A mother from West London has shared the terrifying moment a sudden pain during a yoga class led to a devastating breast cancer diagnosis, with her immediate fear being that her young children would not remember her.
From Yoga Mat to Cancer Diagnosis
In December 2021, Vicki Poole, a 45-year-old marketing director from Ruislip, was in a hot yoga session when she felt a sharp, stabbing sensation at the base of her right breast. Initially dismissing it as a pulled muscle, the pain persisted, evolving from discomfort under pressure to hurting when hugged.
By January 2022, after noticing unusual firmness, Vicki visited her GP. She was swiftly referred to a specialist clinic where a biopsy was taken. In February 2022, she and her husband Martyn, 47, received the shattering news: she had lobular breast cancer. This form of the disease originates in the milk-producing glands, known as lobules.
"I just remember saying, 'Oh my God, my children are so young'," Vicki recalled. "I just thought 'am I going to die and will my children remember me?'"
A Gruelling Treatment Journey
An MRI scan revealed the shocking scale of the disease: a tumour measuring 10cm by 4cm by 6cm, plus two suspicious lymph nodes. A full-body CT scan followed to check for spread, a period Vicki describes as a "very dark time" filled with fears about her lifespan.
Fortunately, the cancer was contained. In April 2022, Vicki underwent a mastectomy on her right breast, followed by chemotherapy from May to September. The treatment caused her hair to fall out and, just 11 days after her final session, triggered a heart arrhythmia that saw her collapse and require a five-day hospital stay.
After radiotherapy and hormone therapy, which induced a difficult chemical menopause, she underwent heart surgery in November 2023 to control the arrhythmia. She believed the worst was behind her.
Ongoing Vigilance and a Powerful Message
However, in July 2024, Vicki noticed bleeding from her left nipple and rough skin patches. Tests showed abnormal cells, and on her medical team's advice, she has now opted for a mastectomy on her left breast and is awaiting a surgery date.
Reflecting on her ordeal, which included losing a friend she met during chemo, Vicki's perspective has changed. "I've been extra emotional at my children's assemblies... I just feel really lucky to be where I am today," she said.
Her warning to others is unequivocal: "If anyone suspects anything about their breasts, please get checked and please don't think you might be too young."
The charity Breast Cancer Now has launched a £1 million, five-year research initiative focused on lobular breast cancer, aiming to unite specialists at London's Institute of Cancer Research to discover better treatments.
