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Secondary Sisters: Friends with incurable breast cancer set up support group | Secondary Sisters: Friends with incurable breast cancer set up support group |
(about 8 hours later) | |
Two women with incurable breast cancer whose lives were "flipped upside down" by the diagnosis have set up a group to offer hope to others. | Two women with incurable breast cancer whose lives were "flipped upside down" by the diagnosis have set up a group to offer hope to others. |
Nicky Newman and Laura Middleton-Hughes, both 31, have stage four cancer that has spread around their bodies. | Nicky Newman and Laura Middleton-Hughes, both 31, have stage four cancer that has spread around their bodies. |
When Nicky, from Guildford, was told her secondary cancer was incurable, she said it sent her into a "blind panic". | When Nicky, from Guildford, was told her secondary cancer was incurable, she said it sent her into a "blind panic". |
The pair said they hoped their online community, Secondary Sisters, would help others facing such difficult news. | The pair said they hoped their online community, Secondary Sisters, would help others facing such difficult news. |
Laura, from Norwich, said it had given them both a "positive, therapeutic, way of talking about our cancer". | Laura, from Norwich, said it had given them both a "positive, therapeutic, way of talking about our cancer". |
"We both potentially face a very bumpy future, but we do have a future and we are going to live it," she said. | "We both potentially face a very bumpy future, but we do have a future and we are going to live it," she said. |
"And if we can help even one person feel better about themselves and like they are part of a community, that's amazing." | "And if we can help even one person feel better about themselves and like they are part of a community, that's amazing." |
Both women are supporting Stand Up To Cancer, a joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4. | Both women are supporting Stand Up To Cancer, a joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4. |
Nicky and her husband Alex were undergoing IVF treatment when she found a lump in her breast. | Nicky and her husband Alex were undergoing IVF treatment when she found a lump in her breast. |
She said even before cancer was mentioned she could "see it in the doctor's face". | She said even before cancer was mentioned she could "see it in the doctor's face". |
During tests, she mentioned back pains, so was referred for specialist imaging. | During tests, she mentioned back pains, so was referred for specialist imaging. |
"The surgeon said to me: 'I'm really sorry, there's nothing I can do'. It sent me into a blind panic," she said. | "The surgeon said to me: 'I'm really sorry, there's nothing I can do'. It sent me into a blind panic," she said. |
However, she was given a drug called Palbociclib, which had only just been approved for NHS use. | However, she was given a drug called Palbociclib, which had only just been approved for NHS use. |
"If it hadn't, my prognosis would have been very different," Nicky said. | "If it hadn't, my prognosis would have been very different," Nicky said. |
What is secondary breast cancer? | What is secondary breast cancer? |
In stage four breast cancer, the breast cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, lungs, liver or brain. | In stage four breast cancer, the breast cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, lungs, liver or brain. |
It is also called advanced cancer, secondary breast cancer, or metastatic breast cancer. | It is also called advanced cancer, secondary breast cancer, or metastatic breast cancer. |
The cancer is not curable at this point but may be controlled with treatment for some years. | The cancer is not curable at this point but may be controlled with treatment for some years. |
Possible treatments include hormone therapy, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy and radiotherapy. | Possible treatments include hormone therapy, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy and radiotherapy. |
Source: Cancer Research UK | Source: Cancer Research UK |
Treatment may have halted the spread of the disease but it has robbed both women of the chance to have children. | Treatment may have halted the spread of the disease but it has robbed both women of the chance to have children. |
Nicky said when she left hospital, she was "grieving more for the fact that I had lost my chance to be a mother than because I had cancer". | Nicky said when she left hospital, she was "grieving more for the fact that I had lost my chance to be a mother than because I had cancer". |
Laura was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 after finding a lump while on holiday. | Laura was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 after finding a lump while on holiday. |
She underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy and recovered well. | She underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy and recovered well. |
But in April 2016, pain in Laura's right shoulder got steadily worse and she was referred for a scan. | But in April 2016, pain in Laura's right shoulder got steadily worse and she was referred for a scan. |
A tumour had overtaken the head of the humerus - the bone in the arm between the shoulder and elbow. | A tumour had overtaken the head of the humerus - the bone in the arm between the shoulder and elbow. |
"It was terrifying, 2016 was a rubbish year, a really rubbish year," she said. | "It was terrifying, 2016 was a rubbish year, a really rubbish year," she said. |
Laura has traces of breast cancer in her spine, 12 vertebrae and pelvis but said: "I'm very grateful the treatment I'm having is managing to give me a fairly normal life." |
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