Amy Carroll, a 34-year-old support worker and mindset coach from Great Addington, Northamptonshire, was eagerly awaiting the birth of her fourth son when she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Believing her fainting spells were linked to the condition, she continued preparing for her new arrival. But after suffering a seizure in the middle of the night, doctors uncovered a devastating diagnosis: stage four brain cancer with seven masses on her brain.
Seizure Leads to Urgent Discovery
Amy had a seizure in bed next to her partner Torrin Sirus, 36, and was rushed to hospital at 3am on June 17. Two days later, after a CT and MRI scan, doctors at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford confirmed the cancer was a secondary cancer to breast cancer that she had overcome in 2021. Treatment was so urgent that doctors scheduled an emergency c-section on Monday, July 6, when Amy was at almost 31 weeks. Her son, Arlo Atlas Sirus, was born weighing 4lb 2oz and is currently doing well.
A Miracle Baby After Breast Cancer
After her breast cancer treatment, Amy was told she could never have children again, making this pregnancy a miracle. She said: ‘After my breast cancer treatment, I was told I could never have kids, so this baby is a miracle. At the start of my pregnancy, I started to feel unwell and was diagnosed with gestational diabetes for the first time ever. I was feeling a bit dizzy and faint but thought it was a side effect of the diabetes and tried to shake it off. Then my partner woke up to me having a seizure and an ambulance rushed me to hospital; I don’t remember any of that. Within a couple of days, they told me the cancer had come back, and there were seven masses on my brain.’
Discovery of Breast Cancer Through Cosmetic Surgery
Amy discovered she had breast cancer in 2021 after getting cosmetic surgery on her breasts following breastfeeding. She had three boys at the time, now aged 18, 12 and eight. She said: ‘I had my boys quite young, and my boobs looked different, so I went and had breast surgery. That was when I noticed the little lump that turned out to be breast cancer. I ended up having chemotherapy, radiotherapy and eight different surgeries. I’m past the point of caring what my boobs look like now, but that cosmetic surgery saved my life as I wouldn’t have known I had cancer then.’
Birth and Immediate Challenges
The diagnosis for her secondary cancer has hit the family hard, and her partner Torrin has left his job to care for her. Amy says: ‘I was taken down to the theatre at 11:11 on Monday morning. I had him, then I had a seizure after, so I cannot remember much of the birth. Arlo is still on oxygen and they have done an x-ray on [his] lungs and they are cloudy, but the nurses say he is doing really well for his size. He is down in the high dependency intensive care ward alongside six other babies. I obviously can’t breastfeed so he is on donor breast milk. He takes after his dad with a love of food. He is so cute, whenever I see Arlo every worry goes away, I forget I’ve had a c-section and that I’ve got the tumours.’
Upcoming Treatment and Fears
Amy is preparing for her first round of radiotherapy on July 15. She said: ‘The doctors haven’t told me what type of chemotherapy I am going to have yet, as they are getting the radiotherapy done first and then reassessing the treatment plan.’ Last time she had chemotherapy, Amy was so exhausted that it was hard to move. She said: ‘When I start treatment, I won’t be able to be with the baby all the time, which is going to break me; I’ve got to see how I am after each treatment. When I do have chemotherapy, I won’t be able to touch him at all, which will be so hard. When I had chemotherapy before, I couldn’t touch my kids. I was so tired from it, and I know I will be again this time.’
Worries About Side Effects
Amy, who also works as a tattoo model, is worried about the side effects of treatment. She said: ‘There are so many potential complications after these surgeries, including memory loss, balance issues, loss of eyesight, inability to talk. I just don’t want to forget my life and my kids, I just don’t want to lose that.’ She told Talk to the Press: ‘The boys haven’t been able to visit yet, but they are coming up later this week before I go under general anaesthetic as I look at the worst case scenario. We’re going to go to Costa and just have a nice time. I just want my kids to have a bit of normality in the six week holiday coming up, so I hope everything goes well.’
Fundraising and Support
Following her breast cancer recovery, Amy began fundraising for other people in similar situations. She said: ‘When I beat cancer the first time, I started fundraising as it helped me and was good to help people. I wish I had this support when I was going through it the first time, as if you’ve got the right people and support then that helps you get up every morning. I was so shocked and surprised when [my friend] Kirsty set up my JustGiving. I’ve fundraised for others but never for myself before so I was taken aback, but it was so lovely and so thoughtful of her.’ Amy’s friend, Kirsty Wilkinson, set up a JustGiving page to support her.
