A 22-year-old woman who went in for a routine skin check has been diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer rarely seen in someone so young.
Chloe Byrne, from NSW, decided to visit her doctor in March for a routine check after one of her friends was diagnosed with skin cancer.
While there, Chloe told the doctor about a small lump she had noticed on her right breast.
Chloe said she didn’t think much of it because of her age and dismissed it as a possible blocked duct.
The doctor urged her to get scans, and by the time she had them three months later in June, the lump had grown to 7cm.
Just before her birthday on July 28, Chloe was diagnosed with stage three triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) which had spread to nearby tissue and lymph nodes.
The cancer is commonly found in patients under the age of 50 and in pre-menopausal women.
Chloe’s father, Michael, told Daily Mail that doctors have said his daughter was the youngest patient they had ever seen diagnosed with TNBC.
Chloe Byrne decided to visit her doctor in March for a routine check when she informed her doctor of a small lump she found on her right breast. The 22-year-old (pictured with her boyfriend) was diagnosed with stage three triple negative breast cancer – an aggressive, locally advanced cancer
Chloe has started an aggressive treatment plan involving a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and immunotherapy.
However, before she started her treatment, she was confronted with a massive decision – one a woman her age doesn’t usually consider.
Doctors advised Chloe to freeze her eggs as the treatment could potentially leave her infertile.
Michael took his daughter to Newcastle for the IVF procedure and was even tasked with having the conversation about children with her boyfriend.
‘At 22, she was not thinking about that, so to be forced into a conversation and forced into a decision is extremely difficult,’ Michael said.
‘She was just in denial, because at the time she didn’t want to tell anyone. She was just trying to process all the information. It’s not a nice procedure either.’
Michael said Chloe’s six-month chemotherapy treatment is administered once every fortnight for the first four sessions and then weekly.
‘The doctors said it’s usually every three weeks, and every two weeks for older people, just to give their body time to recover,’ he said.
Chloe’s father, Michael, (pictured together ) told the Daily Mail that doctors said his daughter was the youngest person they have seen diagnosed with this type of cancer
‘But she’s just doing it faster because she’s younger. So we’re going to do the chemo first.’
Once Chloe finishes her chemotherapy she will then have surgery to remove both breasts.
‘She’s definitely going to get both taken off, so she doesn’t have to go through this again. That’s a decision she has already made,’ he said.
Michael said once the surgery is done, his daughter will undergo radiation therapy before starting a year-long immunotherapy treatment to help fight the cancer.
‘When she finally gets time to recover, then they’ll have to do a breast reconstruction,’ he said.
Michael said Chloe’s diagnosis had completely changed her life as well as those in her support network.
He added his daughter has put her life on hold, while he struggles to juggle work, doctor’s appointments and everyday demands to support his daughter.
To add to their stress, Michael explained he and Chloe are facing mounting financial pressure as she has had to stop work, and he has had to change his work schedule to care for her.
Michael explained his Chloe (pictured with her boyfriend) underwent a round of IVF to freeze her eggs before starting extensive and aggressive treatment to fight her cancer
A GoFundMe has been started to support the family.
‘The bills and day-to-day costs keep piling up,’ the GoFundMe reads.
‘The last thing she should have to worry about is money when all of her energy needs to go into fighting for her life.’
The funds raised will help Chloe and her family with their day-to-day living expenses and will also go towards buying her a wig.
Michael said his daughter had shaved her hair as it had already started to fall out with the first couple rounds of chemotherapy.
He added buying a good wig was also ‘bloody expensive’ and something his daughter has also been worrying about.
‘I don’t think people understand just how much of an emotional rollercoaster it can be. It’s super hard for her because she’s young and was just living and enjoying life,’ he said.
‘Now, she’s tired, she can’t be in the sun over the summer, she has to wear a mask because her immune system is so low, there’s food she can’t eat.
A GoFundMe was started to help Ms Bryne with medical expenses, day-to-day living costs and to buy a nice wig
‘Just being normal and going out with her boyfriend and with her friends has become a massive deal. It’s all changed.’
Once Chloe finishes her cancer treatment, Michael said the first thing she will do is throw a party to celebrate her life.
‘First thing Chloe will want to do is probably go out in the sun, have a party and just hang out with the friends. That’s it. Have a party. Celebrate life,’ he said.
