PREGNANT MUMS WARNED AGAINST BREAST CANCER COMPLACENCY

Pregnant and breastfeeding women are being urged to be vigilant about changes to their breasts, with a prominent surgeon warning the rate of breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy is increasing.
And with October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s important to note that gestational breast cancer is six times higher in patients aged over 35 years compared with women who are younger.
Mater surgeon Dr Carissa Phillips says that while pregnancy and breastfeeding creates changes to the body and breasts, women should not dismiss lumps, skin puckering and other changes as a normal part of becoming mothers.
Brisbane mum and architect Kymme Davey, 36, was shocked when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in March, two weeks before giving birth to her son Samuel, 35 weeks into her pregnancy.
“I found a grape-sized lump in one of my breasts while having a shower and I dismissed it as a blocked milk duct,” Mrs Davey says.
“I was in total shock when I got the news from my GP that it was breast cancer. I was in denial. I had a toddler, Florence, and a newborn on the way and wasn’t quite sure what was going to happen.
“My preparation to go on maternity leave turned quickly to sick leave.”
Dr Phillips, who was Mrs Davey’s doctor, developed a treatment plan to ensure the baby’s safe delivery.
“Kymme had a specific, individualised care plan that involved her baby being born safely before any cancer-care treatment began,” Dr Phillips said.
“Protecting the baby and providing Kymme with the support she needed was essential.”
Samuel was delivered at 37 weeks and Kymme immediately began a series of tests and treatments including a lumpectomy, a PET scan, chemotherapy, radiation and a sentinel node biopsy.
Mrs Davey is encouraging women not to become complacent or ignore changes to their breasts during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
“My dad died from bowel cancer when he was 49 so I have always made sure I’ve had checks for that – but I had not thought of breast cancer,” Mrs Davey says.
“Get checked out, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Mrs Davey says life has been a whirlwind since Samuel was born.
“With a toddler and a newborn, there’s no time to wallow or feel sorry for myself,” she says.
“It was always going to be a big job with two kids but add in a cancer diagnosis and it went up a level.”
The hardest part of being diagnosed with breast cancer during her pregnancy was not being able to breastfeed her newborn.
“Due to breast surgery and on-going medical treatment it was going to be too complicated,” she says.
“When I had Florence, breastfeeding came so naturally and easily to me, but I now have a whole new perspective on it.
“If I was to give any advice to other women, I’d say keep checking yourself and don’t dismiss anything. It could be the difference between life and death.”