Mum-of-two found most cancers when pregnant together with her second youngster
“In 2009, I was enjoying being pregnant with my second child when I discovered a lump while in the shower,” Jo shared.
“I assumed it was a blocked milk duct, as did my midwife and GP, but they referred me to the Breast Institute in Nottingham.”
On April 30, 2009, Jo was recognized with breast cancer whereas she was 32 weeks pregnant.
“I was supposed to be enjoying life and feeling excited about the upcoming arrival,” stated Jo.
“But instead I was left unsure, heartbroken, and facing an uphill battle I never thought I’d have to face.”
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Jo underwent a lumpectomy and had the lymph nodes beneath her left arm eliminated.
She stated: “Soon after the operation my baby was induced, and I had just three weeks after he was born on June 5 before my chemo began.”
Looking after a new child and a toddler was going to be onerous sufficient however, now, Jo additionally needed to take care of the unwanted side effects of chemotherapy.
“I was tired, felt quite sick and lost my hair,” Jo remembered. “My partner had to keep working, as we could not afford for him to stop.”
Jo thanks her “amazing support network of family and very special friends” who helped her handle such a troublesome time.
“The boys were little and gave me the reason to get up every day,” Jo confessed.
“To them, I was just Mummy, not a cancer patient. They didn’t flinch when their mummy was bald, or cry when I lay sleeping or feeling sick.”
Jo’s most cancers was HER2-positive, which means that she had the human epidermal development issue receptor 2 protein that promotes the expansion of most cancers cells.
After 25 rounds of radiotherapy, Jo was given the all-clear; all she wanted was to take Tamoxifen for the following decade and to attend annual mammograms.
In June 2021, a routine mammogram revealed that Jo’s breast most cancers had returned.
“I had another lumpectomy in September 2021 and a breast reduction,” stated Jo.
“This time I decided to try the cold cap as the boys found it hard… this time round, they were 13 and 15.
“They struggled to get their heads around the news and have been frightened that they’d lose their mum; they understood most cancers and what it may result in.”
Jo added: “Luckily I pushed for a single mastectomy in March this 12 months as, once I went for my outcomes, I used to be knowledgeable they’d situated a 15mm cancerous tumour. Thankfully that has now gone and I proceed my with my common treatment.
“Please check regularly and attend mammograms. If you notice a change consult a professional. They really can be a life saver!”
Jo is now planning on collaborating in Cancer Research UK’s Pretty Mudder, Nottingham, in July.
Jo is supporting Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life 2023, in partnership with Standard Life. It’s the thirtieth 12 months of Race for Life. Who will you race for? Sign as much as your native occasion at raceforlife.org