A 23-year-old barista was stunned when a lump she tried to pop, thinking it was a pimple, turned out to be a fast-growing cancerous tumour above her left breast. When the bump Siobhan Harrison spotted it while getting dressed in December 2020 grew and became bruised after squeezing it, she suspected it was because she had aggravated it.
Instead, tests revealed she had stage two triple negative breast cancer, leaving her horrified. Miraculously now cancer-free, Siobhan is encouraging young women to check their breasts for lumps 'as it could be lifesaving'.
When Siobhan first saw a bump protruding above her left breast, she just assumed it was a spot. “I could see it," explained Siobhan. "It was clearly visible quite high up on my chest, so I thought it was just a pimple. I tried to pop it but that just made it bruise.
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“I kept an eye on it for a while and noticed it getting bigger, which I thought was because I’d aggravated it.” But it started to worry me, so I booked a doctor’s appointment.”
At her appointment, Siobhan was referred for further tests but was told there was a nine-month waiting list.
She said: “In the end, I decided to go private and paid £200 for an ultrasound. It was there that medics said they couldn’t tell what it was, but thought it might be cancerous and advised I would need a biopsy to find out.”
With her lump now suspected to be cancer, Siobhan was considered a high priority and went in for her biopsy on the NHS on June 22, 2021. “When I got the results, I half expected it to be a cyst or something benign," she added.
"Even though I was concerned about it, I still didn’t expect it to be anything too bad.” To Siobhan’s shock, she was diagnosed with stage two triple negative breast cancer.
“I was so upset. It was fast growing, and the lump was now over 2cm in size," said Siobhan. "Doctors scheduled me in for surgery the following week, it all happened very fast.”
In July, Siobhan went under the knife for a lumpectomy to remove the cancerous mass in her left breast: “As I recovered from the op, my consultant informed me that the next step would be chemotherapy, but said there was a chance it could affect my fertility.
“So, before I started the treatment, I had egg retrieval in case I became infertile after the chemo.”
In August, Siobhan started the gruelling chemotherapy, which saw her lose her hair and 'wiped her out', making her continuously poorly.
“Even though I had known I would lose my hair, I didn’t expect it to affect me as much as it did, so I bought a wig to help me feel a bit more like myself," she shared.
“The treatment did its job and I got the all-clear in spring this year. Since then, I’ve been on a trial which screens my blood every few weeks to check for cancer cells. So far, everything has come back clear.
“As difficult as it was, I’m so thankful to now be on the other side of treatment and I’m now focussing on improving my fitness levels as I went back to work in March. All the NHS staff who treated me were so supportive and helpful, I’m very thankful to them too.”
Now 24 and cancer-free, Siobhan, of New Tredegar in the Rhymney Valley in South Wales, said: “I never thought I was at risk of cancer, especially at my age.
“I want to get the word out that young women need to be checking their breasts for lumps and must notify their doctor if there are any changes, as it could be lifesaving. I feel so lucky now to be cancer free.”
Siobhan will need to go for annual check-ups to make sure the cancer does not return and is now keen to raise awareness of breast cancer in young women.
“I’m unlucky to have got cancer but, in a way, I am also lucky that my lump was clearly visible and I was able to get a private scan quickly," said Siobhan. I dread to think what could have happened if it had gone undetected.
“I had a scare just last week when I thought I’d found another lump and went to get it checked out. Thankfully, it was nothing to worry about, but it has made me realise that the fear will always be with me.
“If I can encourage other people to check for lumps then I’ve achieved my goal. I just don’t want other people going through the same ordeal as I have been through.”
Nikki Barraclough, Executive Director at Prevent Breast Cancer, says that as well as causing delays in breast cancer diagnosis, the pandemic has had an impact on research.
She said: “Now more than ever we need to continue to fund research into the prevention of breast cancer so we can stop this disease before it starts, whilst continuing to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms.
“It’s this type of awareness raising that saved Siobhan’s life.”
A spokesperson for the Teenage Cancer Trust warned of the devastating affect of the disease in young people: “Cancer is far less likely to affect young people than older adults – but when it does it can have a devastating impact – so being able to spot potential warning signs that could lead to an earlier diagnosis really can make a difference.
“There is a concerningly low awareness of the most common warning signs of cancer in the 18-24 age range, and this could be one of the reasons it takes longer for young people to be diagnosed with cancer than older adults. But because cancer in younger age groups is considered rare, it could also be that GPs and other healthcare professionals are less likely to suspect cancer and refer young people with symptoms on for further investigation.
“Listen to your body and if you feel that something isn’t right seek medical help. It probably isn’t cancer, but it’s always best to check, so book an appointment with your GP to discuss your concerns. If you don’t feel like you’re getting the answers you need keep going back, because if a patient consistently presents with concerns, healthcare professionals should listen and take these seriously.”
To learn more about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, and how to check for it, visit www.preventbreastcancer.org.uk.
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