A 40-year-old woman is battling stage four breast cancer that had spread throughout her body, including to her brain, after a series of symptoms were initially attributed to a chest infection. Ella Cieslak experienced a persistent cough, fatigue, itchy skin, and other ailments for months before being diagnosed with an aggressive form of HER2-positive breast cancer.
Cieslak first sought medical attention in September 2025 for stomach pain, itchy skin, and changes in bowel habits. After being treated for a common stomach infection, her blood tests came back normal. She returned to her GP surgery multiple times over the following months, seeing a nurse on each occasion for symptoms including extreme fatigue and pain down the left side of her body. Despite further blood tests in March 2026, which included checks on thyroid, liver, and kidney function, all results were reported as normal.
By May 2026, Cieslak developed a severe, dry cough that made it difficult to sleep, walk, or speak. She finally secured an appointment with a GP two weeks later, who suspected an infection but ordered a chest X-ray due to the combination of her symptoms. An abnormal X-ray result led to further investigations, including a CT scan and an MRI of her brain. It was during a follow-up appointment that a radiologist informed her the scans revealed the presence of multiple tumours in her brain and that the disease had spread to her lungs, lymph nodes, liver, and spine.
A subsequent biopsy confirmed she had HER2-positive breast cancer, an aggressive subtype. Unlike many breast cancer cases, Cieslak had not felt a lump or noticed any visible changes to her breasts. According to a major UK study, approximately one in six women diagnosed after presenting with symptoms do not initially have a palpable lump.
HER2-positive breast cancer, once associated with a poor prognosis, has seen improved treatment outcomes with the development of targeted drugs. Cieslak began chemotherapy with docetaxel, along with targeted drugs trastuzumab and pertuzumab, four days after her diagnosis. She also underwent Gamma Knife radiosurgery to treat 23 tumours identified in her brain.
Doctors have informed Cieslak that her cancer is incurable but treatable, with the aim of controlling the disease. The diagnosis has significantly impacted her life, rendering her unable to work or drive. Cieslak expressed a wish that she had been more assertive in seeking answers for her symptoms earlier.
She also shared that her partner ended their three-year relationship shortly after her diagnosis, citing past trauma. Cieslak is now relying on friends for support and has set up a GoFundMe page to assist with treatment costs, while maintaining a determination to live for years to come and pursue future goals.