Mother of two, Tracey knew something was wrong when she started to experience severe aches and pains and visited her GP.
Tracey, who lives near Pontefract, West Yorkshire, spent 18 months visiting her GP surgery with various vague symptoms which included aches and pains, lethargy and eventually, exhaustion, sickness and incontinence.
Speaking to me this month, Tracey said the early signs and symptoms were explained away as the result of being typical of someone her age ( in their forties), and maybe aches and pains from exercising at the gym.
Even when she found what felt like a large lump in her left breast her GP told her it was ‘hormonal’.
Tracey was worried as her Mum had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the previous year, and had been treated by the same doctors surgery plus her Aunty had also died of cancer aged 46, many years ago.
After more bouts of sickness, the GP referred Tracey to a rheumatologist who thought Tracey may have lupus. Her GP thought this was unlikely, and because she was still experiencing incontinence, referred her to a urologist.
After completing a number of tests, the urologist asked Tracey to make an urgent appointment and to bring someone with her. He explained she had a rare cancer of the retroperitoneal area which was treatable but not curable. He had only seen cancer present itself here once before in 25 years. He said they would need to find the primary source of the cancer – which turned out to be the lump in Tracey’s breast.
Before Tracey could begin chemotherapy, her kidneys shut down and husband Chris was asked to bring their sons into hospital as it wasn’t looking good.
Fortunately Tracey began to respond to treatment which allowed her to commence a weekly chemotherapy programme that lasted for six months. She had a number of setbacks throughout her treatment and developed sepsis (blood poisoning) on three occasions – a serious and potentially life-threatening complication of an infection.
On the second occasion, Tracey was heartbroken as she couldn’t go with her son as he moved to Keele University for his studies.
Since her cancer diagnosis in March 2016, Tracey has also had two blood clots following flights abroad, which now mean she has to inject blood thinning medication each day.
By 2018, chemo and steroids had taken their toll and Tracey had her left hip replaced and then in 2019 discovered her femur was broken which needed an urgent operation.
“My son was about to graduate and having missed settling him in, I was determined to make it to his ceremony, so the operation got delayed,” she told me.
When Covid struck, Tracey shielded apart for monthly visits to hospital for treatment and regular scan appointments.
The highlight of lockdown was receiving supermarket deliveries not only for her family but also for her parents and in-laws who were all vulnerable.
“My kitchen looked like a supermarket, “she joked.
Following more pain, a scan revealed the cancer has spread and Tracey will require radiotherapy.
“I’m incurable, so the cancer is managed. It’s fine for a couple of years but then the body gets used to the treatment and then we need to try something else,” Tracey explained.
Somehow throughout this terrible ordeal, Tracey has remained positive and upbeat. She is rarely without a smile on her face, and she tackles each new obstacle thrown in her path.
“I am calm. This is my life now. I could go two ways – sit in a corner and shrivel up or go out and enjoy myself.
I do feel angry and let down. If it had been found sooner, would the cancer have spread to the numerous parts of my body? I will never know.”
Tracey is a great supporter of the Cancer SMART message – particularly being aware of your own body – knowing what is normal for you.
“I do know my own body. As a family we have always had a healthy diet and exercised. A GP who listens is key to getting diagnosed early.
“I’ve been fobbed off. I feel like I have had to battle constantly. As a patient we should not have to constantly chase up contacts and follow ups.”
Tracey now has a different GP within the practice and finally feels she is being listened to.