Qld mum Tara Bishop’s cancer found early thanks to twins born in ambulance on Pacific Motorway

Born in the back of an ambulance, these twins’ start in life was already dramatic enough. Then they helped save their mother’s life.

When Harvey and Evelyn were born in the back of an ambulance on the Pacific Highway, mum Tara thought that was enough drama to deal with but weeks later a cancer diagnosis rocked her world.

Tara Bishop’s premature twins were fighting for life in the Neonatal Critical Care Unit at Mater Mothers’ Hospital when she received the devastating news that she had endometrial cancer.

Her diagnosis came just 11 days after her twins arrived two months early.

The babies were still in danger in NCCU when doctors found the cancer through routine pathology tests on her placenta.

Tara Bishop with her twins Evelyn and Harvey Bishop. Picture: Annette Dew

“What was supposed to be a happy time of our lives very quickly turned into an emotional rollercoaster,” Ms Bishop said.

“You can have cancer of the uterus without any symptoms and I had no reason to suspect anything was wrong.

“When I look at my babies today I believe they are my little lifesavers.”

Ms Bishop, 33, and her partner Hayden Davies, 31, from Sunnybank Hills, are sharing their story to raise awareness during Uterine Cancer Awareness Month.

Endometrial cancer accounts for more than 90 per cent of all uterine cancer cases and claims the lives of around 550 Australian women a year.

“It is extremely rare for a patient to be diagnosed with this type of cancer during pregnancy,” Mater Private Hospital Brisbane gynaecological oncologist Dr Chetty said.

Ms Bishop underwent a hysterectomy and removal of her fallopian tubes and is now cancer-free.

“Given her low stage and low grade cancer, we would expect a cure,” Dr Chetty said.

Dr Chetty said endometrial cancer is a slow-growing cancer and Ms Bishop would have presented with bleeding at some stage.

“I couldn’t hold my babies for three weeks which was a really horrible feeling, but knowing that they are alive and well, and so am I, is amazing,” she said.

Ms Bishop said her happy and healthy twins, who are now almost two, are enjoying life.

“Their 10-year-old big sister Skylar adores them,” she said.