Yvonne's Story

In February 2021, when drying off after a shower, I noticed a small hard lump on my left breast. Despite my mum having breast cancer twice, I didn’t panic or think much of it, but knew to get it checked out straight away. I had my appointment with my GP 2 days later and although she also thought it nothing to worry about, she referred me to the breast clinic at St. Vincent’s Hospital. I wasn’t referred as an urgent case, so was told it would be a few months before I got an appointment.

My second little girl was 10 months old and I was returning to work. By April, I felt the lump had got bigger so followed up on my appointment. My initial consultation was on 5th May. They felt the lump and said they’d get a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy done that same day. A follow up consultation the following Friday confirmed I had breast cancer. Stage 2-3, ER+, HER2 negative. We were so shocked and upset. I found the next few weeks the most stressful - with all the tests, scans and further biopsies. I finished up work within a week and began treatment the week before my 35th birthday.

I had 4 months of chemotherapy, during which I did the cold cap to help with hair loss. A sentinel node biopsy confirmed that the cancer had not spread to my lymph nodes, but I needed to have a mastectomy. I had that and immediate reconstruction in November 2021, then started 25 rounds of radiotherapy in January 2022. It was a tough time for my husband and I, especially as it was also during covid. We have two little girls, who were 3 and 1 years old during treatment and we were also moving house! Support from family, friends, neighbours and colleagues was so important in helping us get through it. I am now 3.5 years post diagnosis and feeling great. The worry never completely goes away and the anxiety around scan time can be tough, but I’m so grateful I had a complete treatment response and have been able to move on with my life.