JULIE’S EXPERIENCE Julie: Diagnosed at 33 ½ weeks pregnant in 2003, aged 33 years. I had always been fairly “breast aware” having had a number of benign cysts in my left breast aspirated from time to time during my twenties and early thirties so when I felt the area hardening at around twenty weeks into my pregnancy I mentioned it to my GP in passing. After an ultrasound, it was confirmed to be a blocked milk duct. As my pregnancy progressed past 30 weeks I was seeing the Midwife and my GP regularly so when I found a lump in my right breast I again mentioned it presuming it would be another blocked milk duct. My GP suggested we check it out to be sure. Within the week after mammograms, ultrasounds and biopsies it was confirmed that I had breast cancer in my right breast. I was told that I needed to have my baby delivered as soon as possible so that I could have a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Four days later (the delay was so I could have steroid injections to help my baby’s lungs develop before her early arrival) I had a c-section to deliver my 4 lb 12 ½ oz little girl. I was able to hold her briefly before she was taken away to the Neonatal Unit where she stayed for several days. Just as we were preparing to leave hospital my tiny daughter caught an infection and had to be injected with antibiotics every 12 hours so we were in hospital for 10 days. The mastectomy and lymph node clearance took place 2 ½ weeks later and the results of the histology were encouraging. The cancer was multi-focal, grade 3 and ER positive but had not spread to my lymph nodes. Soon enough chemotherapy began (FEC x 6) followed by 25 daily sessions of radiotherapy which finished in February 2004. Whilst on radiotherapy I started on monthly Zoladex injections and will be taking this for three years at a minimum. During my various check ups with my oncologist and breast consultant we had been keeping an eye on the various lumps in my left breast. Finally, just before Christmas 2004 we decided to remove the main lump in the left breast despite biopsies, scans and mammograms showing that the area was benign. However -the histology showed Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia (ADH). To reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in the left breast too I will have a prophylactic mastectomy in May 2005 and a bi-lateral TRAM/DIEP reconstruction. BACK TO EXPERIENCES PAGE