A MOTHER has spoken of her ‘heartbreak’ after being told by doctors her cancer cannot be cured.
Barbara Jeffery, aged 32, describes how her world came “crashing down” after a scan revealed the cancer had spread to 13 parts of her brain.
The mother of two had begun her battle with the disease in August 2022 when she was referred to the Poole Hospital Breast Screening Unit with what was thought to be a blocked milk duct.
However, Barbara’s suspected ‘breastfeeding problem’ turned out to be an aggressive form of breast cancer.
She was also identified as a BRAC1 cancer gene carrier and faced a double mastectomy, radiotherapy, continued immunotherapy and reconstructive surgery.
Now, Barbara is facing a new diagnosis of brain metastases, which in the space of two weeks, has spread to thirteen parts of her brain.
Doctors told her “We’re not here to cure your cancer” as they gave her a terminal diagnosis.
Barbara told the Daily Echo: “This was the heartbreaking and cruel moment I was told my cancer had spread to my brain, and that I was terminally unwell. Incurable. The clock had started ticking.
“After fighting, seemingly endlessly, for nigh-on eight months, through chemotherapy, immunotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy, radiotherapy, and through multiple hospital admissions, this was the moment that everything I had been fighting for came crashing down.
"In my early thirties I was going to leave my two young children, aged just one and two, without a mother, and my new husband a widower.”
Following the tragic news, a family friend has set up a fundraising page to support Barbara, her husband and her two children.
Barbara said: “I want to spend my remaining time making beautiful memories with my children, and I want to provide a safe, secure and happy future for them when I am not here.
"My wonderful friends have set up a Just Giving page to help me do this and I would be so grateful if you could help me and my children through this horrendous and scary journey by donating what you can.”
Visit the fundraising page here https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Barbs-journey?utm_term=Nnd3E78Qp
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article