Magheramorne fundraiser battles two types of breast cancer at once

Lynette McHendry was due to begin treatment for invasive carcinoma in her right breast when she received the bombshell news that she also had inflammatory breast cancer in her left breast.

The 38-year-old has since undergone a double mastectomy after learning that she has inherited the “faulty” BRCA 1 gene, which puts her at a higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Now receiving chemotherapy, the mum of two and her friends and family have raised over £20,000 for the Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) Network, who are contributing towards the UK’s only study into inflammatory breast cancer at Birmingham University.

Lynette told the Times: “The support I have got from the IBC Network has been amazing and I just dread to think how I would have coped without it.

“I went to the oncologist to discuss chemotherapy for my right breast and told him that my left breast had been really sore and swollen.

“I was told it was an aggressive, rare form of inflammatory breast cancer.

“With inflammatory breast cancer there was no lump as it is a mass tumour, it spreads through the lymphatic system.

“I don’t think it’s common to have two different types of breast cancer at once, it’s a double whammy.”

Lynette decided to have a double mastectomy in February, followed by five weeks of radiotherapy, and will also have to have a hysterectomy.

Despite going through a “really gruelling time,” Lynette is aiming to raise another £1000 to fund the cancer study by holding a Strictly Vinyl night with four local DJs in Ruby’s on Friday August 12 from 9pm-1am. Tickets are £5 and available at the door.

Caroline Ballinger, who runs the IBC network, will then present a cheque for £25,000 to the inflammatory breast cancer research team in Birmingham.

“We hope that this money will help fund immunotherapy research into IBC,” Lynette concluded.

To sponsor Lynette, visit her GoFundMe page.