Woman who discovered a cancerous breast lump while PREGNANT was forced to wait until she was 30 weeks along before surgery - as the rare tumour grew to the size of a FIST

  • Amy Douch, 24, from Gillingham, Dorset, found a pea-sized lump in her breast
  • But doctors couldn't operate at first because she was expecting her first child
  • Lump grew from the size of a pea to the size of a fist throughout her pregnancy
  • After it was removed, was found to be a 'severely malignant' phyllodes tumour 

A woman who discovered a cancerous growth while carrying her first child was forced to endure an agonising wait before removing the lump in a bid to protect her baby.

Amy Douch, 24, from Gillingham in Dorset, developed a small lump in her breast when she was expecting her first child.

Because surgeons refused to put Amy's unborn baby in danger by operating, the 'severely malignant' growth, which was entwined with her veins, went from the size of a pea to a fist during her pregnancy and became so painful she couldn't sleep.

But they waited until Amy was 30 weeks (seven and a half months) pregnant before operating - meaning the first-time mother went into theatre not knowing whether she might wake up to find she'd had her baby.

Amy Douch, pictured with fiancé Joe Smeeton, developed a huge lump in her breast when she was expecting her first child but had to wait until she was 30 weeks along before removing it

Amy Douch, pictured with fiancé Joe Smeeton, developed a huge lump in her breast when she was expecting her first child but had to wait until she was 30 weeks along before removing it

Amy's daughter Alexi was born one week early in August 2015, by c-section as she had pre-eclampsia. Luckily the cancerous tumour was safely removed and didn't affect the baby

Amy's daughter Alexi was born one week early in August 2015, by c-section as she had pre-eclampsia. Luckily the cancerous tumour was safely removed and didn't affect the baby

Luckily, the operation was a success and her daughter Alexi was born six weeks later, via c-section because she had pre-eclampsia.

Only after the birth did Amy, who is set to wed her fiancé Joe Smeeton in June 2018, discover that the lump was cancerous - a very rare phyllodes tumour that had grown to the size of a fist.

Amy is now having follow-up appointments and regular scans at the moment and may have a full mastectomy in the future.

She told FEMAIL: 'I’d had a lump for two years and had had it checked out. It was very small and was benign. But then when I was pregnant it started growing so I got it checked out.

Amy, Joe and Alexi. Although surgeons refused to Alexi in danger by operating, the lump, which was entwined with her veins, went from the size of a pea to a fist during her pregnancy

Amy, Joe and Alexi. Although surgeons refused to Alexi in danger by operating, the lump, which was entwined with her veins, went from the size of a pea to a fist during her pregnancy

Amy and Alexi, who will turn two in August this year. Amy's phyllodes tumour, which grew to the size of a fist, became entwined in her veins and became so painful she couldn't sleep

Amy and Alexi, who will turn two in August this year. Amy's phyllodes tumour, which grew to the size of a fist, became entwined in her veins and became so painful she couldn't sleep

Doctors decided to wait until Amy was 30 weeks (seven and a half months) pregnant before operating on the tumour

Doctors decided to wait until Amy was 30 weeks (seven and a half months) pregnant before operating on the tumour

'My doctor felt it and wasn’t sure if it was benign or not. It’s hard to diagnose breast cancer in pregnancy.

'It went from the size of a pea to the size of a man’s fist by the time it was removed. It was so painful, I couldn’t sleep, it was putting pressure on everything and my veins were growing around it.'

'I was scanned after the operation and there was still something there, but it turned out to be scar tissue.

Relief: The first-time mother went into theatre not knowing whether she might wake up to find she had had her baby, but luckily the operation went smoothly and Alexi was born that August

Relief: The first-time mother went into theatre not knowing whether she might wake up to find she had had her baby, but luckily the operation went smoothly and Alexi was born that August

Only after the birth did Amy, who is set to wed Joe in June 2018, discover that her the lump was cancerous - a very rare phyllodes tumour which was found to be 'severely malignant'

Only after the birth did Amy, who is set to wed Joe in June 2018, discover that her the lump was cancerous - a very rare phyllodes tumour which was found to be 'severely malignant'

Amy told FEMAIL: 'I’d had a lump for two years and had had it checked out. It was very small and was benign. But then when I was pregnant it started growing so I got it checked out'

Amy told FEMAIL: 'I’d had a lump for two years and had had it checked out. It was very small and was benign. But then when I was pregnant it started growing so I got it checked out'

'Everything the doctors did at the hospital went through The Royal Marsden as they’re the experts. The tumour was sent away to The Royal Marsden and I had an appointment with my specialist, Dr Gui. 

'He explained in depth that the tumour was severely malignant. It was a very rare type called a Phyllodes tumour. Alexi was only a few weeks old.

'Our daughter Alexi was born one week early in August 2015, by c-section as I had pre-eclampsia. 

'Joe has been so amazing throughout everything,' Amy said of her fiancé, who this week ran the London Marathon to raise almost £2,000 for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. 

The family celebrate their first Christmas together. Recalling the moment she first found the lump, Amy said: 'My doctor felt it and wasn’t sure if it was benign or not. It’s hard to diagnose breast cancer in pregnancy'

The family celebrate their first Christmas together. Recalling the moment she first found the lump, Amy said: 'My doctor felt it and wasn’t sure if it was benign or not. It’s hard to diagnose breast cancer in pregnancy'

Amy's tumour, sent off for testing after it was removed, was found to be 'severely malignant'

Amy's tumour, sent off for testing after it was removed, was found to be 'severely malignant'

What is a phyllodes tumour? 

. Phyllodes tumours are smooth, firm lumps of tissue that occur in the supportive tissue of the breast. 

. Once formed, a phyllodes tumour may grow fairly quickly and can grow quite large (many are between 40–50mm in size). 

. This can sometimes cause the skin over the area to look red (inflamed). 

. Although phyllodes tumours can affect a woman at any time in her life, they’re most common in women between 40 and 50 who haven’t yet been through the menopause. 

. It’s unlikely that more than one will develop at a time, though it’s possible. 

. Phyllodes tumours can also develop in men, although this is extremely rare

From Breast Cancer Care 

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Joe said: 'It was so amazing, just an unbelievable atmosphere. I was aiming for under four hours so I was really happy to finish in 3 hours 53 minutes. 

'I put the training in, which made all the difference. I saw Amy twice on the way round, at 12 miles and again at 25 miles. I stopped to give Alexi a kiss.'

Amy added: 'If I get pregnant again they’ll have to keep a really close eye on me as the cancer could come back, and it would grow really quickly.

'I’m so wary of my boobs now. I check them thoroughly all the time.'

The Royal Marsden’s work influences how all cancer patients are treated and cared for, not just in its own hospitals but all over the world. The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity raises money solely to support this work. To find out more or make a donation visit royalmarsden.org/donate or visit Joe’s Just Giving Page 

'Joe has been so amazing throughout everything,' Amy said of her fiancé who she is set to wed next year

'Joe has been so amazing throughout everything,' Amy said of her fiancé who she is set to wed next year

Recovery: Amy is now having follow-up appointments and regular scans at the moment and may have a full mastectomy in the future. She says she is more 'wary' of her breasts these days

Recovery: Amy is now having follow-up appointments and regular scans at the moment and may have a full mastectomy in the future. She says she is more 'wary' of her breasts these days

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