Lea underwent many surgeries, including a mastectomy and IV chemo for more than a year – which has got her cancer under control (pic: The Sun/iStock)
For more than two years, Lea Hughes was told by doctors that her common cancer signs were just because of imbalanced hormones. And now, the 38-year-old is riddled with tumours all over her body.
Lea said she first spotted a small lump on her right breast but was told that her “lumpy boobs” were due to high hormonal levels in the body. However, after some time, the lump became a dimple, and she was referred for an emergency mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy.
The results were terrifying for Lea, who was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer – which had spread to her liver and bones. Confronted with an incurable diagnosis, Lea tried everything possible – from medications, therapies, and treatments to stabilise her cancer and prevent it from spreading further. Last year, Lea found out that her cancer had infected her brain and lungs too.
"When the doctor first told me I had lumpy boobs, I'd never heard of it before,” said Lea, a former fashion and retail marketer. "But years on, I saw the lump had grown when I was putting a bikini on and I spotted a shadow caused by the lump,” she added.
Lea underwent many surgeries – including a mastectomy and IV chemo for more than a year – which has got her cancer under control. However, time and again she got scans done – which showed her liver tumours were progressing. "It's one of those things; with stage four breast cancer, you know it can spread to the brain, and you do worry. But I didn't expect it then, because I had no symptoms at all," she said.
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is among the most common cancers that affect women. According to doctors, it happens when cancerous cells in your breasts multiply to become tumours. Experts say more than 80 per cent of breast cancer cases are invasive – which means a tumour spreads from your breast to other areas of your body.
Breast cancer typically affects women who are aged 50 years and older but can also affect those who are younger.
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer
The condition can affect your breasts in different ways. Some breast cancer symptoms are very distinctive. Others may simply seem like areas of your breast that look very different from any other area. A few symptoms you may notice include:
- A change in the size, shape, or contour of your breast
- A mass or lump – which may feel as small as a pea
- A lump or thickening in or near your breast or in your underarms that persists through your menstrual cycle
- A change in the look or feel of your skin on your breast or nipple
- A marble-like hardened area under your skin
- A blood-stained or clear fluid discharge
