Beth Jenkins, 42, was diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer in November 2024, with a 5cm tumor that had spread to three lymph nodes. Her diagnosis came after she was told by a locum GP that she was "too young to have breast cancer" and that her concerns about a growing lump might be related to postnatal depression or an infection.
Jenkins first noticed a small lump in her breast in 2018, but an ultrasound at the time found no cause for concern. Years later, after giving birth to her daughter Robyn, she noticed the lump had significantly increased in size. When she revisited her GP practice in October 2024, at age 40, she was dismissed with the suggestion of "medical anxiety" and prescribed antibiotics.
"I haven't got medical anxiety, otherwise I'd be up the hospital and doctors' every week," Jenkins stated.
She was eventually referred to a breast clinic, where she received her diagnosis. The news was a shock to Jenkins and her father, and she initially hid the severity of her condition from her eldest daughter, Fallon, telling her she had a "boob job" after a mastectomy. After starting chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which led to hair loss, Jenkins made the decision to fully inform her children about her cancer.
She later experienced severe complications from further treatment, including neutropenic sepsis, with doctors telling her that prompt hospital admission saved her life. Keir Hardie Health Park, where Jenkins was treated, stated they could not discuss individual patient cases but advised patients to seek a second appointment if they had ongoing health concerns.