After her mum and aunt both passed away from breast cancer, Kate Parker underwent a double mastectomy to avoid the same outcome.
Then, doctors found a fatal tumour in her liver.
trib.al/dkWt2oz
Then, doctors found a fatal tumour in her liver.
trib.al/dkWt2oz
Kate was just 12 when my mum died of breast cancer in 2000.
In 2015, her mum’s sister, aunt Judy, also passed away from the condition.
After tests, it turned out that Kate had the BRCA2 mutation.
In 2015, her mum’s sister, aunt Judy, also passed away from the condition.
After tests, it turned out that Kate had the BRCA2 mutation.
The BRCA2 gene produces proteins that help repair damaged DNA, and a mutation of it greatly increases the carrier’s risk of developing breast cancer and other cancers such, as ovarian.
At 28 she decided instantly to have a preventative double mastectomy – surgery to remove both her breasts and decrease her risk
There was no way she wanted to face what her mum and aunt had
There was no way she wanted to face what her mum and aunt had
They also found out that Kate’s cousin - Judy’s daughter - had the mutation too. She decided to get a double mastectomy as well.
The procedures in 2016 appeared to go fine initially, but the skin around the wounds became infected, and Kate was unable to shake a constant feeling of tiredness.
After the infection failed to clear up, doctors sent her for blood tests - revealing very high liver function.
After the infection failed to clear up, doctors sent her for blood tests - revealing very high liver function.
She was then sent for a CT scan.
It showed she had a 12cm by 8cm tumour in her liver.
‘I’m not one for getting emotional. As soon as I was told I just wanted to know the plan’, Kate says.
It showed she had a 12cm by 8cm tumour in her liver.
‘I’m not one for getting emotional. As soon as I was told I just wanted to know the plan’, Kate says.
But after that mass was removed - along with 60% of Kate’s liver - doctors ran a biopsy and had another shock to deliver: it was malignant and tests showed she actually had bowel cancer.
Doctors planned a colonoscopy to find the primary tumour, but Kate then suffered a collapsed lung, forcing a hospital stay.
When they finally undertook the procedure, surgeons couldn’t see her bowel because the tumour was so big.
When they finally undertook the procedure, surgeons couldn’t see her bowel because the tumour was so big.
It was then that the final bombshell dropped.
As plans were being made to remove it, doctors discovered that spots had appeared on her lungs.
It had spread. She was now inoperable.
As plans were being made to remove it, doctors discovered that spots had appeared on her lungs.
It had spread. She was now inoperable.
Since then Kate has undertaken every form of treatment offered by the NHS, but the cancer has continued to spread.
At only 33, she’s made a ‘f**k it’ list of things she still wants to experience.
At only 33, she’s made a ‘f**k it’ list of things she still wants to experience.
They include going to Tokyo to see the cherry blossoms, doing a road trip in America, and to have a flying lesson in a Spitfire.
‘I didn’t think I would still be here so I’m cherishing the time I’ve been given.’ she says.
‘I didn’t think I would still be here so I’m cherishing the time I’ve been given.’ she says.
Kate makes another important point: ‘When people talk about cancer they clam up as it’s just horrible but it’s so important to discuss symptoms.’
‘if it’s caught early, it’s treatable.’ metro.co.uk/2021/12/09/i-h…
‘if it’s caught early, it’s treatable.’ metro.co.uk/2021/12/09/i-h…
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