- Justine Cheadle was expecting when she noticed a lump on her breast
- Doctors thought it was pregnancy related but she pushed for tests
- She had stage 2 breast cancer which had spread to her lymph nodes
- She delayed treatment until after Verity was born at 34 weeks
- Undergone a mastectomy, chemotherapy and set to start radiotherapy
Kate Pickles For Mailonline
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Justine Cheadle noticed the lump on her right breast while she was pregnant with third child, Verity
A mother-of-three says being pregnant saved her life after she found a deadly tumour while moisturising.
Justine Cheadle, 38, from Northampton, was diagnosed with breast cancer while she was expecting her daughter Verity.
She noticed the lump on her right breast and insisted on further tests when doctors dismissed it as pregnancy related.
It turned out the stage two breast cancer had spread to her lymph nodes but she refused treatment until she had given birth.
‘My pregnancy was amazing until I found the lump, it filled me with dread and I was terrified,’ she said.
‘I have no idea if I would’ve been moisturising or checking my breasts if I wasn’t pregnant but I’m thankful I caught it when I did.
‘When you’re carrying a baby you’re more conscious of your health anyway but I was moisturising when I felt the lump in my breast and pushed for tests.
‘Doctors assumed it was pregnancy related but I kept going back and asking to be referred.
‘It was after my ultrasound and biopsy, that I was told the dreaded news, I had cancer and needed to start chemotherapy straight away.
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‘But I was pregnant and I needed to give my baby the best chance of survival so we waited until she was 34 weeks old before I was induced.’
Verity was born weighing a healthy six pounds but Mrs Cheadle said her birth was overshadowed by the cancer diagnosis.
She even brought her wedding forward to her now husband Mark, 37, from 2017 with the couple having tied the knot in April.
Doctors initially put the lump down to a symptom of her pregnancy but Mrs Cheadle pushed for a mammogram which revealed she head breast cancer. Verity (middle) was delivered at 34 weeks before Mrs Cheadle, pictured with husband Mark, started treatment
When this scan was taken, Mrs Cheadle had no idea about the journey ahead which would involve her daughter being delivered early and so she could start cancer treatment
But she has been told the treatment to date has been successful and will start radiotherapy next month.
‘With my breast cancer team present at the birth, I was discussing my treatment plan right up to the point of delivery,’ she said.
‘I had no idea if I was going to live to see this Christmas, let alone any of her birthdays or first day at school.
‘After diagnosis I needed to prepare for battle, I had my eyebrows tattooed and bought a wig to maintain my femininity.
‘We decided to bring our wedding forward to April 2016 as I needed something to look forward to and plan while going through chemotherapy.
‘My dark days all seemed worthwhile as I has three healthy kids and I knew they needed their mummy back.’
Mrs Cheadle, who will need check-ups every three months for the next five years, is now looking forward to the future and creating memories with her family.
Mrs Cheadle had just given birth to daughter Verity when she started chemotherapy in January. She had a mastectomy and is set to have radiotherapy
The-mother-of-three has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy which made her lose her hair. She credits being pregnant with helping her to find cancer before it spread
The family, including sons Rudy, two, and Cassius, five, are now planning a family holiday when Mrs Cheadle’s treatment ends
The family are now planning on going on a ‘familymoon’ next month to St Tropez in France.
She has shared her story to encourage other women to be vigilant and pay attention to their bodies.
‘My future could’ve been a lot different if I hadn’t of been able to seek treatment straight away.
‘I hope other women read my story and if they’ve noticed a change in their breasts to push for a mammogram, if I hadn’t I’m sure my cancer would’ve spread further and my children could’ve lost their mum.
‘The past nine months have been a whirlwind of emotions but we made it through and once I finish radiotherapy I can start rebuilding my life and forgetting about my diagnosis.
Mrs Cheadle has been supported by Mummy’s Star and the Young Breast Cancer Network.
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