Why I chose to get a mastectomy tattoo
When Liz decided to cover her mastectomy scar with a tattoo, she didn’t know where to begin. Her tattoo artist Shirley helped Liz restore he...
It was a tough decision, but I decided I’d rather have no breasts than just one
Danni had a difficult time in chemotherapy when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at 31, and faced more hurdles when it came to surgery. ...
I want people to see the true picture of cancer
In 2013, Esther had a mastectomy to treat primary breast cancer. Following a secondary (metastatic) breast cancer diagnosis earlier this yea...
My body confidence plummeted after having breast cancer, but now it’s better than ever before
When Cassie went through breast cancer treatment at 34, it changed how she felt about her body. She challenged herself to build back her con...
I used to be happy with my body, but cancer made me hate the way I look
After going through chemotherapy, radiotherapy and two breast reconstructions, Sukhy lost her former body confidence and self-esteem. Over t...
My advice to anyone considering breast reconstruction
Helen shares her experience with breast reconstruction, including her difficulties with the expander implant. Since having a DIEP flap recon...
I wanted immediate reconstruction because I couldn’t imagine having part of me missing
When Suzanne was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, the news came as a huge shock. After coming to terms with her diagnosis, she opted fo...
People acted like I was getting a ‘free boob job’
After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Carlie-Ann had breast reconstruction in her early 30s. She talks about the ups and downs of her ex...
Waiting for reconstruction has been hard, but I’ve got through it with humour
Carole was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 37. After a tough experience with chemotherapy, she’s also had to wait a long time for ...
Tips for managing lymphoedema
Tamsin developed lymphoedema after finishing chemotherapy for a breast cancer recurrence. She shares her top tips for managing the condition...
Yoga was my lifeline after treatment for breast cancer
Marcia was diagnosed with breast cancer at 32. After going through treatment, she decided to try yoga to help with her mental and physical r...
After brain surgery and chemotherapy, I have gained appreciation for what I am capable of
When she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer at 25, Fran put her all into building and maintaining her physical strength.
5 tips for coping with breast radiotherapy
Laura, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 29, went through a course of 33 radiotherapy sessions, here she offers her advice for anyone ...
Clare’s top tips for coping with radiotherapy
When Clare found out she needed radiotherapy, she tried to prepare herself as much as possible. She shares her top tips for coping with radi...
How to manage menopausal symptoms in the heat
Managing the side effects of hormone therapies like tamoxifen can be challenging. Helen shares her tips for managing menopausal symptoms in ...
Why I got a tattoo to cover my mastectomy scar
Kerry Allison hated looking at her mastectomy scar. But 2 years after her breast cancer diagnosis, she found an artistic way to regain her s...
In 2020, I was given 2 years to live. This year, my scans show that I’ve had a complete response to treatment
When Fran was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer at 25, she was determined to defy the prognosis she’d been given. After surgery, chemot...
I thought I was too young to get breast cancer
Shayna was just 25 years old when she found out she had triple negative breast cancer. Now, she wants other young women to know about the wa...
I lost my mum to breast cancer when I was 7, then I was diagnosed 20 years later
Nicole was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at the age of 27. She speaks about losing her mum to the disease, and her hopes of o...
Despite a family history of breast cancer, I never properly checked myself
Jo was diagnosed with breast cancer after finding a lump by chance. She tells us about her treatment, the help she received from Breast Canc...
Why I started the Younger Breast Cancer Network
When Victoria Yates was diagnosed with breast cancer at 36, she found the fear isolation and sense of guilt overwhelming. She now helps youn...
I was young so cancer wasn't on my radar
Just by chance, Stacey came across a lump in her armpit. After months of putting it off, she had it checked out and got the news she had pri...
Jessica understands more than ever the importance of checking your breasts
After finding a lump by chance, Jessica realised ‘more than ever how important it is to check your breasts regularly.’
Getting breast cancer at 26 has turned my life upside down
When Tabby found a lump in her breast, she immediately feared the worst. Since starting treatment, she feels positive about the future.
I developed PTSD following my breast cancer diagnosis
After being diagnosed with breast cancer at 27 and encountering difficulties during treatment, Melissa was constantly worried. It wasn’t unt...
When I had a recurrence, I was forced to face my greatest fear
Lucy was just 28 when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. She faced a recurrence only 3 years later. She’s now taking part in a clin...
I'm sharing my story to remind others to make their health a priority
Meera is 33 years old and having treatment for breast cancer. She has been documenting her story in the hope of reaching other young people ...
When I found out I had breast cancer, all I could think about was my little girl
Maxine was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 at the age of 32. Her first thought was for her daughter, who had just turned two.
I was the youngest person on my chemotherapy ward
Hattie was 27 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She coped by finding the positives in her situation, including having her name on a...
I want to help women feel supported during their breast cancer treatment
When Oa was going through chemotherapy and other treatments for breast cancer, her friends and family were there to support her. Now, she's ...
Getting breast cancer led me back into writing and onto a new career path
Jo discovered she had breast cancer and was a carrier of an altered BRCA2 gene. She had always enjoyed writing but after diagnosis she turne...
I can’t change what I’ve been through, so I’m embracing it instead
Shevelle was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at the age of 28 after finding a lump in her breast. The mum-of-one took part in I...
Going through breast cancer at 24 during COVID was a complicated time
When Lynsey found a lump on her breast, she thought it was just a cyst. She still went to the GP, but her treatment wasn’t as straightforwar...
My world came crashing down when I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer at 25
Fran was diagnosed with secondary (metastatic) breast cancer this year. She shares why she wants to raise awareness of cancer in younger peo...
The day I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer
14 months after she finished her treatment, Sarah Pickles looks back on the day she found out she had triple negative breast cancer.
I had a double mastectomy on my 27th birthday
Almost 20 years after she lost her mother to breast cancer, Nicola Downey found out she had inherited an altered BRCA1 gene, which increases...
Losing my hair and my breast at 24 made me feel so alien
When Sacha was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, she felt isolated. Through social media, she was able to find support – and now hopes...
7 years on: what I wish I had known during treatment
Liz was diagnosed with breast cancer at 28. Seven years later, she shares the things she wish she knew when going through treatment.
Being around other young women was priceless
After getting diagnosed at 32, Rachel was in shock and felt isolated. She found our support group, Younger Women Together, and it showed her...
Because I was young, my breast cancer symptoms weren’t taken seriously
Adobea first went to her GP with a lump in 2016, but wasn’t diagnosed with breast cancer until it has already spread. She tells us how cance...
Connecting with people my age gave me hope
Charlie was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 33. She took part in our course for younger women with breast cancer and co-created a...
I hope my mum’s story will encourage others to have genetic testing
After her mum was diagnosed with breast cancer, Jess discovered she had the BRCA1 gene. She’s set up the Jo Fine campaign in memory of her m...
Even though people offered support, it was hard not to feel alone
Kate had a 3-year-old boy and another little 1 on the way when she found out she had breast cancer. Here’s how our Someone Like Me service h...
Our wedding was perfect, then my world came crashing down
The sound of wedding bells had barely stopped ringing in Charlotte’s ears when she received the shocking news of her breast cancer diagnosis...
It’s been difficult for us all, but we still talk about their mum every day
Martim’s wife, Celina, passed away in 2020, just one year after being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. Suddenly a single dad to four ...
People with breast cancer need support – but what about their partners?
Chris’ wife, Miriam, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. When she began supporting others after her treatment, Chris realised that he ...
One of the hardest things about going through breast cancer was not being able to be the mum I wanted to be
Jade was only 27 the first time she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and treatment meant she couldn’t care for her young son. When she face...
Natalie on dating after a mastectomy
Since her mastectomy, Natalie has faced challenges in her dating life which have affected her confidence. She shares her experience, her tho...
It is heart-breaking to sit your children down and tell them you’re going to die
Anita’s husband has been living with a life-limiting illness for a long time, which meant it was especially devastating for her to learn she...
I know I have an altered BRCA2 gene, but I need time to consider my options
After losing her mum to ovarian cancer, Naomi discovered she had inherited an altered BRCA2 gene which increases her risk of breast and ovar...