A woman from Stockport has welcomed a miracle baby boy into the world after having her ovaries removed during treatment for a rare type of cancer.
38-year-old Stacey Broadmeadow’s life was flipped upside down when she was sadly diagnosed with Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP) back in 2018.
PMP is a rare form of cancer that starts in the lining of the appendix.
With symptoms including loss of appetite, unexpected weight gain, and stomach pain, PMP is where a jelly-like substance called mucin is produced and bursts out of the appendix, and sees cells begin spreading around the tummy.
“I had never heard of PMP before I was diagnosed,” Stacey admitted.
“I noticed some abnormal bleeding, and the only reason I went to the doctor was the desire to start a family. I was worried something would affect my fertility and wanted to check everything was okay, but I never expected it to be cancer.
“My first thought after being diagnosed was that I’d never be a mum, it was absolutely devastating.”
"I’m in a bubble of love and can’t imagine my life without him.”
Stacey Broadmeadow has become a mum to Harry after having her ovaries removed as part of her treatment for a rare cancer at The Christie.
People with PMP often need major surgery to remove the tissue lining in the abdominal cavity, and save organs that are at risk of implants from the abnormal cells – including the gallbladder, the spleen, and parts of the bowel – and then once the surgery has been performed, heated chemotherapy (HIPEC) is introduced into the abdomen to kill any unseen tumour cells.
In Stacey’s case, her ovaries needed to be removed as part of her operation, and so she had her eggs harvested and frozen.
After receiving world-class care and treatment at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust right here in Manchester, Stacey has beaten the odds to give birth to a baby boy following the all clear from the one-in-a-million type of cancer.
Stacey received treatment at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester / Credit: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
“All my harvested eggs were used during the IVF process,” Stacey continued.
“I was only able to create two embryos. I had my first round of IVF in August 2021, and unfortunately, that ended in a miscarriage. I only had one embryo left and had my final round in February last year. The doctors weren’t sure whether it was going to work as the embryo was not as good as the previous one, but it was successful, and my beautiful son Harry arrived in mid-November.
“I can’t even put into words how I feel. I’m in a complete bubble of love and can’t imagine my life without him.”
Stacey has thanked her consultant, Professor Sarah O’Dwyer, and clinical nurse specialst, Rebecca Halstead, saying they were “brilliant” throughout her treatment, as well as heaping praise on The Christie as “one of only two centres in the country that treat rare abdominal cancers like mine”.
“I’m so lucky to have it on my doorstep,” she concluded.
Featured Image – The Christie NHS
News
Local LGBTQIA+ football team Manchester Laces are set to play in the FA Cup for the first time ever
Danny Jones
Inclusive football team Manchester Laces are set to break even more new ground are they prepare to compete in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup for the first time ever.
What a truly incredible few years it’s been for the club.
Set to play their maiden match in the female division of the sport’s oldest competition this weekend, Manchester Laces’ Yellows squad will be taking on rival Greater Manchester Women’s Football League (GMWFL) side, Northwich Victoria, in another historic milestone for the local outfit.
Announced last month, the game is now fast approaching, and they’re hoping that plenty of Manc natives will turn up in support.
For anyone unfamiliar with the story, Manchester Laces has grown to become the leading women’s, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ positive sporting bodies in the region.
In fact, as part of a wider family – which includes clubs in Hackney, South London and Limehouse Laces, not to mention players over in Canada too – they’re comfortably one of the biggest in the entire country.
Sticking with MCR Laces alone, founded by Helen Hardy, they have grown so much in reputation and size that they have six different teams besides just the Yellows: the other Manchester squads include the Blues, Greens, Oranges, Purples, as well as the budding new Reds and Blacks.
It’s this kind of impressive expansion and, crucially, representation that has seen them win two Football v Homophobia Awards and Grassroots Initiative of the Year back in 2023.
Side-note: they also happen to have one of our favourite fooy kits of the entire year so far…
Boasting a new regular stadium at Timpson Road and set to take part not only in the North West Women’s Regional Football League (NWWFL)/GMWFL, but now FA Cup and county cup games, 2025 could be their most momentous year yet.
Providing access to countless women and people from within the queer and non-binary community who love the beautiful game and may have otherwise struggled to find an outlet, their work has been crucial in and around Greater Manchester.
With that in mind, taking part in an inaugural run within the prestigious knockout tournament feels like yet another watershed moment for the organisation.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, the club wrote on social media: “In 2021, we started our journey in Div 2 of the GMWFL with the aim of creating an inclusive and welcoming space for all. After winning consecutive league titles and earning back-to-back promotions, we are now a Tier 6 team.
“Yellows are delighted to be stepping into the magic of the FA Cup for the very first time, and we would love to see you there!
Taking place at both Wythenshawe Town FC’s and the Yellows’ own new home ground of Ericstan Park on Sunday, 7 September (2pm KO), we wish them the best of luck.
18-21 year olds can now travel on Greater Manchester’s buses for half price
Emily Sergeant
18-21 year olds can now apply to travel on Greater Manchester’s bus network for half price, it has been announced.
The Bee Network says it is ‘continuing to lead the way’ when it comes to cutting the cost of public transport, with applications for half price unlimited bus travel for 18-21 year olds now open and around 150,000 young people in Greater Manchester set to benefit.
The new pass will ‘better connect’ young people to work, training, or education opportunities.
With the Greater Manchester economy found to be experiencing faster growth compared to the UK as a whole, and with making travel ‘easier, more affordable, and inclusive’ a critical part of the Bee Network’s success, Mayor Andy Burnham announced the half-price bus travel this week, alongside a raft of other improvements across the region.
Some of the other improvements the Mayor announced include more frequent buses, cheaper travel, and new round-the-clock services.
18-21 year olds can now travel on Greater Manchester’s buses for half price / Credit: TfGM
Young people can now buy a 28-day bus travelcard for just £40, which is half the price of adult fares and the equivalent of just £1.43 per day for unlimited travel on any Bee Network bus in Greater Manchester.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) says the new half-price travel is aimed at helping the thousands of young people once their 16-18 ‘Our Pass’ expires, and will support them as they move into further education or the world of work.
“Young people in Greater Manchester have been calling out for an affordable transport option for when their Our Pass expires and this new pass will give them that,” commented Fran Wilkinson, who is the Director for Customer and Growth at TfGM.
The new 18-21 Bee Bus ticket is here! 🙌
Enjoy 28 day’s of unlimited travel on #BeeNetwork buses for just £40. 🚌
Buy yours now on the Bee Network app with an 18-21 Pass ID.
“We know this is such an important time in a young person’s life as they look to go into further education or enter the world of work.
“Now as they explore the many opportunities available to them they will be able to use any Bee Network bus as much as they need to at half the price.”
Fatima Bangoura, who is the Youth Engagement Officer at Youth Leads, added: “The new 18-21 pass opens doors for those who may worry about losing that support once their Our Pass ends, making travel for training, apprenticeships, education and employment far more accessible.”
Emily Sergeant -
17th April 2023 
