Why We Do What We Do - Part II
I had mentally prepared myself - I am just the type to think, ‘ok - this is what I have to do, so let’s get started’.
This story has been told to us by Rachel. It is her very personal experience of cancer and highlights the importance of why we do what we do and why it is vital that we continue to fund and support the cancer research and clinical trials that can change lives.
Rachel’s breast cancer type is HER2+ but no one else in her family had been diagnosed before, so it came out of the blue.
Rachel told us, “When I felt the lump I immediately knew it was going to be cancer. I teach A-level Biology and GCSE. As part of this we teach people how to check their chests and we have model breasts with lumps to try and find.
“My lump was much larger than the ones in the models, but it still just sort of came on overnight. In about 2 weeks it was suddenly very noticeable.
“I was sent for a mammogram, biopsy and an ultrasound which confirmed HER2+ breast cancer.
“Because I knew it was going to be cancer, I had mentally prepared myself - I am just the type to think, ‘ok - this is what I have to do, so let’s get started’.
“I found the lump on the 6th June and chemo started in the middle of August.
“I didn’t feel unwell so it was an odd feeling knowing the treatment can make you feel ill, and I had my hair cut short ready for the chemotherapy.
“I had seven rounds of chemo (four Docetaxel and three EC: known as Red Devil chemo) every 3 weeks. The final round was on 13th December 2023.
“It was mentally hard for me. I really struggled with EC which left me feeling very sick and I hated the injections you had to have daily after the treatment more than anything else.
“After all this I was disappointed to find out that the lump had only shrank by 1cm to 2.8cms!!
“I had a Therapeutic Mammoplasty in mid-January 2024 and my lymph nodes were taken for testing.
“I did not get clear margins from the first operation so I had to have another, but nothing was found in the lymph nodes - yes!! - A positive at last.
“My second operation was in mid-February. It was the same operation again but I just had more tissue removed this time.
“Following this I met with my oncologist to be told I now needed another year’s worth of a treatment called Kadcyla (which mops up any cancer cells that may have escaped). I would also be taking Anastrozole for five years and needed zoledronic acid infusions (six of these over three years).
“The Anastrozole started straight away, but the rest would start after radiotherapy.
“There was a long gap between the operation and the start of radiotherapy which was frustrating. I began radiotherapy in May. It was a daily treatment for 15 days excluding weekends and bank holidays.
“The Kadcyla started in June and I have this every three weeks. I also have my bloods taken, a doctor phone call prior to each treatment and an echocardiogram once every three months to check my heart.
“I have pain in my joints, recently my back pain is worse (but I did have pain occasionally before diagnosis) and I have pain in my rib on the right side where I had treatment, so I needed a bone scan.
“This was more stressful as I could not predict the results. I am now awaiting an MRI scan because they believe it is degenerative in my L5 vertebrae but this needs confirmation.
“So for me - I have coped well until now. This is something I feel I cannot control and I cannot predict the outcome. I am just hoping and praying the bones are all clear and that the pain is due to something else.”
Hope Against Cancer is extremely grateful to Rachel for speaking to us about her experience with cancer. Such stories really bring home the importance of working towards improved treatments and helping more people to overcome cancer.
We wish her well for the next stage in her treatment.
