In a remarkable story of resilience, Roisín Pelan, a 43-year-old mother from Lancashire, England, was diagnosed with stage 3C metastatic breast cancer in January 2018 and given just three years to live. Despite this grim prognosis, Pelan has surpassed expectations, celebrating seven years of life with clear scans and an unwavering spirit.
Pelan’s journey began while she was pregnant, when she discovered an olive-sized lump in her breast. This discovery led to an early labor and a mastectomy just six days after giving birth to her daughter, Lily, who is now 11 years old. After enduring six rounds of chemotherapy, Pelan was declared cancer-free. However, in January 2018, she experienced pain in the area where her breast had been and discovered a lump in her neck.
“I knew it was back,” Pelan told Newsweek, reflecting on the moment she received the heartbreaking news. The diagnosis identified cancer in multiple lymph nodes, which prompted concern due to its classification as stage 3C. Even though the cancer had not spread to major organs, its location indicated a more advanced stage of the disease.
Dr. Daniel Landau, a board-certified expert in medical oncology, explained that while survival rates are often cited based on clinical trials, they do not account for the individual circumstances of each patient. He highlighted that patients often vary significantly in health, tumor biology, and response to treatment. “No one is average,” he noted, emphasizing that survival statistics can underestimate the potential outcomes of new therapies, such as immunotherapy, which have advanced in recent years.
Initially, Pelan’s medical team suggested palliative chemotherapy. However, she advocated for more aggressive treatment options, including surgery to remove the tumor. “My oncologist got me on every medication possible, and I went every week for 24 weeks for 18 rounds of chemotherapy,” she explained. By September of that year, she received a clear positron emission tomography (PET) scan, and has continued to be cancer-free since then.
Pelan’s personal life also flourished during this challenging time. In the following year, she and her husband, Michael Pelan, adopted a son named Bill, who is now six years old. She expressed joy in their family life, stating, “He was born for us, he is hilarious and a perfect boy.”
In addition to her personal victories, Pelan has made it her mission to support others facing similar challenges. She founded Fighting to be Heard, a charity aimed at raising awareness and providing financial support and friendship to those living with incurable secondary breast cancer. Through her charity work, she has also published a children’s book and shares her journey on social media, where she recently celebrated milestones in her daughter’s education.
Reflecting on her experiences, Pelan remarked, “It’s impossible not to think back to those early days when I didn’t know if I’d get here. It’s been emotional.” Although she underwent surgery and received clear scans, Pelan remains on long-term treatment, taking Palbociclib and hormone therapy to prevent any microscopic cells from growing or spreading.
The journey of Roisín Pelan serves as a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the importance of advocacy in the face of adversity. Her story not only inspires hope for others battling cancer but also highlights the need for continued support and innovation in cancer treatment.
