A 38-year-old woman, Lea Hughes, was told she had ‘lumpy breasts’ despite noticing a suspicious lump on her breast at 29. Doctors dismissed her concerns three years later when she saw another worrying symptom, leading to a devastating cancer diagnosis of stage four, incurable cancer that has spread to her brain and liver.
Lea underwent extensive testing, including full-body scans, MRIs, PETs, and bone scans, which revealed the cancer had spread throughout her body. Despite treatment, the disease progressed, and Lea was forced to undergo a single mastectomy, chemotherapy, and whole-brain radiotherapy.
Her latest challenge came when she began suffering breathing difficulties due to the cancer spreading to her lungs. Lea is now midway through her sixth course of chemotherapy and is fundraising to access a targeted cancer drug called Enhertu, which is not widely available on the NHS for women with her type and stage of cancer.
Lea’s experience highlights the dangers of assuming young people are immune to cancer. In the UK, about 2,400 women aged 39 and under will be diagnosed with breast cancer each year. A US study found that cancers of all types were rising in younger women, with a four-per-cent increase overall for women, while young men saw a dip of nearly five per cent.
Lea’s story serves as a warning to anyone under 50: never assume you’re too young to develop cancer. Early detection and treatment are crucial, and it’s essential to be aware of the risks and take proactive steps to protect your health.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14845787/doctor-dismissed-breast-cancer-lumpy-brain.html