If you’d asked me before how I would cope with a breast cancer diagnosis with a brand new baby in my arms I would have guessed I would fall apart, but I didn’t. I shed a couple of quick tears and then I steeled my resolve; we had to get rid of this out of my body so I could get on with being a mum.
I was 30 weeks pregnant when I noticed a large lump in the top of my left breast. I consulted my baby book and it said that at this stage in a second pregnancy it’s not uncommon to get blocked milk ducts. I wasn’t too worried but I still mentioned it to my midwife and my GP and they also thought it was just a blocked duct.
It wasn’t sore, and no one was worried about it, so I just went on with my pregnancy. I gave birth to my son after an easy pregnancy, and when I was trying to feed him nothing was coming out of the breast that had the lump. The midwife felt my boob lump and was immediately concerned.
I explained that I’d already discussed with my health practitioners whether it was an issue, but she told me she’d been in the industry for 30 years, and this breast lump was not a blocked duct.
I freaked out immediately. I’d just given birth, I was full of hormones and exhausted and my partner and mother had gone home with my other son for the day.
First thing the next day I went for my biopsy, and they were hoping to aspirate milk out of it proving it was a milk duct problem, but it was bone dry. The doctor didn’t think it was sinister but we’d send it off to pathology anyway.
Four days later my GP rang and asked me to go and see her. I had breast cancer.
I was incredulous. I was 28 years old with two young children. This couldn’t happen to me.
I couldn’t go directly to surgery as the tumour was too large so we decided to shrink it first with chemotherapy. Four rounds of one drug followed by 12 rounds of another. I didn’t get the nausea and sickness you hear about, but I was tired, bald, scared and trying to look after my family. My mum flew to be with me for the birth of my baby, and she still hasn’t gone home. I couldn’t cope without her because I have endless rounds of doctor’s appointments, and treatments.
I was given the go ahead for surgery by my oncologist but the surgeon took one look at my red and angry breast and sent me off for more tests because it didn’t look right to him. I could see too that my boob was firm and red and it was sore. An MRI confirmed the cancer had further inflamed instead of shrunk, and there was no way we could operate now. I needed radiation therapy and more chemo.
I felt like I was right back at the beginning. I was in shock that my oncologist could get it so wrong. It was devastating. I was being reassured the whole way along that the treatment was working, and I was doing well. It rocked me deeply, because I was beginning to stop worrying about chemo, and start worrying about my mastectomy.
A new phase of treatment was one step closer to being better.
I stay away from googling other people in my situations and I don’t go to support groups. I only want to hear positive stuff and I can’t focus on someone else’s story, especially if there is a negative outcome. I need as much positivity in my life as I can because this is hard enough as it is, but I will beat this cancer because there is no other outcome that I will entertain.
If you feel or see something not quite right in your breasts get it checked out immediately. Most of the time it will be nothing, but if it is something catching it early is the best way to save yourself from going through what I am now experiencing.
As told to Danielle Colley
•Breast cancer predominately affects women who are post-menopausal, but young women can get breast cancer too.
•While it is normal for women’s breasts to go through changes during pregnancy, you should speak to your health professional if you have concerns
•It’s important to be breast aware at all stages of life, and if you notice any changes, see a doctor. Early prevention is key.
Buy a pink bun in Bakers Delight stores across the country from 21 April to 11 May and 100% of money goes to Breast Cancer Network Australia to support Australians affected by breast cancer.
