REAL LIFE: “How my pregnancies helped me find my cancer – twice “
"Walking around for weeks with cancer in my body, I worried ‘What if it keeps growing? What if it spreads?'"
By Christine Bayeh
It’s hard to believe that less than five years ago my husband and I were just deciding to start a family. Now, I not only have two beautiful children, but I’ve had cancer. Twice.
And without my wonderful children, we may not have caught my cancers.
Christine is now a mum of two, but not without some big health scares along the way.
In 2018, I was 27 years old, when my husband Paul and I decided we wanted to try for a baby. Almost immediately after going off the pill, I noticed a painful lump in my breast. My GP reassured me it was probably hormonal. Only two weeks later we discovered we were pregnant. We were so delighted, but I was still worried about the lump.
I ended up having an ultrasound for “peace of mind”. During the scan, I got really scared after the radiographer suddenly went quiet and left the room, booking me in for an emergency biopsy on the following Monday. I was so distressed when I left the appointment and couldn’t get out of bed for the whole weekend.
After the biopsy my GP broke the news that I had breast cancer and told me it was unlikely I would be able to proceed with the pregnancy.
Fortunately, I was referred to an excellent surgeon, Dr Elisabeth Elder, who reassured me I would be able to keep the baby and treat the breast cancer. She even said our baby was a blessing; without my pregnancy I may not have found the cancer so early. Dr Elder also introduced me to my amazing McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Bronwyn Williams.
Bronwyn was my rock during that time and still is almost five years later. Without Bronwyn I don’t think I would have coped. It’s not the same relationship you have with a doctor, she has seen so many people go through this and could reassure me about everything, I felt so comfortable with her.
“Bronwyn was my rock during that time and still is almost five years later.”
It was a terrible situation, being pregnant and diagnosed with breast cancer. I had to wait until I was 12 weeks pregnant before I could get a lumpectomy to remove the cancer. Walking around for weeks with cancer in my body, I worried ‘What if it keeps growing? What if it spreads?’
Thankfully, the surgery went well and in October 2018, I gave birth to my son Christian. The first person to visit was my breast care nurse, Bronwyn.
Six weeks later, I went back to hospital to have a double mastectomy with reconstruction. Bronwyn called me after the mastectomy to let me know I‘d got the all clear, ‘no evidence of cancer’. I couldn’t stop crying, I was so relieved. I had a six-week-old at home, I couldn’t lift him, I couldn’t breastfeed, it had been such a stressful time.
Christine has not one, but two cancer scares.
I started taking Tamoxifen to reduce the risk of the cancer returning. Two years later, Paul and I decided we wanted another baby, so I went back to Dr Elder and Bronwyn to tell them I’d like to pause the treatment. They recommended a PET scan before stopping the medication.
During that scan, thyroid cancer was detected, unrelated to my breast cancer. I didn’t even shed a tear, I was so strong because I had already dealt with so much. I had my thyroid removed and was given the all clear to try for another baby.
In January this year, my daughter Chloe was born. Both my children are absolute blessings. I wouldn’t have found my cancers early if it wasn’t for them, the first time finding the lump because I was trying to get pregnant and the second one getting scanned because I wanted to get pregnant again.
While I was going through breast cancer, I was a mess. But I’m so strong after what I went through. Nothing phases me.
No matter what age you are, get to know your body. If something’s not right, advocate for yourself and get it checked.
Christine features in a campaign to raise awareness for the work of the McGrath Foundation for duration of October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
New research from the McGrath Foundation reveals that one in five people in Australia experiencing breast cancer will miss out on the vital support of a breast care nurse this year. Christine features in a campaign to raise awareness of this gap in care. For the duration of October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Foundation is calling on the nation to visit www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au/1in5 and make a donation to support its goal to fund 250 McGrath Breast Care Nurses by 2025.
