A mum of six who was told she had inoperable secondary breast cancer has ‘been given hope’ after she visited a private consultant for a second opinion. Determined to watch her children grow up, she is ready to fight the illness with everything she has.
Mum and parish councillor Tracey Poulton, 37, from Brockworth, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2022. Following a course of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and medication, she underwent a double mastectomy in November and was soon after given the all clear.
This year, Tracey noticed small lumps on the right side of her breast area. Initially it was thought they were due to the mastectomy and she was sent for a PET (Positron emission tomography) scan.
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Tracey said: “In June last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and had my ovaries and tubes all removed.
“They threw it all at me. It is because I carry something called the BRCA gene, and it means I have a higher chance of developing cancer or it returning.”
The NHS website says: “BRCA1 and BRCA2 are examples of genes that raise your cancer risk if they become altered. Having a variant BRCA gene greatly increases a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer. They also increase a man’s chance of developing male breast cancer and prostate cancer.
Tracey and her sister, Jessica Batchford, 35, from Brockworth, visited the consultant to get the results of the PET scan. Neither of them could have been prepared for all they were going to be told.
Tracey said: “My sister and I went to see the consultant to get the results of the PET scan, and I was told it had returned. We then were told it was very complex and I was inoperable.
“I asked if it meant I was terminally ill, and I was told yes. This feeling came over my back and across my stomach, I could not believe all I was hearing.”
Tracey and Jessica returned to the car after many tears. However, Jessica was not prepared to give up on her sister.
Tracey said: “I just could not get my head around all I had been told. All I was thinking about was my children, and how I had to be here for them.
“Jessica is a fighter. She was in the car and said I was not to worry and we were going to get a second opinion.”
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Tracey got home and called Nuffield Health in Cheltenham, which is a private hospital. Days later, the sisters went to see a consultant there who, after reviewing the scans, felt he may be able to operate on Tracey.
Tracey said: “I called Nuffield Health in Cheltenham to ask about getting a second opinion. Later that night, I had a call from Charlie Chan, who is a surgical consultant there.
“He asked me for permission to see my hospital file and scans. We had a chat and I went with my sister to see him.
“At the appointment, he was very direct and explained everything well. He said he was not a miracle worker, yet would see if he could help.
“The same day, in the evening, Charlie called me. He already had looked at my scan and file, and had spoken with his team about me.
“Apparently they had a 45 minute long meeting, and they felt they were able to carry out the operation.
“When I got off the phone, I sat on the floor of my conservatory, and I just cried. Charlie had given me hope.”
The next day, Tracey had a meeting with Charlie to discuss the operation. It was expected the operation would take up to three hours, and it was the first time Tracey had seen her scans.
The date for the operation was booked. However, as the operation was being carried out by a private hospital, she and her sister were told it would cost up to £20,000.
Tracey said: “I was booked in to have the operation on December 5. I signed the forms to say the money for the operation would be repaid in 12 months.
Tracey said: “I am a single mother with six children and I do not have that sort of money. However Jessica has created a Just Giving page and organised fundraising events.”
Tracey had the operation on December 5 as planned. Just two days later she was discharged, and determined to collect her children from school as she had missed them so much.
She said: “The operation I was told went well. They removed the lumps and had to take a chunk of skin, fat and muscle and put it into my chest area.
“I am feeling good, and I feel like it may have worked. I will not know the results of the operation until just before Christmas.”
To support Tracey and her family raising funds to pay for the operation, please visit here.
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
