Pregnant mum who found a cancerous lump in her breast at 18 weeks reveals how she is now fighting to save her unborn baby and her own life
- A pregnant woman has revealed how she found a cancerous lump in her breast
- Amie Stewart was in the shower when she felt the pea-sized lump on her left side
- A biopsy revealed she has breast cancer and should start chemo immediately
A pregnant mother has revealed the devastating moment she found out a lump in her breast was cancer after she thought it was just fibrous tissue.
Amie Stewart, 37, was 18 weeks pregnant with her second child when she felt a small, hard pea-sized lump in the top of her left breast.
She often checked her breasts and had found hard lumps in the past which ended up being 'nothing to worry about' - so she wasn't too concerned.
A pregnant mum has revealed the devastating moment she found out a lump in her breast was cancer after she thought it was just fibrous tissue
Amie Stewart, 37, was 18 weeks pregnant with her second child when she felt a small, hard pea-sized lump in the top of her left breast
But she decided to have the lump checked during one of her regular visits to the GP after being diagnosed with diabetes and urinary tract infections during her pregnancy.
The ultrasound technician couldn't pick up anything during a scan, so a biopsy was taken. By this time Amie was 22 weeks pregnant, and the lump had grown to 5cm by 10am.
'At this point I still thought it was nothing,' Amie told FEMAIL.
'I just assumed it had grown because I was pregnant and nothing is ever easy when it comes to checking these things.'
She was calm until her doctor called after the biopsy and told her to come in the next day and to bring her husband, Matt.
'That's when I started to feel really worried, but Matt said the GP was "thorough" and it was "probably nothing",' Amie said.
But the news was grim.
Amie was told she had breast cancer and would need chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery to beat it.
'I was so scared at first because I thought we would have to make a choice,' she said.
'And survival rates for babies that early aren't good.'
But the oncologist was able to offer Amie a 'pregnancy safe' chemo, which she has every three weeks.
Amie was excited to be pregnant but then devastated to find out she had cancer
Once the chemo is over, Amie will be able to receive a stronger drug because she would have given birth to her second child.
Amie has just started to lose her hair, weeks after her first chemotherapy session.
'I am also feeling pretty tired and breathless, but I am not sure what part of that is the chemo and what part is being pregnant,' she said.
She said she was trying to stay positive and refused to look at negative articles or statistics.
'I am not a statistic, I am a human. And I am a mum I have a lot to fight for,' she said.
Now in her 28th week of pregnancy, she is more confident about her baby's overall health and chances of survival.
Amie, whose tumour was 'extremely aggressive', wants other men and women to 'know their bodies'.
She was pleased her medical team could offer a pregnancy safe chemotherapy option
Although Amie noticed her lump early on, it has already spread to a lymph node - a a stark reminder of how quickly the disease can spread.
Amie has had to take time off work and could be having treatment for the next year.
Her friends have started a GoFundMe page to help support the family through the difficult times ahead.
'Matt doesn't have much leave so he is already back at work and will have to take unpaid leave to stay home,' she said.
'So this will help get us through if he needs to be by my side as the bills keep rolling through.'
The couple have an eight-year-old son who is excited about becoming a big brother.
They have decided to keep the sex of the new baby as a surprise.
'Matt asked me if we had already had enough surprises,' Amie laughed.
'So we have decided not to find out.'
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