SA mum-of-four Ashlee Plowman dies of breast cancer four months after her diagnosis

A South Brighton mum went to her doctor just before Christmas “feeling off’. Four months later, she was dead.

Taylor Plowman, 15, has played the message his mum recorded for him inside his Build-a-Bear over and over again since she died last Tuesday.

Ashlee Plowman, 31, had hoped to record a message for each of her four sons –

Taylor, 15, Ethan Plowman, 9, Zachary Lalor, 8, and Logan Bowen, 3.

But she died from Stage 3 breast cancer on March 5 before she got a chance to finish the last three.

Ms Plowman was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer last November. Four months later, she lost her battle.

“She felt off, she felt something was wrong,” stepmother Kelly-Anne Betts said.

A friend of Ms Plowman’s, Mark Taylor, urged her to see a doctor, eventually driving Ms Plowman himself to the Royal Adelaide Hospital shortly before Christmas last year.

After conducting a blood test and a series of scans, doctors confirmed the worst.

“She was told it was terminal,” Mr Taylor said.

Ms Betts said the cancer had already spread to Ms Plowman’s chest wall, “it was in her bones, in her liver – it spread throughout her body”.

“She had to do special chemo, it (the treatment) had to go through her kidneys because she had cancer in her liver.”

Ms Betts said her stepdaughter wasn’t herself towards the end of her life, becoming easily confused and vacant.

“The time she had left, she just wanted to spend with me – she lived with me for the last six weeks, when she was in and out of hospital,” she said.

Ms Plowman spent the remaining weeks of her life making care arrangements for her sons.

All four children are now living with their dads but despite living in different households, their caregivers have promised the brothers will still see each other frequently – an arrangement Ms Plowman wanted.

Ashlee Plowman with three-year-old son, Logan. Picture: Supplied

Ashlee Plowman died of breast cancer after being diagnosed only months before. She leaves behind four sons. Picture: Supplied

Ashlee Plowman died of breast cancer after being diagnosed just months before. She leaves behind four sons. Picture: Supplied

Eldest son Taylor, whose mother Ashlee Plowman died of breast cancer after being diagnosed months before. Picture: Supplied

One of four, Ethan, whose mother Ashlee Plowman died of breast cancer after being diagnosed just months before. Picture: Supplied

Ashlee Plowman died of breast cancer after being diagnosed only months earlier. She leaves behind four sons. Picture: Supplied

By the time Ms Plowman sought help, she was already in the late stages of an aggressive form of breast cancer.

Ms Betts said Ms Plowman’s family had a history of the disease.

“Her aunty, her dad’s sister, died of the same thing 14 years ago,” she said.

According to the Australian Breast Cancer Network, triple negative breast cancer refers to the cancer cells testing negative on all three receptor tests used to determine treatment options.

The cancer cells do not have oestrogen or progesterone receptors required for hormone therapy to work, nor do they have enough HER2 protein receptors for targeted drug therapy to be effective.

Triple negative breast cancer is characterised by its tendency to grow and spread very quickly and according to the American Cancer Network, the survival rate tends to be lower than for other types of cancer.

On their website, triple negative breast cancer has been listed as a cancer common in women under 40.

Ms Betts has started a GoFundMe to raise $9000 for Ms Plowman’s funeral.

“I want her to have the send off that she deserved,” she said.

On the fundraising page, Ms Betts wrote: “She will never have the opportunity to see her boys finish primary school or high school. She was an absolute awesome person, mum, friend and sister.”

Donate here Ashlee Plowman. 

Originally published as SA mum-of-four Ashlee Plowman dies of breast cancer four months after her diagnosis