She is 47, married and a mother of two; to a 14 year old son and a 12 year old daughter. Working as an advisory teacher, she teaches children across the ages from primary to secondary education with an emphasis on computing. She loves Lego and her family are a Star Wars and Marvel loving family. Phillippa is a self-proclaimed chatterbox, making friends wherever she goes. She enjoys movies, games, time with her friends and family, animals – especially cats (she has two Belle and Boo) and loves Indian and Chinese food – just not too much spice!
After noticing a change in her right breast tissue around Christmas in 2021, she dismissed it as dried skin as there was no lump. Thinking ‘I’m too young for cancer, right?’ In June 2022, Phillippa felt a definite lump in her right breast, immediately calling her GP and was fortunate enough to have an appointment on the same day and referral within two weeks. She was diagnosed with grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma a few days after a screening, mammogram, ultrasound and biopsies which had all taken place on the same day. Phillipa said ‘staff were exceptional, and in my hearts of hearts, I knew it was cancer.’ She received her diagnosis and surgery at the Queen Elizabeth in Gateshead, her chemotherapy at Sunderland and South Tyneside and her radiotherapy at Freeman Hospital.
Phillippa had a therapeutic mammoplasty and the removal of lymph nodes. A couple of weeks later the results came back that 6 out of 19 of her lymph nodes contained cancer and the lump was 6.9 cm large, she was told she would need chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy. Her surgeon was confident that all the cancer had been removed and chemotherapy was to make absolutely sure. Hoping to avoid chemotherapy this came as quite a blow. She had 6 cycles that finished just after Christmas, it meant being absent from work as this was too risky for her health. Instead, she kept in contact with her work family via text, video call or occasionally popping in on her ‘better days’.
Phillippa felt the chemotherapy was not as bad as she thought it would be, mainly feeling tired and doing some serious napping. After two weeks she began losing her hair, after having bought wigs, headscarves and turbans she thought she was mentally prepared. However, this hit her very hard and was the first time she let the tears flow. She described her hair coming out in handfuls and leaving a trail behind her. However, her and her daughter had fun dyeing her hair shocking pink and a week later her daughter shaved her head for her. Phillippa said her daughter doing it made it much less traumatic and commented ‘a career in hairdressing beckons for her!’ as her daughter enjoyed it far too much.
Her second phase of chemotherapy hit her like a freight train and after the first cycle her regime was adjusted to a slightly different drug and having chemotherapy weekly for the following six weeks. This was harder to administer due to allergic reactions and needing extra pre meds, but it lessened the impact on her health, meaning she could enjoy Christmas with her family. Her hair began to grow back during chemotherapy, which surprised her. Her daughter is now taking weekly photos to make a time lapse to watch it grow.
Phillippa is now starting radiotherapy and received her Box between her two treatments, she said it was the perfect time as she was feeling quite flat and unmotivated. She will be having 15 sessions with the possibility of 5 more depending on how it goes. ‘I was delighted to receive it and may have shed a little tear!’ She opened her Box with her daughter and they enjoyed looking at all of the lovely contents. In particular, Phillippa thought the cordial was delicious and good to encourage her to stay hydrated as well as looked forward to using the MooGoo products.
Phillippa’s Top Tips:
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us Phillippa, sending love.
