CLAIRE

I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer in 2021 aged 44, the same age my Grandmother had died of Breast Cancer. It was found on an annual family mammogram during Lockdown and I am so glad I attended as I had no symptoms and the early diagnosis has definitely saved my life.

I had all my treatment through lockdown restrictions all alone for all my hospital visits. A lumpectomy 3 weeks after diagnosis and my tumour had doubled in size since the mammogram, I then had 6 months of chemotherapy. During this time I had a video call with the genetics team who confirmed I had the BRCA2 gene fault, no surprise after being the same age as my Grandmother at her diagnosis. 

Three weeks after chemo I had more surgery to help prevent recurrence due to the BRCA2 gene fault, I had a double mastectomy with implants, unable to have DIEP as not enough flesh left after the gruelling chemo . One of the implants took well but the right lumpectomy side wouldn’t heal, and on Christmas Eve 2021, my 1st Christmas after 8 months of constant treatment the consultant decided I needed to have an emergency op to remove the implant, it wasnt the Christmas i had planned in my mind all through chemo and recovery! 

I had more surgery the following October to replace the implant and thankfully waiting nearly a year had helped and the skin healed. 

My Oncologist at The Christie had heard of a new chemo drug called Olaparib that helps the BRCA2 gene fault repair itself, she was hopeful this would increase my chances of not getting a recurrence of Breast Cancer, there is no current medication to take after triple negative breast cancer like there is with the hormone positive ones, once treatment is finished you just have to hope you dont get a recurrence or secondary breast cancer. Therefore I was happy to try anything to help me live longer with my wonderful family and see my Children grow up. She wrote to Astrazeneca to see if I could be placed on an early access scheme and with my cancer being part of the qualifying criteria I was approved. It was a tough 12 months straight after my Double Mastectomy, taking the tablet at the same time morning and night and the side effects were harsh but not as bad as the IV chemotherapy had been.

Whilst taking Olaparib, I was asked if I would take part in a National Campaign to help get the drug approved for use on the NHS, I was happy to help as I felt very lucky and fortunate to have been allowed to have this new tablet by Astrazeneca, and wanted others to be able to have the same . I had lots of media attention and 71000 people signed the national petition which was amazing.

Astrazeneca, NICE and the NHS approved Olaparib in April 2023 and I did interviews on Times Radio and my story was in the Mirror and the Sun Newspapers. I am so pleased that the campaigns helped and others with BRCA1 and BRCA2 can now have this chemo drug to help prevent the recurrence.

 I took part in Maggies on the Runway 2 years exactly to my date of my Double Mastectomy operation 17 November 2023, it was a fantastic uplifting experience, and felt so incredible to be there 2 years to the day of my huge op!

 I met some inspirational people including the wonderful Margo who has invited me to join the Boobee Hive which is helping me to get to know others that have had similar situations to me and with the same goals to help Prevent Breast Cancer for all future generations.

I want to help more so that other drugs and cures can be found and agreed on the NHS like Olaparib has been. 

I also want to promote for everyone to have their mammograms when they are invited, I didn’t have any symptoms and a Mammogram saved my life.