New mum says her unborn baby saved her life because pregnancy symptoms caused docs to discover an 11cm cancerous tumour next to her heart.
A first time mum struggling with breathlessness in pregnancy went to hospital where docs discovered she had a “huge” tumour next to her heart.
Zoe Plastiras, 23, was 32 weeks pregnant when she was told to go to A&E by 111 because of repeated breathlessness and a cough.
At hospital, on September 10th 2022 she was given an X-Ray which later led to the diagnosis of an 11cm cancerous tumour in her chest cavity.
As Zoe’s symptoms were minimal the doctors were willing to hold off invasive procedures until her baby was born the following month.
But soon after the birth of her daughter, Zoe underwent needle biopsies and a surgical biopsy which gave her a diagnosis of Stage 2 Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. She will start chemotherapy treatment in the New Year.
Zoe, a self employed brow technician and make up artist, from Buckinghamshire, had been well all through her pregnancy but she believes the stress of her diagnosis caused her waters to break two weeks early on October 4th.
Zoe, who lives with her partner Joe and their daughter Ophelia, now three months old, said: “At the time of my labour I was so anxious about the kind of treatment I would need.
“Originally I was told I’d need open chest surgery which petrified me. It would have meant I couldn’t pick up my baby for two or three months while I recovered. The idea of this was heart wrenching, I cried so many tears.
“I didn’t like knowing I’d need to leave my newborn for appointments and surgeries. I felt like the end of my pregnancy was ruined by horrible stress and anxiety. It was only after Ophelia was born that I finally got some answers. Doctors have said I won’t need open chest surgery, I’ll have chemotherapy instead, which has been a huge relief but I am so sad to lose all my long hair.”
Zoe had felt well throughout her pregnancy apart from occasional breathlessness and a cough that came on when she moved.
She said: “I got to 32 weeks pregnant and kept losing my breath and had a bit of a cough with movement. 111 told me to get to hospital in an ambulance but I finished work first and headed to A&E where they X-rayed me and took my bloods.
“I was discharged and told I had a “slight abnormality” with my heart. But the next morning I woke up to a few missed calls and so did my partner, from the hospital. They left messages saying I needed to get to hospital in the next 10 minutes and to go straight to cardiology.
“Once we got there I had another scan and afterwards I felt like medical staff were dodging telling me what they found, but I pushed for it. I remember the nurse said: ‘How much do you want to know?” I said: ‘Everything I’m about to be a mum. I have to know everything.’
“That’s when she broke the news to me that they’d found a mass the size of a grapefruit in my chest and I was being tested for cancer.
“Me and Joe looked at each other in complete shock, it was an awful day. I’ll never forget it.”
The tumour measured 11.7cm by 6cm by 9cm but Zoe didn’t see her scan until a few months later when she met her surgeon.
She said: “When I saw it I could not believe how huge it was. Because it was next to my heart also, seeing the size of it next to my heart was shocking.
“I will forever be grateful for my daughter as I believe they would never have found this mass if it wasn’t for her pushing everything in my body around. She has essentially saved my life.”
Zoe’s friends and family were in total shock at her diagnosis. She said: “While we waited for my tests people were trying to be overly positive saying it would be benign and I shouldn’t worry but I’ve always been realistic.
“Once I was diagnosed and had to tell friends and family it was cancer that was so hard. I watched everyone around me in tears and tried to stay strong. I think it’s harder for my family to watch me go through this than it is for myself.
“At first my biggest fear was death. I said: ‘I don’t care what they do to me as long as I don’t die. I have to be here for my daughter.’
“But now I’ve had all my appointments ready to start treatment in January, I feel more positive and informed.
“It’s taken me three months to get a diagnosis and finally have a plan of treatment. That uncertainty has been a rollercoaster of horrible up and down feelings but now I feel ready for treatment. I have so much support and people to help out with my baby when I need them. So I’m 100% ready to beat this.”
Zoe is documenting her diagnosis and treatment on her instagram page @lymphomaawarenesszoe to raise awareness of her symptoms and to share information for other patients who may be facing a similar diagnosis.
She will start six sessions of chemotherapy on 10th January, every three weeks for four months. Then a CT scan will check to see if the mass has decreased in size. After all six sessions Zoe will have a PET scan to check if she’s cancer free. If not doctors will discuss more chemo or radiotherapy.
Zoe added: “I want people to know that if there is anything you notice that is different within yourself, even if it is small, get it checked if it persists.”
Before Zoe’s treatment starts she is focusing on bonding with her daughter and spending precious time together as a family.
Zoe said: “When I had Ophelia I struggled really badly in the beginning with my hormones and with anxiety because I still didn’t have a diagnosis.
“It was so frustrating, with lack of sleep and being upset, angry and down I had the worst days of my life.
“I’ve never suffered with depression and I’m quite an upbeat person but I was honest about it to my healthcare visitors and got the help I needed.
“Now, Ophelia is nearly three months old and I have a diagnosis. So everything has settled and so have my hormones so I feel good. We bond everyday with lots of cuddles, tummy time, walks and playing. Being a mum gets me through this and I’m so glad she’s not old enough to understand.
“The name Ophelia means ‘to help and aid’ which is exactly what she has been doing for her mummy all this time.”
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