Missy Terpstra had eight surgeries in two years to beat the cancer, now the mother-of-four is battling a rare type of lymphoma.

Two days before she found out she was pregnant with twins, Missy Terpstra was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Six years later, after beating the cancer through eight surgeries over two years, the Christchurch mother-of-four is fighting for her life again after being diagnosed with a rare type of lymphoma.

Breast Implant Associated Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a rare type of T-cell lymphoma (cancer of the immune system). In most cases, it is found in the scar tissue and fluid near the implant, but in Terpstra’s case, it had spread throughout her body.

Just over 1200 cases of the cancer worldwide had been reported as of June, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. In only a small fraction of these cases had the cancer spread outside the implant area.

Source: Diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant with twins, now she’s fighting for her life again