![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Kirsty-70b3.png\")
\n\t\tThe mum-of-three endured chemo while 27 weeks pregnant with her now two-year-old (Picture: JamPress)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tThe mum-of-three endured chemo while 27 weeks pregnant with her now two-year-old (Picture: JamPress)<\/p>\n
Pregnancy has its highs and lows<\/a> \u2014 you might be folding adorable babygrows at 9am, and then struggling to hold down your lunch by midday.<\/p>\n But for Kirsty Brunt, 42, the challenges went beyond achy joints and scan anxiety<\/a>. In fact, she describes her third pregnancy as feeling \u2018like the world was ending.\u2019<\/p>\n The mental health<\/a> social worker, from Lancashire, was 18 weeks pregnant with her third child, Phoenix, when she noticed a lump on her breast.<\/p>\n A devastating diagnosis of breast cancer<\/a> followed. It was so aggressive, that doctors advised she started chemotherapy while still pregnant.<\/p>\n \u2018Overnight, what should have been an exciting time preparing for my baby became appointments, scans and discussions about cancer<\/a> treatment,\u2019 says Kirsty.<\/p>\n \u2018It felt utterly surreal. Like it was happening to someone else.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Kirsty was breast-feeding her then two-year-old daughter, Stevie, when she noticed the lump.<\/p>\n Initially, she thought the changes were down to her recent pregnancy, but six weeks later, she went to the GP. <\/p>\n Within weeks, Kirsty\u2019s worst fears were confirmed. She was diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer. <\/a>Some lymph nodes under her arm were also already affected.<\/p>\n Kirsty\u2019s cancer was HER2-positive and hormone receptor-positive, meaning that the cancer cells were fuelled by hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone, stimulating tumour growth.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tHER2 Positive Breast Cancer\t\t\t<\/p>\n Because hormone levels are naturally elevated during pregnancy, there was concern that the cancer could grow more quickly. <\/p>\n Combined with the fact that HER2-positive breast cancers are typically more aggressive, this meant treatment needed to begin immediately.<\/p>\n \u2018I was absolutely terrified at the thought of having treatment while pregnant,\u2019 Kirsty says. \u2018My main concern throughout was my unborn child.<\/p>\n \u2018But I also had to consider the bigger picture. If I didn\u2019t have treatment my child might not have a mother for very long.<\/p>\n \u2018The longer I was pregnant, the better it was for my baby, but the worse it was for me.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Kirsty began chemotherapy when she was 27 weeks pregnant<\/a>, in July 2023.<\/p>\n \u2018I had three cycles before giving birth. I did feel like I was an unusual sight on the chemo unit with my bump.<\/p>\n \u2018Pregnancy already makes you tired, emotional and uncomfortable, and then chemotherapy adds another layer of exhaustion.<\/p>\n \u2018It was difficult to know which symptoms were pregnancy and which were treatment-related.\u2019<\/p>\n Kirsty was supported by her husband, Joe, 37. \u2018He\u2019s always calm and a reassuring voice of reason when I\u2019m spiralling,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tBreast cancer symptoms\t\t\t<\/p>\n The first symptom of breast cancer that most women notice is a lump or an area of thickened tissue in their breast.<\/strong><\/p>\n You should see a GP if you notice any of the following:<\/p>\n Via NHS.<\/a><\/p>\n The goal was to get to 35 weeks, to ensure Phoenix\u2019s lungs had enough time to develop. She was delivered via c-section<\/a> at 36 weeks in September 2023. <\/strong><\/p>\n \u2018Phoenix spent about 28 hours on NICU and needed some help with her lungs at first but ever since then [she\u2019s been] absolutely fine.<\/p>\n \u2018I was so anxious about carrying and delivering her safely. When I met her, I just couldn\u2019t believe we\u2019d made it this far.\u2019<\/p>\n Kirsty resumed chemotherapy only a few weeks later.<\/p>\n \u2018The newborn stage was incredibly challenging, with the added difficulty that I was unable to settle my child by breastfeeding.<\/p>\n \u2018I was dealing with sleepless nights, feeding, nappies, hormones, and all the usual demands of a new baby, while also attending hospital appointments and coping with treatment side effects.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018There were days when I felt completely exhausted, but I didn\u2019t have the option of taking time off from being a mum.<\/p>\n \u2018One of the hardest parts emotionally was feeling that cancer had stolen what should have been a precious time.<\/p>\n \u2018Instead of enjoying maternity leave, I was navigating treatment schedules, surgery plans and uncertainty about the future.<\/p>\n \u2018But while it was incredibly tough, she was also a constant source of strength and motivation\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n Following Phoenix\u2019s birth, scans initially suggested Kirsty had responded well to treatment.<\/p>\n However, further scans in March 2024 revealed the disease had spread to her bones. Kirsty\u2019s cancer is now incurable.<\/p>\n Her treatment continued and in May 2024, Kirsty had 20 rounds of radiotherapy, which targeted her right breast and surrounding lymph nodes.<\/p>\n \t\t Unfortunately, the cancer had progressed and mutated into a more aggressive form of cancer, which carries more risk of spreading to the brain.<\/p>\n Kirsty is now undergoing oral chemotherapy and hormone therapy, to medically induce menopause<\/a> and lower her oestrogen levels.<\/p>\n She is also fundraising to explore treatments not currently available<\/a> on the NHS that may give her more time with her family. Currently Kirsty\u2019s GoFundMe has raised \u00a337,129,\u00a0out of the goal of\u00a0\u00a350,000.<\/p>\n \u2018Even double the fundraising goal wouldn\u2019t cover everything,\u2019 she says. \u2018Ultimately, although there are no guarantees, it would mean more time with my husband and children.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Now, Kirsty is navigating raising her children, while also dealing with cancer.<\/p>\n \u2018I remind myself I am a mother before I\u2019m a cancer patient.<\/p>\n \u2018Having three young children while battling my own treatment related fatigue and side effects is difficult.<\/p>\n \u2018I have to keep being fun mum when actually I feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders.\u2019<\/p>\n Kirsty says there are financial worries too, as she currently isn\u2019t working.<\/p>\n \u2018There are logistics and time associated with having lots of medical appointments, and also trying to practice self-care, stay healthy and look after myself all while still doing all the mum things.\u2019<\/p>\n Kirsty says humour, family support and a WhatsApp<\/a> group of young mothers with cancer have helped.<\/p>\n She said: \u2018I\u2019m in a group called \u2018the sh*tty t*tties\u2019, we are all mums<\/a> with young children in our thirties and forties and we all found each other through having cancer.<\/p>\n \u2018We speak every day and I literally could not do this without them.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018It\u2019s really sad but also kind of beautiful. I laugh every single day.\u2019<\/p>\n Now, Kirsty is continuing to fundraise, and make memories with her family. \u2018Nobody will ever be able to say that I gave up,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n \u2018Joe gives me confidence that we\u2019ll figure things out and be ok.<\/p>\n \u2018I can\u2019t just take this lying down, and need to know that I\u2019ve done everything I possibly can.\u2019<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Story](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_299690603-52fb.jpg\")
\n\t\tKirsty before being diagnosed with cancer, with baby Stevie (Picture: Jam Press)<\/p>\n\n
![\"Story](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_299690584-c8ea-e1780312064945.jpg\")
\n\t\tKirsty with Stanley, seven (Picture: Jam Press)<\/p>\n\n
![\"Story](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_299690682-f5ee.jpg\")
\n\t\tKirsty during her treatment with baby Phoenix who she gave birth to during chemotherapy (Picture: Jam Press)<\/p>\n![\"Story](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_299690724-4c17-e1780327270520.jpg\")
\n\t\tKirsty is fighting for more time with her family (Picture: Jam Press)<\/p>\n![\"Story](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_299690683-7bc3.jpg\")
\n\t\tKirsty\u2019s tumour has mutated and is now secondary breast cancer (Picture: Jam Press)<\/p>\n![\"Story](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_299690580-629d.jpg\")
\n\t\t\u2018I can\u2019t just take this lying down and need to know that I\u2019ve done everything I possibly can\u2019 (Picture: Jam Press)<\/p>\n
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