My unborn baby saved my life when I was diagnosed with cancer at 23 and doctors found a tumour the size of a grapefruit growing next to my heart
Zoe Plastiras was 32 weeks pregnant when doctors discovered a 12cm tumor the size of a grapefruit growing next to her heart.
The 23-year-old from Buckinghamshire, UK, was excited to become a parent with partner Joe Bird, 27, when her world turned upside down.
The young self-employed beautician was diagnosed with the second stage of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma on December 23 last year, after the birth of her daughter Ophelia on October 4.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Zoe revealed that she only experienced two minor symptoms β shortness of breath and coughing when lying down β and that there is no family history of cancer.
The new mother believes Ophelia “saved her life” because if she hadn’t been pregnant, doctors might not have found the tumor so early.
Zoe Plastiras was diagnosed with stage two non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma on December 23, 2022, after the birth of her daughter Ophelia
The 23-year-old mother believes her 11-month-old daughter ‘saved her life’ because if she hadn’t been pregnant, doctors might not have seen the 12cm tumor growing in her breast
On September 10, a scan (pictured) revealed the huge mass growing next to her heart
‘One day I just felt like I couldn’t breathe and I thought it was strange because I’ve never had any health problems before. Everyone told me it was only because I was pregnant, but I went straight to the hospital anyway,β Zoe said.
On September 10, a scan revealed the huge mass growing in her breast, raising concerns.
“I was so worried, but because I was pregnant, doctors could only do so many tests to check what was going on,” she added.
She had an MRI, a chest x-ray, blood work, but cancer could not be diagnosed without a biopsy.
Doctors checked her heart and wanted to avoid heavy treatment while she was still pregnant, so they were happy Zoe could continue.
She gave birth naturally at 37 weeks and had an emergency caesarean section.
After Ophelia was born, her symptoms worsened. She lost 12.7 kg in one week and her skin was terribly itchy.
Zoe and her partner Joe Bird, 27, (left in left) ‘cried their eyes out’ when they found out she had cancer. The young mother experienced only two minor symptoms: shortness of breath and coughing
Doctors also considered open breast surgery to remove the lump that was ‘scaring’ Zoe.
βIt was such a major operation and it meant I couldn’t pick up my daughter for three months,β she said.
‘I would also have had a scar from my neck to my chest. I didn’t want to go down that road.’
Zoe had two needle biopsies, both of which were inconclusive. She was then admitted to hospital on December 19 for a surgical biopsy before being diagnosed a few days later.
Since the mass was cancerous, the doctors abandoned the idea of ββopen breast surgery and opted for chemotherapy.
The tumor was a fluid-based sac full of fluid, which caused initial biopsy tests to fail.
βI didn’t meet the requirements for a lymphoma patient, so doctors never expected it to be cancer,β she said.
Before the shocking diagnosis, life was perfect for the young couple who bought their home when ZoΓ« was 21 and planning to start a family.
‘I was completely shocked. Cancer never crossed my mind, it couldn’t. It was a real 360 because it put my whole life into perspective,β Zoe said.
“When we were told the news, Joe and I went home and cried our eyes out.”
Zoe started chemotherapy from January 17 to March 28. Fortunately, she didn’t experience any ‘drastic’ symptoms other than hair loss and described the treatment as ‘brutal’.
The tumor had shrunk from 12 cm to 3 cm, but cancer activity was still detected in the small remaining mass.
As a result, she had 18 rounds of radiotherapy. She then had to wait three months for a PET scan on October 17.
Now she is waiting for the results of the latest scan to see if there is still cancer.
Zoe also explained the appropriate meaning behind Ophelia’s name.
‘I was completely shocked. Cancer never crossed my mind, it couldn’t. It was a real 360 because it put my whole life into perspective,β Zoe said
Zoe needed both chemotherapy and radiotherapy to shrink the tumor. Now she is waiting for the final results of a PET scan
βWe picked the name ourselves before I got pregnant and it basically means to help and assist,β she said.
‘At first I didn’t think much of it, but then her name made so much sense, because that’s exactly what she did for me. She really saved my life.
“If the pregnancy wasn’t pushing my organs around, the doctors might not have found the mass so early.”
Zoe shares her story on Instagram to raise awareness about the cancer under the name @lymphomaawarenesszoe. She hopes her story will encourage others to become aware of the symptoms of lymphoma.
Read more: I was young, fit and living a great life until I developed a common symptom that everyone has had – but five days later I found out it was stage four colon cancer
A young nurse’s warning to Australians why everyone should have a bed frame to avoid dangerous mold
Young woman, 30, diagnosed with terminal cancer after feeling ‘bloated and tired’ reveals how she will spend her final days