A mum told by doctors her bad back could be a muscular problem from ‘lifting her kids’ was devastated when the pain was diagnosed as terminal cancer. Jennifer McNeill, 34, said her symptoms started when she began experiencing ‘stabbing pain’ in her back and could barely walk.
Mum-of-two Jennifer, from Gourock, Scotland, went to her GP who recommended her to do physiotherapy for three weeks. But it got worse and after several other tests and scans she was told she had stage four breast cancer which had spread to her spine.
Because her cancer had already spread medics were unable to operate to remove the cancer and Jennifer was told her illness was terminal. She said: “The pain was so bad that it forced me to the ground and my partner had to lift me up because I could not stand up.I went to the hospital and they put it down as muscular pain. I was in complete agony for months. When the pain first started, Aidan was one and Millie was two.
”The doctors said I had probably strained it whilst lifting them. It went on for months and got so severe that I could barely walk.I just couldn’t believe that after many visits to the hospital and to many doctors that it was terminal cancer and it was too late to do anything – it had already spread to my back and I haven’t had any issues with my breasts.”
Jennifer says she was forced to go private to get an MRI scan of her lower back – which identified two fractures in her spine.But when the pain spread down Jennifer’s legs and she was unable to pass urine, she attended the A&E department at Inverclyde Royal Hospital in July 2021.
Doctors ordered a CT scan and discovered a cancerous tumour on her spine. Talking about the moment she was diagnosed, Jennifer said that it was her children Millie, who is now 6 and Aidan who is now 4, who she thought of.
She said: “As soon as I was diagnosed I didn’t know if I would see the next couple of weeks. I was scared – they were babies at the time.There were plans I was making ahead, family holidays and looking into schools. I was devastated and in shock – I never thought I had cancer – because obviously it never showed up when I had my scans and when I went private so there were lots of unanswered questions that I had.”
She was offered several rounds of radiation, chemotherapy and has been taking the chemo drug Enhertu. She explained that her kids ‘don’t know anything’ about the cancer. She said: “By telling them that I have a sore back they know that I won’t be able to lift them and it is the truth because I am restricted to what I can do,” she said.
In 2021, after being infected with COVID-19, Jennifer was admitted to Ardgowan Hospice for one-to-one care. She said: “When they told me I was very nervous and scared because I thought the hospice is end of life and there was something they were not telling me.”
“When I entered the hospice I was unable to walk due to the pain and my mobility. Having one to one care from the hospice – it all changed. They were able to change my medication and I was in less pain. I went in a wheelchair and I left it by walking through the door and that was due to the daily physiotherapy and support from the doctors and nurses.
”But as soon as I have arrived staff were incredible and warm to me – I was spoilt. When I was diagnosed my children were only one and two and their support has been a lifeline for my husband and children, and I am so grateful for everything they have done, and continue to do for us.
”My life is completely different now. It’s been turned upside down. All I can do is put on a brave face and pretend I’m okay for the sake of my children. I don’t want to scare them, but the sad reality is this is how they know their mummy. They expect me to be in bed, to be in pain and to be unable to walk. This is our life now.”
“I want to live each day to the max for my children, but I cant due to pain and mobility. It kills me. I have so many wonderful people in my life who have supported me so much. Honestly if love you save me, I’d be cured already.”
With October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, Jennifer who’s receiving ongoing treatment for breast cancer stresses how important it is to get checked regularly. Over the last few years Kevin McNeil, Jennifer’s husband of eight years, and several friends have raised over £30,000 for the hospice to show their appreciation and are planning to do more events and activities to collect more funds.
To donate to Jennifer’s JustGiving page click here.