Our Special Lass
Nadia's journey.
Nadia is a mother.
Nadia is a daughter.
Nadia is a sister and aunt.
Nadia is a friend.
Nadia is a colleague.
Nadia's fight with cancer initially started in October 2017 when she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. This is the most aggressive type that's common in young women, but more recently, her condition has progressed to terminal. Her fight has now turned into a battle.
Nadia has been given 12 - 15 months to live, but cancer does not and will not define her.
Nor will it define the legacy that she will leave behind for her two gorgeous children; Hayden aged 8 and Myla aged 3.
The Dream Team are a group of close friends who are working together to crowd fund on behalf of Nadia, we are raising funds to buy and supply treatments that are not available on the NHS but may just give Nadia that little bit longer to create some special memories with her two children.
Nadia has worked for The Mix Charity for many years, supporting under 25's and we would like to give something back to Nadia.
Here is Nadia’s journey so far…
In October time 2017, I noticed a lump in my boob. I thought it was odd but didn't really pay too much attention to it, as a healthy 36 year old with no history of breast cancer in the family you don’t think the worst.
Around 6 weeks after I had first noticed the lump I went to see my GP who referred me for further checks.
Receiving the worst news ever
I went for a consultation for my first examination and even as the doctor said ‘the lump seemed quite suspicious’, I still felt quite blasé and expected to be sent home with the all clear. However, I was sent immediately for a mammogram and biopsy. The next time I met with the Doctor to discuss the results, I could tell something wasn't right. I just knew from his whole demeanour that it was ‘bad’ news. As he sat rubbing his head and asked, again, “are you sure there's no cancer in your family?!” In that moment I knew it was cancer, my heart sank. I couldn't quite process what I was being presented with. I called my partner with the news and just sobbed.
The time I waited for my results was the longest, most nerve-wracking week of my life, my results were all I could think of. My thoughts were consumed of how do I tell my family, my friends and how do I even begin to tell my children!
When I went for my results, there was no guessing what was coming, it was written all over their faces, Steph, my partner heard the devastating news and completely broke down. I just felt numb. Not only was it breast cancer but also it was ‘Triple Negative’ breast cancer. The most aggressive type that's common in young women.
Treatment
Everything moved very quickly, with the plan was 6 months of chemo, followed by surgery then radiotherapy. As it started to sink in, I began to feel determined that this would only be a short blip in my life, 6 months to a year, then I'd be back on track feeling great! Denial is powerful medicine!
Chemo was/is horrible! I couldn’t eat due to mouth ulcers, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting the lot. I had some OK days, but overall you just feel like you're being poisoned slowly, and to top it off, I lost my hair! 
But the hardest part was trying to still be a Mum. Physically and emotionally it tests you, and consumed with guilt for not being able to play with my children, put them to bed, losing my patience and just not having the energy I previously had. 
The battle rages on
My first progress scan was around 3months into treatment. I had amazing results; the scan showed the tumour had shrunk by nearly 80%. I was elated, felt like I was beating cancer! I was generally able to keep focused on getting to the end of treatment and tried to stay positive.
At the end of chemo, I had my first surgery, which included removing cancerous tissue from the breast and affected lymph nodes. I felt quite confident after my last fantastic scan results, and remained positive. I was totally unprepared for what biopsy results revealed.
They hadn't realised the full extent of the cancer cells in my breast, although some of the tumour had gone, there were still cancer cells right up to the margin of tissue removed. They also found cancer in 12 out of the 20 lymph nodes they had removed, which in itself was bad news. The following week I was booked in for a full mastectomy, by now I wasn't bothered about losing my boob, I just wanted it gone. However, even following a full mastectomy they found a further 6 cm of cancer across the boob, in total nearly 12 cm. We were informed it was highly likely to return within 3 years. This was too much to process. 
Despite such devastating news and forecasts, I was determined to stay positive and keep healthy. I was coming to the end of my treatment, just radiotherapy then I was done. I radically changed my diet and was trying to be as healthy as possible. I was sure I could beat this, and be one of the lucky ones.
Fast forward a couple of months, I'd finished my radiotherapy, my hair was starting to grow back and I was recovering from surgery - finally starting to feel better and with more energy for my kids, I was looking forward to getting back to normal life again, this even included me starting back at work and a wonderful family holiday to celebrate the end of this horrible journey. Onward and upwards!
Around 4 weeks later, I started to notice I had a pain in my lower back. I was advised to go for a scan to rule out any recurrence. I had a niggling feeling the results might not be good. Sure enough, I got the same look on the doctor’s face. ‘I'm sorry to tell you it has come back and is in your bones’.
Due to the aggressiveness of the cancer they expect I'll have about 2 years to live. The average is 12 to 15 months but with new immunotherapy drug trials, they are getting great results extending people's lives to 22 months; what the hell is that!
It was like an explosion in my head, I felt shattered and my first thought was my children. How would they cope? When would be the best time to talk to them, and what do I say? How would they react to their mummy not being there anymore and watching me go through this?
The scan results showed cancer in 3 bones. One of which was unstable so they would need to operate asap. If left the bone could compress on my spine and I'd end up paralyzed.
The pain had been getting progressively worse in my back and by the time I arrived at hospital to check-in for surgery, I could barely walk. In a way I was grateful just to try and fix this.
The worst 2 weeks of my life
What followed was the worst two weeks of my life. I had two major operations to remove the troublesome disc and replace with some wonderful tech! I had an accidental punctured lung resulting in extremely painful chest drains. I couldn't move due to the surgery and pain, I was on my back in the same position for 10 days, drugged up heavily. I required a blood transfusion, and ended up with pneumonia resulting in a longer hospital stay until the infection cleared. I wasn't able to see my children because I was in the high dependency unit, full of wires and tubes and I didn't want them to see me in that state. Finally, on Christmas Eve I was allowed home! Out of prison! Reunited with my children and family.
Recovery was very slow but I was finally feeling better from the operation. I had more radiotherapy and was called back in for another scan! I expected to see the cancer remained roughly the same or perhaps a little bit more but nope. I was told “I'm sorry to tell you that it's now in 14 places across your neck, spine, hips, ribs and tailbone!”
So I guess I'm learning finally to expect bad news!
Where to do I go from here?
The NHS have been amazing and I am grateful for everything they have done for me since my original diagnosis in October 2017.
At the moment because my cancer is in my bones, I'm not eligible for most of the drug trials because it's not possible to clearly measure the progress in the same way you can in the soft tissue.
Therefore my options are limited. I am left with only chemo for now, which I am loath to get started on but going to find the will and whatever way to keep fighting this.
My Dream Team
I am privileged to have an amazing bunch of friends that I call my "Dream Team", who keep me positive on my low days and continually look into new treatments that may help to keep me fighting this for just a while longer so I can create more memories for my children.
Unfortunately, these treatments are not available on the NHS because they are really expensive. So my Dream Team have stepped in to help me fundraise so I can continue with my battle.
I was really unsure about doing this, despite working for a charity myself, asking for help is not usually my forte. But I know that I need to keep on fighting because
I am Nadia.
I am a mother.
I am a daughter.
I am a sister and aunt.
I am a friend.
I am a colleague.
