, was diagnosed last year with breast cancer after undergoing a routine screening as part of efforts to become pregnant via in vitro fertilization. While she wasn't considering receiving a mammogram until she turned 40, her doctor insisted she have one as a precautionary measure. 

 

"Had I not gone through IVF, had I not had this struggle, I never would have discovered I had breast cancer,” Rancic said on "The View." “Had I gotten pregnant naturally and easily, it would have actually accelerated the cancer.”

 

After attacking the cancer with an unsuccessful double-lumpectomy, Rancic decided that her best option was to undergo a double mastectomy, especially since it was the fastest path to having a child. "But to be honest, at the end it came down to choosing to live and not looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life," she said.

 

While there are conflicting reports over whether women can safely become pregnant a certain time after receiving a cancer diagnosis, it appears that Giuliana decided a surrogate would be the best path for her. Regardless, her experience has certainly made her a strong proponent of early screenings. 

 

"A lot of us think we're invincible ... but we have to start putting ourselves on the to-do list," she said. "I had a friend call me yesterday, and she said, 'I'm so sorry, can I do anything for you?' And I said, 'Just call your doctor tomorrow and make an appointment. That's what you could do for me.' ... I will be okay because I found it early."

 

Many congrats to Bill and Giuliana.