BEING a new mum is tough as it is, but for Keisha Chadwick, her challenges were only just beginning.
The single mum, 30. from Greater Manchester has battled cancer, suffering hallucinations and horrific sores from treatment, as well as Covid and sepsis since giving birth to her daughter Milana-Mae in June 2021.
Make The HeadlinesKeisha Chadwick became a single mum at 30 before her health took a turn for the worse[/caption]
Make The HeadlinesDiagnosed with sepsis, then Covid, what docs first thought was a blocked milk duct turnout out to be breast cancer[/caption]
Make The HeadlinesShe underwent treatment which was harsh on her body, causing sores, burns and even making her hallucinate[/caption]
Make The HeadlinesKeisha just wanted to get better for the sake of her daughter Milana-Mae[/caption]
Keisha was studying at university to be a nurse when she fell pregnant and gave birth to her daughter Milana-Mae in August 2021.
At eight months pregnant, she had found a lump in her right breast, but thought it would be related to her breast milk coming in.
While giving birth in hospital, Keisha was diagnosed with sepsis, aka blood poisoning which can be deadly.
Then, just days later, she tested positive for Covid, and was put into isolation in hospital with her newborn.
She wore a mask at all times to protect Milana, and if she buzzed for a midwife, they would need to put on full PPE before entering the room.
“It wasn’t how I expected to begin motherhood,” Keisha, who had separated from the baby’s father, said.
“Then when I went home, I had to spend ten days on my own with my new baby. I wasn’t allowed any visitors.
“My breast milk came through, but dried up really quickly, and the lump that was almost under my armpit had grown, so I spoke to my GP.
“He said it was probably a blocked duct, but that he had to refer me for a biopsy to make sure.
“He said I could go back and shout at him if it was anything more as he was so adamant.
“Even the nurse at my biopsy said it seemed like it would be to do with my milk.
“I felt assured every step of the way.”
But, when Keisha went to Tameside Hospital to get her results in August 2021, aged just 28, she wasn’t prepared for the devastating news.
“I was told I had breast cancer,” Keisha said. “I told them they were joking, that I’d just had a baby.
“Then I started to cry, asking whether I was going to die.
“They said treatment would leave me infertile, so if I wanted more children in the future, I would have to undergo fertility treatment and freeze my eggs.
“It was too much, so I walked out. I feared the worst. I didn’t know what was happening.
“I just spent the weekend searching the internet for other people’s stories.”
Keisha started fertility treatment the following week and had three eggs frozen.
SO UNWELL
She had to put her career on hold, and in September, Keisha started nine weeks of chemotherapy once a week.
“I was the youngest in the room, and didn’t look unwell, so everyone stared at me.
“They were much older and looked very poorly.
“I knew my hair would fall out so I cut off my long locks to my collarbone.
“To make myself more comfortable, I’d made a blanket with photos of my friends and family, and I would take a goodie bag with food.”
In November, Keisha’s treatment switched to a harsher “red devil chemo” – or Doxorubicin, named after its colour – she had three of those every three weeks for nine weeks.
“It was absolutely horrendous. The nausea was awful.
“I couldn’t eat or drink so I was hallucinating, my finger and toenails fell off and I had sores on my skin.
“During week four, I noticed clumps of my hair on my pillow. I rang my mum and said, ‘I’m taking my hair off’.
“So she came round and a close friend shaved my head.
“It was a really emotional moment as everything had happened really quickly, but I wanted to take back control rather than see myself gradually going bald.
“I actually got a lot of compliments and people said it suited me.
“By Christmas, my eyelashes had fallen out – that devastated me, I remember sobbing because I looked like a real cancer patient.”
ALL CLEAR
In January 2022, Keisha was given the good news – she was cancer free.
“I rang the bell at the hospital before walking out. On 12 February, I had a mastectomy on my right breast.
“I was told I didn’t need radiotherapy, and I spent the next 12 weeks trying to rebuild my life.
“Then I got a call to say I did need to have the treatment – 15 rounds, one a day every day for three weeks, which finished in June.
“It was like a laser, my skin started to break down and was burnt under my armpit and was peeling away.
“It also changed my skin colour in that area, so I had to use special moisturising cream.”
After having reconstructive surgery on her right breast, and a reductive precautionary mastectomy on her left, Keisha was finally told on March 1, 2022 told there was no evidence of the disease in her body.
“I didn’t believe it. Even though it was good news. I was so overwhelmed and scared that it might return.
“I still had to have more reconstructive surgeries on my breasts.
“This disease has consumed my every thought for 18 months and has taken its mental and physical toll.”
Breast cancer signs and symptoms
Lumps are usually the first sign of breast cancer.
The NHS says to speak to your GP if you notice any of the following symptoms:
a new lump or area of thickened tissue in either breast that was not there before
a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
a discharge of fluid from either of your nipples
a lump or swelling in either of your armpits
a change in the look or feel of your skin, such as puckering or dimpling, a rash or redness
a rash (like eczema), crusting, scaly or itchy skin or redness on or around your nipple
a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast
Now Keisha is planning for her future.
After losing her right boob to cancer, Keisha had no interest in hitting the dating scene again.
But one evening after a few drinks in April 2022, a friend convinced her to set up a Tinder account – and the pair spent a few hours looking for potential matches for a laugh.
When Keisha woke up the next day, she deleted the account – but her friend had already messaged a man called Aaron, passing on Keisha’s Instagram details.
NEW LOVE
“My friend was saying to me ‘You’re not just a mum or a girl with cancer, you need to start going on dates’.
“But I said, ‘No way – who would want to go out with a single mum with one boob who’s just beaten cancer?’”
“But after a few drinks, she set up the account and was replying to people.
“A guy she was messaging called Aaron, 30, got in touch with me on my Instagram where I’d been posting about my cancer journey (@cancerwho22).
“I was quite rude and said I was busy with my child and treatment.
“Then a few days later, I apologised and just said my life was really busy.
“We got talking and the next month, we went out on our first date, for cocktails and a gig.
“It was brilliant. He made me feel attractive again, after what had been such a horrendous year.
“He’s been there every step of the way – he’s helped me to dress myself, shower me, cook me food and be there for Milana.
“He’s just been lovely and always told me cancer didn’t define me.”
Keisha’s due to finish her nursing course at the end of the year and she and Aaron want to add to their family.
“Since that weekend where I was told I had cancer and I cried, I think I’ve cried five times in total, that’s it.
“I just get on with it. Of course, I’ve been worried and scared, mostly for Milana because I don’t want to leave her.
“But what can I do? What’s the point of sitting around moping?
“We’ve got our first holiday abroad coming up as we had to cancel them due to my surgeries – we’re going to take Milana to Spain and then have a couples’ trip to Amsterdam.
“I want to get my life back to normal, and then when I’ve graduated, we’ll try to have more children. He’s brilliant with Milana.
“I feel like it was fate that I met Aaron. I never thought I would find anyone to be with again after what I had been through.
“But we were meant to meet and he was meant to come on this journey with me.”
Make The HeadlinesKeisha had to freeze her eggs before undergoing chemotherapy[/caption]
Make The HeadlinesShe is hoping to still add to her family with boyfriend Aaron, who she met after having a mastectomy[/caption]
Make The HeadlinesKeisha is hoping life gets back on track for her and Milena[/caption] Read More