Mum’s cancer battle during pandemic
A Sunderland mum has opened up about her battle with breast cancer as she urges people to support the vital work of Cancer Research UK during the coronavirus pandemic.
Ashlea Anderson, 34, was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in May last year.
After finding a lump, the mum-of-three went to get checked out by her GP and was told by doctors that it was cancerous.
Undergoing a lumpectomy and 11 rounds of chemotherapy, Ashlea then made the decision to have a bilateral mastectomy – the removal of both breasts – to try and prevent her cancer returning.
The operation took place in February – a year after her initial cancer diagnosis.
Ashlea said: “Despite doctors feeling confident that it wouldn’t be anything because I’m young, it was cancerous and the rare triple-negative type, which means it doesn’t respond to normal treatments in the same way.
“I also found I carry the BRAC1 gene mutation, which increases my risk of developing breast cancer and some other cancers.
“My children and family are now very much part of this diagnosis as they may carry the gene so will need to be checked, making cancer research so important to my future and that of my family.”
Ashlea had hoped that the bilateral mastectomy would be the end of her treatment, but then she developed necrosis – the death of cells, which required further surgery during the outbreak of COVID-19.
Ashlea, who is mum to Joel, 15, Ivy, six and April, three, is now recovering from the impact of her surgery at home.
She said :“As well as recoveringfrom surgery, I developed necrosis, which left a hole in my chest that required more treatment in hospital during COVID-19 which was a scary experience.”
Ashlea’s children Joel, Ivy, and April, have been taking part in Cancer Research UK’s the charity’s choresome fund-raising campaign, doing chores for sponsorship.
Ash lea, said :“Charities like Cancer Research UK will be hit hard by the current situation and it up sets me to think about what this might mean for people affected by cancer in the years to come. “
Cancer Research UK is now calling on others to support its work through initiatives such as its choresome fundraiser.
To get involved visit cruk. org/fundraise