I hope you don’t mind me posting this. When I was diagnosed with aggresive breast cancer in Feb 2007 aged 28 I looked long and hard for happy ending stories and I found some, but not many that seemed relevant to me so I hope my story might help some of you feel positive about the future.
My tumour was HER2 positive, 8cms, grade 3 and had spread to 14/25 lymph nodes. I had full mastectomy and node clearance, 15 chemo cycles, 5 weeks of rads and herceptin which carried on until August 2008. I had tried an IVF cycle to freeze eggs before chemo but it hadn’t worked.
During this my marriage broke down, but gradually I got my life back met someone new, moved house and we started talking about having a family. Then I was told chemo had left my infertile - my FSH was 87 (normal is under 10) and my AMH (ovarian reserve) was 0.07 -undetectable. We started talking about adoption and other options. In the meantime I was sent for a biopsy as I was still having periods which according to my hormone levels shouldn’t have been happening. Anyway, the long and short of it is that before the biopsy they did a pregnancy test to make sure and I was pregnant!
I am now 22 weeks, healthy, happy and doing well. Cancer is still a shadow. I know that it could come back. But my oncologist has assured me that pregnancy does not increase my risk of recurrence and the fact I had chemo does not pose a risk to my baby.
I am not flippant about it and I worry about what happens if I become ill and putting a child through it. But after going through so much, and putting my family through so much, to feel that I have the life I wanted is brilliant. There is hope. I wanted other people going through the nightmare of cancer and how much it takes from you to know that it doesn’t have to take everything.
Thank you so much for posting this. It made me fill up with happy tears just reading it. I’m wishing you all the very very very best . Enjoy your time with your little one, xxxxx
Liz what a lovely good news story. To have had breast cancer so young is absolutely awful - and robs you of so much. I am so glad it didn’t manage to take it all. I hope your pregnancy goes on to a joyful conclusion - do come back and tell us about your little one.
Thank you for sharing your lovely story. It brought tears to my eyes. I am 45 and have had my family and have had a good life with no ill health til this year!
Without sounding patronising I find it is so hard when younger women are affected. So many other issues thrown into the mix so what a great story to share!
This is such a wonderful thing and I thank you for sharing it with us. I am an ‘older lady’ at 50 and think that it is so important to hear of the good that can follow what is a very traumatic and stressful time. I wish you so much happiness and good health to share with your new baby when he or she arrives. Brilliant news! J.
Liz
This has given me such hope, I was just 31 when I was diagnosed in February this year and all I want is a family, I have found that side of it so devastating, congratulation on your happy news!!, thanks for posting it. I really wish you a safe pregnancy.
Hi Liz ,fantastic news .I wish you all the best and enjoy your baby when he or she arrives .
Its great to hear a good news story on here and it must give lots of the younger ladies (lol i am only 42 )on here hope for a family in the future .Its really kind of you to come on and share your good news ,as you say its what we are all looking for.
Take care and let us know when baby arrives .Love Sharon xxx
CONGRATULATIONS!! What a lovely story - and what an amazing result when you must have been worried about what the outcome of the biopsy was going to be! Fantastic! And thank you so, so much for sharing your news with us (and for replying to my other post) and giving us other young 'uns hope.
I dont know you Liz - but I have just read your post and wanted to send my congratulations to you and your partner! What wonderful news and after what must have been such a truamatic experience for you. Stay happy and healthy and enjoy the new family life you have ahead of you.
Sue xxx
All the very best with everything.