Galway mum and advanced paramedic Grace Slattery noticed a change in her breast density during Christmas time 2017. ‘I remember just feeling my breast stiffening and I thought to myself ‘this is not happening now’, and I completely ignored it because I was under so much stress and pressure doing my advanced paramedic exams in UCD, I completely put my head in the sand.”
“There is a long family history of breast cancer but I tested negative for the familial BRCA1 gene mutation.” Grace says.
“I was in the GPs shortly before doing my final exit interview and I mentioned it to her in passing. She wasn’t sure if it was anything major but referred me for further tests including a biopsy due to my family history, The consultant didn’t think it was anything to worry about either. I went in the week after by myself for results and they told me they had found something.” She recalls.
Grace was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer with grade 3 tumours, although luckily her cancer was at stage one. Further tumours were discovered during Grace’s surgery, so a double mastectomy was required. Grace also underwent three months of Taxol chemotherapy, a year of Herceptin infusions and will be on Tamoxifen for five years.
I remember just feeling my breast stiffening and I thought to myself ‘this is not happening now’
"I have used the Irish Cancer Society support over the years because my own mum had breast cancer when I was a teenager, I also went to lots of support meetings, as well as using the valuable information on the Irish Cancer Society website."
"I don’t know how many times to say it to people before it sinks in, but check, check and check your breasts every month! I had been clear for a while, and my treatment was over. I was back to work with the National Ambulance Service and was doing well. The oncology team had given me the go ahead to try for another baby. We always wanted our family to grow, and my oncology consultant advised me it was safe to do so. We were over the moon when I got pregnant as we were unsure it could even happen after all the chemotherapy I had.
"They say practice what you preach, so there I was, continuing to check my breast area monthly, after previously having a mastectomy with reconstructive surgery, it’s was very easy to feel for any changes.
One month was normal, and when our little girl was 3 months old, I felt a walnut size lump on the edge of the scar on my left breast. Same area as my previous diagnosis. My heart sank because I knew exactly what it was. I was completely heart broken. That was a Friday, I contacted my lovely breast care nurse Nuala from the Symptomatic Breast Care Clinic in GUH. She had me in on the Tues, within two weeks I had scans and biopsy results back.
"Thankfully it hadn’t spread. I got it early, however, it was more aggressive than the last diagnosis, so it was removed immediately, and I was started on an intense regime of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, herceptin infusions and hormone therapy. Deja Vu! However this time I was doing it, all while having a little one to look after. This time around it was all the more harder."
"I count myself so lucky now. Thanks to checking monthly, I was able to find the tumor early, and before it had a chance to spread. I am out the far side of treatment and am in, what I like to call “The recovery phase” of my treatment. My scans are currently clear, and I am on Pertuzamab and Tratuzumab infusions for another 4 months. My energy is coming back slowly, and I am able to do fun things with the family again. My maternity leave was unfortunately spent in hospital away from our daughter, but at least now I can enjoy her."
Contact the Irish Cancer Society Support Line
If you have worries or concerns about cancer, you can speak confidentially to an Irish Cancer Society Cancer Nurse through the Freephone Support Line on 1800 200 700.
Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm
For more information
Phone
1800 200 700
