Melbourne mum discovers shocking truth about ‘blocked milk duct’

A woman was having a shower when she noticed something unusual – and eight days before giving birth, her life turned upside down.

Brega van Vugt, 33, was just eight days away from giving birth to her first child when she noticed something unusual about her left breast.

The Melbourne-based mother-to-be was having a shower one day when she noticed there was a small lump on her left breast.

She thought it was just part of her pregnancy, putting the discomfort down to a blocked milk duct.

And while she didn’t think anything of it, she decided to get it checked anyway after it failed to go away.

But, at 39 weeks pregnant and after several tests, Ms Vugt was given the shocking news that the seemingly innocuous lump was a 4cm tumour.

RELATED: Deadly truth about woman’s itchy arm

Brega van Vugt, 33, of Melbourne, was having a shower one day when she noticed a lump on her left breast. Picture: Supplied

She was told she has hormone receptive-positive breast cancer – a type of cancer that is powered by oestrogen.

“I just assumed it was my milk coming through as I couldn’t feel anything else,” Ms Vugt told news.com.au.

“I spoke to a midwife about it and she said the same things that it was probably just a milk duct and encouraged me to massage it.

“But when that didn’t do anything I went to my GP.”

Ms Vogt said never imagined the lump would be malignant.

“I went through a lot of testing including an ultrasound where they found an abnormality.

“It was the first sign something was wrong and then I had a biopsy before being referred to an oncologist.”

Ms Vogt said she was heavily pregnant and wasn’t prepared mentally when they told her she had breast cancer.

RELATED: Mum’s pimple turns out to be aggressive cancer

Just eight days before she gave birth to her little girl, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Picture: Supplied

“I felt winded. I was completely shocked. If I didn’t have a baby coming within a week the treatment would have been straightforward, but that complicated things a lot.”

On March 11, Ms van Vugt and her partner Angus Hume welcomed their little girl, Etta Hope, into the world and three weeks later she began her treatment.

While she said she would love to breastfeed her baby, the cancer wouldn’t allow her to.

“I was advised not to breastfeed because the type of cancer I have is driven by oestrogen and if milk came in, it would have been bad news for me.”

Ms van Vugt said she is currently on a “less intensive” type of chemotherapy to help her adjust to life as a new mum.

She is on her fourth cycle of chemo, but once she completes 12, she will begin a stronger treatment with symptoms including nausea.

RELATED: Woman diagnosed with skin cancer after hairdresser’s pleas

Brega and her partner Angus welcomed their baby girl Etta Hope, on March 11. Picture: Supplied

Brega was diagnosed with hormone receptive-positive breast cancer – a type of cancer that grows in response to oestrogen – and began chemo three weeks after giving birth. Picture: Supplied

Doctors will then decide whether she will need a lumpectomy or mastectomy.

To help support the young family with medical expenses, Mr van Vugt’s work colleague Scott Tierney has started a GoFundMe page which has raised more than $25,000.

“I had been speaking to Angus about the upcoming birth of his baby which was really exciting being his first born, but then things went quiet,” Mr Tierney told news.com.au.

“I tried to contact him and after a while he slowly let us know what was happening.”

The couple are eternally grateful to Angus’ colleague Scott Tierney who has so far helped raise more than $25,000 to cover medical bills. Picture: Supplied

Distraught and saddened by the news, Mr Tierney wanted to help in anyway he could and decided to ride 204km on Sunday, starting and finishing in Torquay, to raise funds for the family.

“They are great people and good things come back to great people.”

Ms van Vugt said she is incredibly grateful for Mr Tierney’s friendship and support during what is an incredibly difficult time.

She is now encouraging others to get in touch with their bodies and if they notice anything different, to get checked immediately, saying early detection is the “best weapon”.