‘WHEN I WAS TOLD I HAD BREAST CANCER I COULDN’T TAKE IT IN’
IT’S always been Rhian Evans’ dream to have a family. She feared she would never become a mum after being left devastated by 11 miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy, along with unsuccessful IVF treatment.
Identical triplet Rhian fought for 15 years to become a mum and was delighted when she was given the chance to adopt a beautiful baby boy with her husband Martin.
But when their 18-month-old Harri finally arrived into their home the best day of their lives was overshadowed by Rhian’s secret.
A few months earlier she had discovered a large lump in her breast but was terrified of telling anyone and hoped it wasn’t anything serious.
Rhian, aged 42 and from Pontarddulais, said: “The lump was the size of a golf ball.
“I know it sounds awful but it had been six months before I finally saw a doctor.
“I eventually told my mum and sister and they made me go.”
As she dealt with her own health problems Martin was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which affects both the brain and spinal cord.
“One of the reasons I didn’t want to get it checked was because I was worried it could affect our situation with Harri,” said Rhian.
“After waiting so long to have him I couldn’t face the thought of him being taken away from us.”
A few weeks later the former hairdresser’s world was turned upside down by the news she had been dreading.
“When I was told I had breast cancer I couldn’t take it in,” she said.
“I felt completely spaced out for days and was so scared I was going to die.”
She was only 39 when she was told she had the disease. There was no history of breast cancer in the family.
Rhian’s identical sisters Claire Lewis and Sarah Davies found the news tough to take.
Mum-of-three Claire said: “When we found out she had breast cancer we just kept thinking ‘ Why Rhian?’ She has already been through so much and doesn’t deserve this.
“As triplets we have always been so close. We always know what the other one is thinking and can feel each other’s pain.
“When Rhian had an ectopic pregnancy, Sarah and I both had pain in our left side like Rhian did.
“We felt so worried but knew she was strong enough to get through it.”
Rhian was relieved to hear the cancer hadn’t spread and had to undergo radiotherapy and a double mastectomy to remove the tumour.
Following reconstructive surgery, she suffered an infection and her implants had to