Name: Wendy Lackenby
Age: 65
Region: Essex
Diagnosis: Primary DX – March 2012. Left breast IDC ii, ER positive, HER2 negative, node positive (10/20 lymph nodes involved) treated radically with left mastectomy, axillary clearance and immediate reconstruction (DIEP flap), 6 cycles of TAC chemotherapy, 15 sessions of radiotherapy, 5 years of endocrine therapy
MBC DX – March 2020. MRI spine reported multilevel metastatic disease, especially at T11. Following right ischial tuberosity biopsy, histology reported metastatic adenocarcinoma compatible with breast primary, ER positive. Combination of Letrozole, Palbociclib, Adcal D3 and Zometa commenced July 2020 (delayed due to lockdown). Zometa discontinued and replaced with Denosumab. Three monthly CT scans, 6 monthly MRI scans, annual DEXA scan.
Age at Diagnosis: Primary aet 56, MBC aet 64
Hi, my name is Wendy and I live in a village near to Chelmsford in Essex with my husband of 45 years. We have 3 grown up children, 5 grandchildren, a crazy Lab named Oscar and a tortoise named Timmy.
I have always enjoyed an active life style and looked after myself with a sensible diet and regular exercise. One morning, I noticed an unusual discharge from my left breast and contacted my GP who arranged for a mammogram. We went on holiday and the results were ready on our return.
I felt on top of the world and in a very happy place. You cannot imagine my disbelief when I was given the news that I had breast cancer! This was in March 2012 and investigations/procedures ensued at a crazy pace followed by surgery in the May. Chemo started in July and radiotherapy in December.
I was keen to resume some sort of normality and started yoga practise once more in January 2013. I was able to resume tennis shortly after and life ticked over nicely until the summer of 2019 when I started suffering from lower back pain which seriously affected my mobility.
Pain killers were prescribed by my GP but had no effect. I asked for a scan but my GP said he could not refer me. We were getting nowhere but I persisted and he eventually referred me to a pain clinic at the local hospital. They arranged a CT scan for me and the rest is history ….
Why you wanted to be involved with the MetUpUK campaign: I felt quite alone and isolated. I had researched local support groups but the pandemic had meant f2f meets had been discontinued.
There didn’t seem to be anything support-wise for someone diagnosed with MBC I came across MetUpUk quite unexpectedly and believe that as a group we can make ourselves heard. We all deserve a chance for a better quality of life.