June 25, 2009WASHINGTON (Deutsche Presse-Agentur) -- Dr. Jerri Nielsen Fitzgerald, who battled cancer in 1999 while stationed at the South Pole, died at home Tuesday in Southwick, Massachusetts, after a second bout with the disease, local media reported.
Fitzgerald, who was then known as Jerri Nielsen, diagnosed herself with breast cancer while working as the only physician at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.
Fierce winter weather didn't allow planes to land, so Fitzgerald trained members of the station's staff to help her perform a biopsy. She then treated herself with an air-dropped chemotherapy kit.
Months later, a plane was able to land and evacuate her for medical treatment. After surgeries and a mastectomy, Fitzgerald's cancer went into remission, according to a death notice published in the Springfield Republican.
Fitzgerald wrote a book about her experiences, and the book became a TV movie.
After returning to the US, Fitzgerald worked as an emergency room doctor, married and traveled extensively, even returning to Antarctica several times, according to the death notice.
Her cancer returned in 2005, this time in her brain, CBS 3 reported.
Fitzgerald is survived by her husband, three children, her parents and brothers.
Copyright 2009 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
