Nicola Purdie was five months pregnant with her second child—her dream baby due in 2024—when she felt a lump in her right breast. For many, it would be a devastating discovery. But for Nicola, it was heartbreakingly familiar.
In 2020, she had already faced breast cancer. At just 33 years old, she underwent a double mastectomy, months of chemotherapy, and breast reconstruction. She believed the worst was behind her.
A History That Couldn’t Be Ignored
The first time Nicola discovered a lump, she had just finished breastfeeding her first child. She was back in Swansea, working as a geography teacher, when the news came: breast cancer.
In October 2020, she started five months of chemotherapy at Singleton Hospital. Despite the cancer affecting only one breast, Nicola chose to have both breasts removed.
“Although I only had cancer in one breast, my aunt and grandma had had breast cancer before. I thought, ‘I’m still young, we might as well take care of it and do the best we can,’” she said.
She later had reconstructive surgery using skin and tissue from her abdomen—a procedure known as DIEP (deep inferior epigastric perforator) flap reconstruction.
“It means I have natural breasts that grow and shrink with my weight,” Nicola explained. “I don’t have implants that need to be replaced after 10 or 15 years.”
Hormone-Sensitive Cancer and Pregnancy Planning
Nicola’s cancer was hormone-sensitive, triggered by estrogen. As a result, she received hormone suppression therapy for over two years.
But she still dreamed of expanding her family. “When I was diagnosed, we knew we wanted to have another child eventually,” she said. “So we actually waited two and a half years.”
Doctors agreed she could try for another baby. Nicola had achieved what they call a complete pathological response—no trace of cancer after treatment.
Cancer Returns—But So Does Nicola’s Strength
In 2023, her hopes were disrupted again.
A second lump appeared. This time, it was in the skin of her reconstructed breast—the only tissue left after her mastectomy.
“As soon as I found the lump, I knew it wasn’t a coincidence,” she said. “It was cancer again.”
Unlike the first time, Nicola kept the news private—telling only her husband, a close friend, and her family.
“I wanted to protect this baby,” she said. “I wanted him to come into the world and everything to be about him—not about cancer.”
A World-First Procedure
Despite the growing tumor and her pregnancy, Nicola made a groundbreaking decision.
She proposed a unique idea to her surgeon: to replace her cancerous reconstructed breast with a healthy one from the other side—a procedure believed to be the first of its kind globally.
Unable to undergo chemotherapy during pregnancy, Nicola opted for a lumpectomy to remove the skin tumor. Imaging tests like chest X-rays and ultrasounds of her liver and abdomen showed no spread of the cancer, although doctors couldn’t be entirely sure.
Delaying Birth for Her Baby’s Health
Nicola and her doctors planned for an early birth around 32 weeks in late August. But when the time came, she asked for one more week to give her unborn son a better start.
“I said, ‘Can I put my teacher hat on and postpone it until next week?’” she recalled. “My husband was like, ‘What?’ But I said, ‘I have to give him the best chance.’”
Her son Fraser was born in early September at 32 weeks and six days. He spent three weeks in the neonatal unit. “He’s getting stronger and stronger,” Nicola said. “That’s made it better for me because I was dealing with some things.”
A Mother’s Determination
Just two weeks after giving birth, Nicola began 16 rounds of chemotherapy. She would go upstairs to the maternity ward to nurse her baby, then head down for treatment—then return to Fraser right afterward.
Her strength and determination helped her navigate what most would find unimaginable—fighting cancer while caring for a newborn.
Looking Ahead with Hope
Nicola’s courage has not only shaped her own journey, but may also impact how other women in similar situations are treated. Her groundbreaking surgery and determination to focus on her child’s well-being while undergoing intensive treatment is inspiring.
Now 38, Nicola continues her recovery while raising her children—grateful for every moment, and proud of how far she’s come.
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