13/10/2026
RENEE’S STORY – In Her Own Words
At a normal check-up with my GP in February 2026, she suggested that at 49, it was time for me to contact Breast Screen and have a mammogram.
I remember questioning why I needed one. There is no breast cancer in my family. I couldn’t feel any lumps. I had no symptoms and genuinely believed there was no reason to think I could have breast cancer.
My GP still encouraged me to go and gave me the number to call.
I put it off.
We are all busy, and honestly, it just wasn’t my priority. In my mind, there was no way I had breast cancer. When I went back to my GP at the end of June, she asked why I still hadn’t booked my mammogram. She made me promise that this time, I would call and get it done.
So, as soon as I got home, I called and booked for the following week.
The mammogram itself was so easy. I actually remember wondering why I had put it off for so long. I was told the results could take around a month, which didn’t worry me. I still believed I had nothing to worry about.
The following afternoon, I received a phone call.
They had found something on my scans, and I needed to come back for further testing. Of course, I started freaking out. But deep down, I still thought it would be a cyst or something similar. There was no breast cancer in my family surely it couldn’t be that.
I attended the next appointment and had another mammogram followed by an ultrasound. I had gone to the appointment alone because I genuinely didn’t believe I had anything to worry about.
The doctor left the room and returned a few minutes later.
“I’m so sorry, Renee. You have breast cancer.”
I burst into tears. They had found a 2.6cm tumour in my right breast, with cancer also detected in four lymph nodes. From there, everything happened very quickly.
I had an urgent biopsy, met with my surgeon and was told that I had a long road ahead of me.
Then came blood tests, an ECHO heart scan, CT scan and PET scan to see whether the cancer had spread. When I finally met with my oncologist at the Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre, I received more frightening news.
The PET scan had shown two spots on my lungs that didn't look good.
I was devastated. I was already trying to process having breast cancer. Now I was facing the possibility that it had spread to my lungs.
I had to wait three weeks for a lung biopsy. They took three samples for testing, and the following week I also had an MRI to check my brain.
Then I received a call asking me to urgently come back and see my oncologist that afternoon.
Naturally, I thought the worst.
But this time, I received the news I had been desperately hoping for.
My lungs were clear. My brain was clear.
I was dealing with breast cancer, but it had not spread.
What a relief.
Before treatment could begin, I had a chemo port inserted into my chest and a marker placed in my breast so that even if treatment shrinks or removes the visible tumour, my surgeon will still know its exact location for surgery later.
My cancer is hormone-based ER and PR positive and HER2 positive triple positive breast cancer.
I started my first chemotherapy treatment on 24 September 2026.
I have approximately five months of chemotherapy ahead of me, followed by surgery, recovery and several weeks of radiation. After that will come more scans and decisions about the next stage of treatment.
My oncologist has prepared me for the fact that this will be a long journey of more than 12 months.
After just my first chemotherapy treatment, I have never felt so unwell. The side effects have been horrendous. I know I also must face losing my hair very soon, and that is difficult to come to terms with.
For now, I am trying to stay as positive as I can, give myself the self-care I need and accept the help and support of the people around me.
But there is one thing I keep thinking about.
I nearly didn't have that mammogram.
If my GP hadn't pushed me to go, I honestly believe I could have left it for another five years.
I had no lump.
I had no symptoms.
I had no family history.
And I had breast cancer.
I will forever be thankful to my GP for making me get checked.
I didn't want to share my story so that anyone would feel sorry for me.
I am sharing it because I want people to get checked.
If you're eligible for breast screening and you've been putting it off because you're busy, because you feel fine, or because breast cancer doesn't run in your family please don't make the same assumption I did.
Early detection is so important.
To my beautiful family, friends and amazing work colleagues. I cannot thank you enough for the love, support and positivity you have given me through such a difficult time. Having you all around me means the world.
And if sharing what I am going through encourages even one person to make that appointment they have been putting off, then sharing my story has been worth it.
PLEASE GET THOSE MAMMOGRAMS BOOKED. 💗
