A young woman from Harrogate has urged people to check themselves after finding out she was pregnant and had breast cancer within a month.
Nicky Davis, 38, found out she was pregnant with her “miracle baby” on April 14 after three failed rounds of IVF.
But exactly a month later she was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer after finding a lump.
At first she thought the lump could be related to her pregnancy but it wasn’t. The cancer was in her breast and spread to the skin causing an orange peel effect.
She began chemotherapy in June when she was 11 weeks pregnant and will keep going until November before giving birth.
Nicky said:
“We’d been trying for a baby for a long time so it was an absolute miracle.
“My cancer is hormone-responsive so it’s likely I’ve always had cancerous cells but the pregnancy had a huge impact. Without the baby I may never have known, this baby basically saved my life.
“We went from the highest of highs then to the lowest of lows.”
A week ago, Nicky had a single mastectomy to remove her breast and several lymph nodes to prevent the cancer spreading.
Due to her high risk pregnancy, Nicky will be delivering her baby girl early in November. After this she will continue chemotherapy and then move onto radiotherapy.
Nicky with her husband Mark on their wedding day in August.
Despite all of this she wants to raise awareness and encourage people to check themselves regularly:
“Breast cancer doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care who you are or how old you are. I had no family history and I’m still young.
“Even if people set a reminder in their phones to check themselves every few weeks, it’s so so important and we all need to do it.”
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Nicky is very grateful for all the “incredible” care received at Harrogate District Hospital but said it has made her more aware of the difference is healthcare in different countries.
She is now working with her family to fundraise for Breast Cancer Support. The charity works with breast cancer patients across the world who can’t afford medication or treatment.
Her family are arranging a walk of the Harrogate Ringway, around 20 miles, in hopes of raising money for the charity. Nicky is hoping to take part in the final few miles on October 30.
To support Nicky’s fundraising, click here.
