Woman, 33, who was told her ovaries were 'dead' following a breast cancer diagnosis gives birth to her second child - and says changing her diet helped her fall pregnant
- Gemma Isaacs, 33, from London, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018
- She has BRCA1 gene mutation which increases risk of breast and ovarian cancer
- She considered having her ovaries removed after doctors said they were 'dead'
- But has since welcomed a second baby with husband Daryll and credits her diet
A woman whose doctors said her ovaries were 'dead' two years ago following a cancer battle reveals how she gave birth to her second child against the odds - and claims a vegan diet helped her fall pregnant.
Gemma Isaacs, from London, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 aged 31 - despite not having any of the common symptoms such as a lump - before undergoing radiotherapy and a double mastectomy.
She was later told that she had the BRCA1 gene mutation, which increases the risk of both breast and ovarian cancer, and considered having her ovaries removed after doctors said they were 'dead' anyway.
However, the now 33-year-old has since welcomed a second baby with husband Daryll, 35, and credits her switch to a vegan diet with helping transform her reproductive system.
Gemma Isaacs (pictured with husband Daryll and newborn baby Jack) was told by doctors that her ovaries were 'dead' at aged 31 following cancer battle but she has since given birth to her second child after going vegan
Gemma, who is already mother to daughter Ella, told Tyla about her assessment with a gynaecologist: 'He scanned me and told me my ovaries were dead, basically, which was a really big blow.
'It was the worst thing someone told me the whole time I was having my treatment.'
Determined to grow her family, she started reading up on how to boost her fertility and discovered the potential links to plant-based diets.
Gemma decided to go vegan in July and, just four months later, attended another appointment with her gynaecologist.
The couple have since welcomed a healthy baby boy, who they called Jack Alfie, born in August last year
Gemma, who is already mother to daughter Ella was determined to grow her family, so started reading up on how to boost her fertility and discovered the potential links to plant-based diets
The healthcare professional was shocked by the improvement and told Gemma that it was like she had 'the ovaries of a different person'.
She added: 'He said the only thing I could put it down to is being vegan, because there was no reason for my ovaries to come back on.
'But he still said I wasn't going to fall pregnant. He was categorical about it. So I told him, "just watch me".'
And Gemma did just that after discovering she was pregnant at Christmas 2019.
Gemma has now decided to have her ovaries removed to reduce any future risk of further cancer
The mother-of-two has gone on to co-found a support group helping young people affected by genetic cancers called BRCA Sisters
The couple have since welcomed a healthy baby boy, who they called Jack Alfie, born in August last year.
Gemma, who is currently working from home with a job in advertising, has now decided to have her ovaries removed to reduce any future risk of further cancer.
She said: 'Ideally I would have liked more children, but I wasn't in control of my breast cancer diagnosis, and I can be in control of this with my ovaries.'
The mother-of-two has gone on to co-found a support group helping young people affected by genetic cancers called BRCA Sisters.
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