A 26-YEAR-OLD who was told a lump in her breast was “probably nothing” ended up getting a diagnosis of cancer.
Sophie Jackson, from Bournemouth, was floored when her test results came back and immediately asked if she was “going to die”.
Sophie, who is coincidentally an oncology nurse, said: “I felt let down. The doctors initially thought it was nothing purely based on age.
“I feel frustrated on the guidance out there with the ‘stereotypical’ lumps to look for such as being hard or non-moveable as mine met all the criteria to be what they classed as ‘nothing’.
“If I’d left it four weeks like the GP suggested, it may have spread in that time and I’d have been looking at an incurable diagnosis.”
Sophie, found a mass in her right breast in September 2021, but claims doctors said it was likely hormonal.
They told her to wait four weeks to see if the feeling disappeared.
However, given her own experience working on cancer wards, Sophie knew she had to listen to her own body and pushed for a referral to a breast clinic.
She was experiencing no other symptoms.
Sophie was given an ultrasound the following month and had four biopsies taken of the lump.
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But she never imagined the results would actually come back positive for an aggressive type of breast cancer, stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma.
Sophie said: "I cried my eyes out and first asked if I was going to die and second if I was going to lose all my hair.
“Other than the lump I had no other symptoms whatsoever.
"It felt completely random and the diagnosis was such a shock.”
Sophie, having worked as an oncology nurse, already knew how the process would work.
She said: "When I was diagnosed it was extremely overwhelming. Usually you drip feed patient information as it is way too much to take on at once.
"I didn’t have that luxury and instead was instantly aware of facing surgery, chemo, losing my hair and becoming infertile at such a young age.
"I think my job did help in a way as I didn’t have the expected anxieties about chemo. I knew what would happen, I knew the drugs, and I knew and trusted the people giving it to me which saved a lot of worrying."
Since the shocking diagnosis, Sophie underwent a lumpectomy (surgery to remove the lump).
She had six cycles of chemotherapy, 10 lots of radiotherapy, amid egg collection for fertility preservation.
She said: “It felt really strange receiving chemotherapy drugs I’d given to other patients before, like an out of body experience.
“I was also in disbelief seeing my name on the chemo bag and having my details checked when it was usually me on the other side.
“It caused distress as being unwell meant I couldn’t work for a while which made me anxious – especially seeing my colleagues continue working and looking after me.”
Symptoms of breast cancer
- Change in breast size or shape
- Redness or rash
- Nipple discharge
- Swelling in the armpit or around the collarbone
- Change in skin texture
- An inverted nipple
- Constant pain
Her worst fears came true when her hair started coming out as a result of the treatment, including her eyebrows and eyelashes.
In February, Sophie decided to brave the shave after her second round of chemotherapy and chopped her hair off, opting to wear headscarves.
Sophie is now on maintenance hormone therapy for the next 10 years which includes injections, tablets and IV infusions every six months, alongside yearly MRIs.
She has been told that her illness is likely to return within the next two years.
During her treatment, Sophie needed to take 10 months off work and now says that since coming back in July, her view on her job has changed.
She said: "I have much more empathy towards patients now and feel like I have a unique understanding.”
But being a cancer patient herself, Sophie struggles with energy and has a constant reminder of her illness around her.
She said: "The typical NHS with short staff, being overworked and not getting breaks leaves me run down and exhausted.
"It’s sometimes hard to process looking after patients and supporting patients through cancer when it means running myself into the ground when in reality I probably need the support myself."
Sophie added: "I’d just love to spread awareness that cancer can affect you at a young age even with no family history, no genetics, no risk factors other than taking the contraceptive pill.
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"Early detection has saved my life so it’s so important to check monthly and push to get things checked out.
"You are never wasting anyone’s time."
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