A mum has told how a symptom that was put down to her pregnancy turned out to be terminal cancer.
Louise Beevers, 40, and her partner Alister, from Willingham by Stow, Lincolnshire, were looking forward to her having a fourth child but now she faces the devastating reality of not seeing her baby daughter grow up. They returned from holiday last January and Louise found a small lump on her breast and went to see a doctor who she claims said it was likely to be pregnancy related.
But her relief at that news turned to sadness when the lump grew into two masses and she was diagnosed with breast cancer in May, while four months pregnant. She underwent a mastectomy and had a lymph node clearance.
Then while having chemotherapy following the birth of Suzy she was given the news that her cancer had spread to her lungs and was not curable. It meant that she would be leaving her newborn along with her three other children without a mother.
Louise pictured celebrating her 40th birthday (Louise Beevers)"No one healthcare professional can put a time on how long I've got left," Louise told the BBC. "And that is really difficult to deal with because I need to put plans in place for my children - special birthdays, life events. I want to write letters to them so they can open them if I'm not here. I'll take great joy in ripping up those letters if I meet those milestones with my children, but the cancer's in a free-for-all and it's going to choose where it goes."
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For Louise she has also been left wondering if the cancer had been found sooner, then would her diagnosis have been different. And it further raises concerns that women’s cancer can be missed by medics during pregnancy.
Prof Richard Simcock, chief medical officer for Macmillan Cancer Support and a consultant clinical oncologist, said that detecting a tumour during pregnancy can be difficult. "The majority of abnormalities in the breast are benign, but it's impossible to tell that just by an examination," he said. "We encourage people to be assessed fully and properly, usually by a breast specialist with imaging."
He advised that people who don't get a satisfactory reply and find their symptoms continuing can ask for a referral, and there is a need for raised awareness with women now having children later in life. "Breast cancer is a disease that becomes more common as you get older, so the likelihood of pregnancy and breast cancer occurring at the same time increases."
A JustGiving page has also been set up for Louise as she hopes to make the most of her time remaining with her children. She wrote: "RIGHT! As many of you know the Grim Reaper came a knocking at my door a few months ago. He came in the form of breast cancer . He took away my boob and lymph nodes while I was pregnant with my beautiful baby girl, Suzy. I’ve since had chemo he took away my hair and gave me sickness and pain.
"Last week he finally made his made up and has decided he is taking all of me. The cancer has spread to my lungs and is now incurable. BUT! While I cannot deny his wish to take all of me, I do have life left in me to live. So no moping around people. We have memories to make and love to spread. I entrust all of you to help me make the most of the time I have left with all of you. Sky dive with my eldest child, seeing my baby’s first birthday, telling everyone I love them a zillion times over…"
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