Abi Bleys was feeding her baby when she felt a lump
A mum thought she had a blocked milk duct but it was a sign of breast cancer.
Abi Bleys, 44, was breastfeeding her newborn when she felt a lump on her left breast in summer 2020.
The mum-of-two wasn’t concerned as she had an infection and mastitis – where your breast becomes swollen when breastfeeding – with her eldest son.
But when she stopped breastfeeding six months later and had biopsies and CT scans, she was diagnosed with oestrogen positive lobular breast cancer in September 2020.
She had a full mastectomy of her left breast and reconstruction, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and is now on a 10 year treatment of hormone tablets.
Her cancer returned in 2022 when she felt a soreness in her reconstructed implant and another tumour was removed.
She now takes Letrozole and chemotherapy antibody treatment Enhertu indefinitely.
Abi, who was working in the legal sector, from Barnet, North London, said: “I remember I just put it on my to-do list.
“Go to the GP to check about your boob next to take that back to the shop.
“I do think if I’d have left it a little bit longer, then the outcome would have been quite different.
“I kept thinking, oh, it’s all blocked with milk ducts, it will all kind of get back to normal.”
Abi waited a “sleepless” two weeks for a confirmation of diagnosis.
She said: “I couldn’t have my mum, who’s been a big support for me. My husband couldn’t be in the appointments with me.
“I was having to try and stop weaning my little one, who was six months. I just didn’t have the energy or the head space because I was so drained.”
The tumour was 6cm and the cancer had already spread to the lymph nodes in her left armpit.
Abi’s mastectomy and reconstruction was in October 2020 followed by 16 rounds of chemotherapy from November, and 15 rounds of radiotherapy from May 2021.
She then had 18 rounds of targeted treatment until January 2022 and began her hormone tablets.
Abi said: “The surgery is a big change to your body. I’ve just been breastfeeding and sustaining my child with my boob and now it was something so dangerous I had to lose it.
“With the chemo I lost all my hair. My friends came on zoom, because it was lockdown, and they were all wearing colourful wigs to be silly.”
She was looked after her by her mum Etta, 75, and her husband, Michael, 46.
Abi said: “I felt the kids had their grandma, as my husband had to be working, so they felt safe.
“When I wasn’t 100% sure on the extent of the cancer, we were putting the kids to bed together, and reading them stories.
“We just caught each other’s eyes and we both welled up because we both didn’t know if I was going to be able to see them grow up.
“It was just so scary, the enormity of it.”
Abi was given antibiotics for a suspected infection following soreness around her implant, but a check-up in summer 2022 confirmed her breast cancer had returned.
She said: “I really thought I would be someone who, the years would go by and the space cancer took up in my life would become smaller and smaller.
“I went to the appointment on my own. I was totally shell-shocked.
“I hadn’t even had a chance to recover yet, so how was I going to deal with whatever was coming next?”
No reconstruction was done after the 3cm tumour and implant was removed.
On the night Abi started Enhertu in November 2022, Michael was admitted to cardiac intensive care for a serious inflammation of the heart caused by “a viral infection” and “the stress and shock of the second diagnosis”.
Michael has since recovered and created a monthly support group for those with a partner in cancer treatment.
Abi said: “The first time I was diagnosed, I was very focused on the plan.
“Now I’ve had to totally change my mindset.
“Cancer treatment has to fit into my life.
“It’s taken me quite a long time to get used to it. I don’t even know if I am used to it.”
The couple have taught their two young children – eight and six – about her cancer.
Abi said: “We explained it as something in my body that had to be taken away.
“I explained that it’s a bit like Calpol but this medicine is very special and very clever and does strange things like makes your hair fall out.”
Abi used play therapy and photos to help clarify her son’s “fuzzy memories”, and always reassures them she will be okay.
After the second diagnosis, Abi took up more exercise and cold water swimming to help with anxiety and depression.
She has taken part in the Wear It Pink campaign for years to spread awareness and teach others about how to check themselves.
“I’m an example, with this treatment, of how important fundraising is. This is quite a new drug, but it’s really giving people more time.
“It’s so important for people to know their bodies and know their normal.”
Help change the future of breast cancer by taking part in Wear It Pink for Breast Cancer Now on Friday 23 October. Sign up at wearitpink.org.
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