Breast Cancer Stories

I had an itchy nipple and sharp searing pain. Both intermittent. All symptoms were in the right breast. There was also fatigue, and I just felt “off” for approximately 6 months before my diagnosis.

It was around December 2021 when I noticed a slight dimpling in the areola of my left breast. It was very minimal, and I didn’t feel any discomfort, so I didn’t pay much attention to it.

I first felt something was wrong when I felt a lump in my breast. A few weeks had passed and it didn’t go away so I decided to seek medical attention.

I felt a lump in my breast that hadn't been there before. I thought it might be a cyst as I'd had cysts before. I went to my GP who agreed it felt like a cyst, but she referred me to the breast clinic 'just to be sure'.

At first, I went to the doctor for unexplained weight loss. There, I received breast cancer screening. Then I had a biopsy for a lump in my right breast, which didn’t hurt and had no discharge.

I had a lump in my left breast, and noticed irritation, nipple discharge, redness and thickening of part of the breast.

I discovered a lump in my breast, and so I visited a general practitioner for an examination. I went through an ultrasound and a fine needle aspiration biopsy, but the results were inconclusive.

After discovering a lump in my right breast and swelling in my right armpit, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer.

I know that this moment overwhelms us and we fall into sadness, but just as we fall, we must rise, with more strength and courage.

I woke up one morning and I said out loud, “I’m going to be ok.” I was then determined to succeed at getting through this.

Not all women will have the same experience with cancer, but what kept me going was my family and faith.

My biggest aspiration is to be an advocate for breast cancer screening and help other ladies with breast cancer understand their cancer better and make more informed decisions.

As my cancer is genetic, although I am well now, I am still undergoing check-ups every 6 months because it was triple negative breast cancer. So any change could be alarming, and I’m constantly being monitored for them.

I did my own research to find out what the life expectancy was for Stage 3 TNBC survivors. At the time, the prognosis was not good, and it was difficult to find positive outcomes.

My biggest fear is it'll beat me before I beat it as I've triple negative in my left breast and that's grade 2-3 and I've ER positive in my right breast.

I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer and I fear it not going away. I try not to think about it.

I received the news as if someone had punched me in my stomach. I couldn't believe it. One day, everything was ok, the day after, my life became a nightmare.

What kept me going was enjoying the time with my children that God gives me.

My biggest dream is to survive the next 5 years. I hope I can spend time with my parents and be there for them for as long as possible.

Currently, I'm undergoing hormone therapy, as recommended by my doctor. I was recommended to have surgery as well but I opted out of it.