A MUM’s life was saved when the private scan she paid for detected a cancerous tumour.
Yasmin Randall, 29, had no idea she had cancer until she had an ultrasound scan during her pregnancy.
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Baby Lottie Ferris was developing healthily. But shockingly the scan revealed a tumour growing inside Yasmin’s bladder.
Doctors warned Yasmin and partner Carl Ferris, 28, the lump had to be removed – but the operation could cause them to lose their longed for child.
Incredibly, surgery while Yasmin was 19 weeks pregnant was successful – with baby Lottie finally being born naturally four days after her due date.
The hairdresser said: “Lottie is a miracle baby. Not only does it feel amazing she survived me having surgery while she was still in the womb, she saved my life.
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“I’d had no symptoms whatsoever of cancer. I dread to think what would have happened if I hadn’t had that ultrasound scan when I did.”
Yasmin was eight weeks pregnant when the couple, from Hythe, Southampton, went for the private scan.
Yasmin said: “A few months earlier I’d suffered an ectopic pregnancy where the embryo had implanted in the wrong part of the womb.
“Although I’d had a scan at six weeks at my local hospital to check this pregnancy was in the right place, Carl and I wanted extra reassurance. So we paid out £65 for a private scan.”
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She adds: “The sonographer said our baby looked absolutely fine. We were both so thrilled to see her little heart beating that we didn’t notice the lady spending extra time doing the scan.
“So when afterwards she sat us down and said she’d seen a mass inside my bladder, we were shocked. She didn’t know if it was something serious but she was urgently referring me to see my GP.”
Within a week Yasmin was having further tests at Southampton General Hospital.
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Carl, a drayman, says: “I tried to reassure her saying it would probably be nothing and we both tried to concentrate on just having our baby. But when the consultant said there was definitely a two centimetre mass there, it was devastating.”
Worst was to come when doctors said Yasmin would need an operation.
Recalls Yasmin: “All I could think about was my baby. I was very upset when doctors warned me there was a risk of miscarriage. No one could tell us how big the risk was because operating on a pregnant woman’s bladder was so rare.
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“However, not having the operation wasn’t an option because not only could the tumour spread, it could have caused internal bleeding, proving life threatening to both myself and the baby.”
At 19 weeks pregnant Yasmin underwent the delicate surgery to cut into her bladder and remove the tumour which by now had grown another centimetre larger.
“Doctors gave me a spinal block to numb the bottom half of my body, which meant I was awake. The actual removal took just 12 minutes but it felt so much longer. I was so relieved when it was over and we heard Lottie’s heartbeat.”
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The couple were told the next 48 hours were crucial. “If I was going to miscarry then it was likely to happen within a couple of days after the operation,” says Yasmin, “we were overjoyed when a week later, at the 20 week scan, we saw Lottie waving her little arms and legs around inside me.”
The mass was diagnosed as a low grade bladder tumour. “My consultant said it is very rare in someone of my age and I will need to be monitored to ensure the cancer doesn’t return. However because it was discovered so early I don’t need further treatment.”
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From then on her pregnancy carried on normally. “Although I’d worried about going into premature labour Lottie was four days overdue when I finally went into labour,” says Yasmin.
She was born on 5th February weighing a healthy 6Ib 13oz.
“I feel so lucky that I went for that scan,” she says, “I can’t wait to tell Lottie when she gets older how special she is and how she saved my life.”
A spokesperson for ultrasound clinic Window to the Womb said: “We are delighted to hear that both mother and daughter are doing well.”
