Stuart's Story

"We were shown into a side room and the doctor said "You've got breast cancer." I remember just feeling really hot and in shock. After leaving hospital, I remember it felt like I was in a bubble and it didn't seem real."

I am Stuart Weaver, aged 55 and I live with my wife Karen in Maidstone, Kent.

In early 2005, when I was 36, I noticed a lump in my left breast and didn't really think anything of it, just thought that it was a fatty lump. About two months later Karen (my wife) felt it and said "what's that?" I said, "I don't know?" So then she made me make an appointment at the GP surgery.

I attended the appointment and the doctor wasn't sure what it was so then referred me to
Maidstone Hospital Breast Clinic to see a specialist. At the time, I wasn’t aware that men could get breast cancer. We went in to the hospital and I had a mammogram and then an ultrasound and a biopsy. Later on we were shown into a side room and the doctor said "You've got breast cancer." I remember just feeling really hot and in shock. I looked at Karen and she had tears in her eyes, James our son, who was nine at the time was also with us.

After leaving hospital I remember it felt like I was in a bubble and it didn't seem real! The next week I had an appointment with Dr Jones, at a private hospital, as I had Health Care
through my employer. Dr Jones explained that three lumps had been detected and my lymph nodes were also affected. This meant a mastectomy and auxiliary lymph node clearance. I had the operation and spent almost a week in hospital with a drain in my side.
Following this I had a meeting with my Oncologist, Dr Russell Burcombe at Maidstone Hospital to discuss ongoing treatment plans. It was agreed I would have three weeks of radiotherapy and also six IV chemotherapy cycles. 

He also said at this point that he had recommended me to have Tamoxifen & also a new drug called Herceptin as my Cancer was HER2+. This drug was not yet fully licenced by NICE and was only available to women at Maidstone Hospital, not men. My Insurance company also said wouldn't pay for it! Karen and I thought “that's not right” and decided that we'd fight for it, which we did.

Karen wrote to local papers, TV and radio. Fortunately, the Media grabbed hold of this and I did many interviews talking about why I should have this drug. Karen also wrote to Ann Widdecombe our local MP at the time to ask for her help. She was very good and wrote a letter to the Hospital Trust requesting I be considered for Herceptin. A few weeks passed and I was told that my case would be considered by the Individual Case Treatment Panel at Maidstone Hospital. I was in work one day and took a call from my Oncologist who said, "Good news, you can have the Herceptin treatment!" I remember just bursting into tears and feeling like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders!

So following on from Chemotherapy, I had Herceptin IV every three weeks for a year. I would also have CT scans & Echocardiograms six-monthly. When the treatment finished I would also have regular six months check ups with Dr Burcombe. In this time I climbed Ben Nevis and did the London Fashion Show both raising funds for Breast Cancer Care.

Fast forward to 2012. I had been going to the gym and had noticed a pain in the centre of my chest which was worse if I sneezed or coughed. I contacted Dr Burcombe and he suggested I had an X-ray. I had this done and about a week later he asked me to come in again. The X-ray team had picked up a very small dark bit on the sternum and recommended a further CT scan.

Once done, Dr B referred me to a Thoracic doctor at the Hospital who told me that the cancer had shown up in the sternum and that I would need to have an operation at Guys Hospital in London to remove the sternum bone. Dr Burcombe said it was a second primary cancer as it was so close to original site. I had the operation which was successful in removing the sternum and it was replaced by a patch that is connected to the ribs on either side. The cancer margin from the edge of the sternum was 1mm! So I was very lucky it hadn't gone into the ribs etc.

I spent a while in Guys as I had a couple of infections whilst recovering. Eventually I came out and I saw Dr Burcombe to discuss my Chemotherapy/treatment plan going forward. Again, I had 6 cycles of Chemotherapy as well as Herceptin/Pertuzamab/Zoledronic Acid and ongoing scans and Echocardiograms six-monthly & Tamoxifen daily. I also got asked to do the London Fashion Show for a second time for Breast Cancer Care which was amazing!

Fast forward to 2017. I had a cough for a few weeks which was annoying me, so I contacted Dr Burcombe and he organised a CT scan. Following this I had an appointment with him and Claire Ryan (Macmillan Nurse Specialist) at Maidstone Hospital. They told me it wasn't good news and that the cancer had now returned and it was in my lungs! I was devastated! As it had spread to the lungs, it was classed as Secondary Breast Cancer and was treatable but not curable! This was a lot to take in!

I'd have to have a CT guided lung biopsy to determine if the cancer was the same as before. I had the biopsy which was absolutely awful and this showed that the cancer was again HER2+. Dr Burcombe then said I'd have Chemotherapy again (Docetaxol) together with Herceptin & Pertuzamab IV, ongoing scans & Echocardiograms plus Tamoxifen daily still. He explained that they couldn't operate as the affected areas were in both lungs and not near the edge of lungs. The Chemotherapy this time seemed worse than before, with it affecting my toes, fingertips/nails and mouth. When chemotherapy ended I still have Herceptin and, Pertuzamab, every three weeks, indefinitely.

The treatment changed though, from being given IV to something called Phesgo. This means it is the same drugs but given as a subcutaneous injection in the thigh every three
weeks. They alternate sides each time. This now only takes about six minutes to give and then I normally have a cup of tea and sit for about 15 minutes before leaving. It means that instead of treatment taking 3-3.5 hours, I can now be in and out in about half an hour.
Treatment is going well and the latest scan showed no new sites of cancer and existing areas have not increased in size.

I'm enjoying life as much as possible with my friends and family. The Men's VMU has been important in discussing breast cancer with men in the same situation as me.