'Like these 6 women I got breast cancer in pregnancy - they share their reality'
Last week, an information leaflet I've been working on with the help of East Lancs Teaching Hospitals was finally released into the wild. Organisations across the country including hospitals, playgroups, breast feeding clinics and antenatal classes have requested some of the 35,000 copies I have available, with the digital version landing as far as Australia!
I cannot tell you how fast my little heart was beating when the requests started coming in. I know that we are going to reach so many people and make such an impact on women who might one day try to become pregnant, who already are - and for new mummy's who might not otherwise have noticed anything unusual.
I have been speaking to women were diagnosed in or after pregnancy (Roisin Pelan)Many of you know my story; I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32 when I was 34 weeks pregnant. I had absolutely no idea my risk of a breast cancer diagnosis would be increased because of my hormones.
Oestrogen and progesterone are two of the suckers that cancer likes to feast on and we produce more than six times our normal amount in late pregnancy. Doctor Babicki-Farrugia, a specialist in women's health and fertility, previously told Today's Parent: "Your baby is starting to pack on the pounds this trimester and your body is increasing some of the hormones it will need postpartum. Oestrogen and progesterone peak around 32 weeks and your oestrogen levels are the highest they will ever be during this trimester - six times higher than before pregnancy."
Simply knowing that snippet of information is going to enable many women to just be aware of the small risk. So many people I speak to still have absolutely no idea and some of the symptoms of breast cancer can so easily be mistaken for normal changes pre and postnatally.
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In a bid to change this and raise awareness, I spoke to some women who like me, have been diagnosed in or after pregnancy.
Emma Tagliavini, from St Albans
Emma was referred to the breast clinic at 34 (Emma Tagliavini)Emma told me she was referred to the breast clinic early in pregnancy at the age of 34 after being referred by her GP. Unfortunately it was dismissed and put down to 'pregnancy changes' and although Emma took herself back a second time, she was told the same.
"I took myself back when George was 7 months old and I had noticed enlarged lymph nodes on my collarbone and devastatingly, I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer," she explained.
Emma, a children's critical care nurse, is responding well to her current treatment line and she's even planning to give a talk about what to look out for to the midwifery team at her hospital. Go Emma!
Sue Meader, from Suffolk
Sue was diagnosed at just 30 (Sue Meader)Sue was diagnosed at the age of 30 when she was 7.5 months pregnant and didn't think for a second that the pea sized lump would be cancer. She was told several times that it would be a blocked milk duct and as she had no knowledge of breast cancer in pregnancy [BCIP], she was happy with what they were telling her.
When the lump grew to around 3x2 cm, she was eventually referred to the breast clinical and after a biopsy, and was given the harrowing news that the lump was in fact cancer.
Sue was induced early and gave birth to her son; Matt. She says "I can't remember a lot about the first year of Matt's life as I spent so much of it having chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I was diagnosed with post natal depression after treatment ended, as it was only then that I think I acknowledged what had happened to me. I wasn't able to have more children because the chemo put me straight into menopause."
Twenty five wonderful years later and Sue is thriving. She has gone on to run support groups for people in a similar situation and fundraises for a hospice. Like many other people with a diagnosis, Sue feels that life is so much more precious now and I have to say, it sounds like this world is much more precious for having you in it Sue!
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Alexandra Moore, 38, Chelmsford
Alexandra is living with a secondary diagnosis (Alexandra Moore)Alexandra was diagnosed very early in her pregnancy and was heartbreakingly advised to end her pregnancy early to improve her chances of survival. She went on to have six months of chemotherapy, a mastectomy, reconstruction, radiotherapy and Herceptin.
Her cancer sadly returned and Alexandra is now living with a secondary diagnosis. She tells me that she has struggled emotionally and financially because of her diagnosis as she is now unable to work. She is a mum of two children and the impact has unsurprisingly affected them, too.
Barbara Jeffery, 31, Wimborne
Barbara was told her lump was a milk cyst (Barbara Jeffery)Barbara was diagnosed five months postpartum and was continuously told her lump was a milk cyst. Doctors even tried to drain it four times. It was only when Barbara began losing weight and developed lumps under her arm that they finally did a biopsy which confirmed Stage 3, Grade 3 Triple negative breast cancer with three tumours in her breast, as well as extensive lymph node and mammary spread.
Barbara is currently in the midst of a harsh chemotherapy regime and is awaiting a double mastectomy and reconstruction as well as radiotherapy. Had she been taken seriously, she might not have had such extensive spread and therefore extensive treatment. Barbara is a mum of a 2 year old and a 6 month old - both of who were born at 33 weeks and spent 2 weeks in intensive care. She and her little babes are absolutely amazing and she says that she is "fighting for her life now, just as they fought for theirs".
Jessica Britton, 34, Manchester
Jessica was first told she had nothing to worry about (Jessica Britton)Jessica noticed dimpling in her right breast and after being checked out, she was told the dimple was nothing to worry about - but that they had found something in her left breast. Until now, Jess had been oblivious to this! They biopsied the lump and was told it was a fibroadenoma and not to worry.
She gave birth to Henry and after six weeks, the lump was still bothering her. She called her doctor who decided (over the phone!) that it would be the same lump and as it had already been biopsied, it was put down to breast changes in pregnancy and breast feeding and she was told not to worry.
This was during Covid and seeing a doctor wasn't easy. After putting it to the back of her mind, Jess was struggling with some postpartum depression and so self care was bottom of her list.
When Henry was 10 months old, she noticed her breast becoming sore to touch and after managing to get another referral to the breast clinic, she was diagnosed with Grade 3 aggressive breast cancer.
Jess found the treatment gruelling, especially while caring for Henry, but she amazingly managed to get the all clear and is currently waiting for her other breast to be removed.
Although she says the aftermath of cancer is definitely the worst part (something I can 100% relate to!), she is using her experience to raise awareness and to equip young women with the information they need. She is also a wonderful 'Boobette' volunteer for Coppafeel and last year, she took part in a 100km trek to raise money. Three cheers for Jess!
Sophie Swindells, 37 from Bristol
Sophie was diagnosed in pregnancy (Sophie Swindells)Sophie was also diagnosed in pregnancy and is still enduring a fight against cancer. She tells me: "I found the lump in my left breast while in the shower. It felt strangely hard and out of place. I asked a couple of people and they said it was probably just blocked milk ducts so not to worry. All the articles I found online also reassured me it was normal to have changes in the breast while pregnant.
"I was having awful pelvic girdle pain around that time and couldn't walk for a while so I was distracted by that too. When the lump was still there a few months later I finally went to GP and got it checked for peace of mind and was referred to the breast clinic. I had a long wait over Christmas and then in January 2020 was diagnosed with Stage 3 HER2 + and hormone positive breast cancer. It was such a shock, I really wasn't expecting it. All I could think about was my baby.
"Things moved very quickly after that and I had a C-Section at 34.5 weeks so could start chemo. I had a beautiful healthy baby girl called Thalia. After that I had a CT scan (I couldn't have one while pregnant) and was told that it was in fact stage 4 cancer with spread to bones and liver, it was now incurable and I'd be on treatment for life. My world shattered at that moment.
"It's been 3 years since that diagnosis, a lot has happened, I'm lucky that I'm still on first line treatment (Phesgo, Leuprorelin & Examestane) which has mostly kept me stable apart from some progression in sternum (had radiotherapy) and a recurrence in breast so had a mastectomy. My latest scan was stable which is a huge relief.
Research shows that breast cancer is reported in 1 in every 3,000 pregnancies (Getty Images/iStockphoto)"Living with uncertainty is not easy and the constant treatments and scans can feel relentless sometimes but as the years have gone on it's got a bit easier as I've found ways of coping. I'm determined to live as 'normal' a life as possible and be there for my daughter as she grows up."
According to Cancer Research UK, breast cancer during pregnancy is rare, but research shows that breast cancer is reported in 1 in every 3,000 pregnancies.
Meanwhile, the wonderful charity Mummy's Star says that is equivalent to two women everyday being diagnosed in or around pregnancy. Most women are between 32 and 38 years old at diagnosis, and most are able to carry on with their pregnancy
Currently there isn't an awful lot of research into BCIP and it is considered that getting pregnant doesn't cause the cancer, but the changes in hormones from the pregnancy can make any undetected cancer cells grow faster.
The signs to look out for with breast cancer (Supplied)Your breasts thicken while you're expecting, and that can make it hard to spot small masses or lumps. Because of this, breast cancer tumours are often larger and more advanced by the time they're noticed.
This makes it extra important to have breast exams throughout pregnancy. Any lumps or changes (shown in the picture) need to be checked by a doctor.
It's a well-known fact in the cancer community thanks to the brilliant charity CoppaFeel that "early detection can save your life". If you're uncertain, don't wait until you've had your baby and don't wait until you've stopped feeding to see if it goes away! Get gone and if you’re not happy with the answer or if the symptoms carry on, insist on another referral.
If you'd like to know more, or download a digital copy of the booklet, you can find me at where I’ll be shining a light on BCIP.
Places you can access more support:
Mummy's Star
Breast Cancer Now
Coppafeel
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