NI mum making strides in cancer battle while juggling work and homeschooling

For many months during lockdown, Michelle Lavery was in the position of working full time, home schooling her two children and undergoing chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer.

It was a triple whammy to test anyone’s resilience.

Having completed her treatment, saw her children back to school and continued her job, the 38-year-old will now carry on the fight against cancer via Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life at Home this Spring.

The Belfast woman was diagnosed with cancer in November 2019, just before her 37th birthday.

She recalled the moment she discovered something wasn’t right: “I was lying in bed one evening and whilst smoothing my top down, noticed that something at the top of my right breast felt strange. It felt like there was a thick band of muscle as opposed to a lump and I could only feel this when lying down.”

Two days later Michelle had an appointment with her GP. The doctor didn’t think much of it, though she was referred for further testing.

On November 29, Michelle attended a one-stop clinic: “I had been to this clinic a year earlier as I noticed some dimpling in my breast. I was told the dimpling was nothing sinister and probably down to weight loss.”

The second visit was very different – Michelle was sent immediately for an ultrasound. On the screen they could see a mass, so this was followed by a mammogram, a core biopsy and a fine needle biopsy on her lymph nodes.

She was then sent back to the waiting room and waited to see a doctor.

Michelle said: “When I was called in to see the consultant I knew as soon as I walked into the room that it wasn’t going to be good news, as there was a nurse sitting at the back of the room.

“I was so glad my husband Darren was with me as I was given the devastating news that I had grade three triple negative breast cancer, but luckily it had been caught quickly.”

The tumour measured 24mm in size so she was told she was to have a lumpectomy and a week later she was relieved to hear that they’d managed to get clear margins and there were no signs of cancer in her lymph nodes.

Michelle began chemotherapy in January 2020 over a period of 18 weeks followed by three weeks of radiotherapy.

“When I was told I had cancer, I started off feeling like it wasn’t really happening to me and then as it sunk in I cried most of the day,” she said.

“It was a Friday when I was diagnosed and on the Saturday night, I started to feel quite upset and angry and decided to write a post on social media about my diagnosis.

“I wanted to take control of the situation and to raise awareness of breast cancer amongst my friends and family. That led to three of my friends attending for check-ups. Shows how important awareness is.”

Michelle who works for a music data company called On Music Ltd based in Belfast, made the decision to work through her treatment as she wanted to be open about what she was going through. Her team at work knew, and this made it easier as she didn’t feel she had to hide anything and they are fully supporting her in her endeavour.

She said: “I have always been a strong person and I wanted to confront the situation head on. It was such a weird time having my treatment through lockdown, but working full time, having chemo and home schooling, gave me a reason to get out of bed.”

Michelle and her husband Darren, a civil engineer, have two children – Brandon, three, and Isaac, seven.

She said: “When I was diagnosed my first thought was for them. There were lonely days but I was fortunate to have rock solid support from loved ones and a dedicated medical team. I’m feeling stronger every day and I want to do everything I can to support people going through cancer right now.

“At the beginning of 2019 I saw one of my friends post their ‘Couch to 5K’ story on Instagram, so I downloaded the app to my phone and off I went. It was great and I immediately fell in love with it.

“I ran my last 5K the day before my lumpectomy in December 19 and hadn’t been confident enough to get the running shoes on again until four weeks ago when I re-started the programme.

“I have fallen in love with running all over again and am now finally feeling a little like me pre-cancer. My goal is to smash through the remaining five weeks I have left of the program and run my way to victory for race for Life alongside friends family and work colleagues (socially distanced obviously).

“Research has helped save my life, so please support this campaign and give other families the chance to stay together longer.”

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, which has been in partnership with Tesco for 20 years, is a series of 3K, 5K, 10K, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids event.

Michelle will be doing a Race for Life 5K near her home on Saturday, April 24.

A live broadcast will take place on the Cancer Research UK Race for Life Facebook and Race for Life Instagram pages on the day.