Mum-of-two told she was ‘too young’ for breast cancer dies weeks after her wedding day at just 31
A MUM-of-two has died after doctors deemed her to be ‘too young’ to have breast cancer.
Sinead Richards visited her GP a couple of months after she first found a lump on her breast in late 2019.
At the time the pastoral mentor was just 29-years-old and had put off visiting her GP as she didn’t think it would be cancer.
In early 2020 she visited the doctors and initially nothing was found, as she was believed to be ‘too young’ to suffer from breast cancer.
Her husband Liam MdDonagh, 33, urged her to return to the surgery and to their shock she was diagnosed with Stage Four breast cancer, which had spread all over her body.
Despite her diagnosis, Sinead looked the picture of happiness when she tied the knot with Liam on August 19.
The pair had been together for 12 years and have two daughters together, Paige, seven and Georgie 10.
Sadly, Sinead died less than a month after their wedding on September 10, just 31-years-old.
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How to check for breast cancer?
There is a five-step self exam you can do at home to check for any changes.
- Step one: Begin by looking in a mirror, facing it with your arms on your hips and your shoulders straight. You should be looking for any dimpling, puckering, bulging skin, redness, soreness, a rash or changes in the nipple.
- Step two: Still looking in the mirror, raise both arms above your head and check for the same changes.
- Step three: With your arms still above your head, check for any fluid coming from the nipples. This can include milky, yellow or watery fluid, or blood.
- Step four: While lying down use your opposite hand to check each breast. Using a few fingers, keeping them flat and together, go in a small circular motion around your breasts. Make sure you feel the entire breast by going top to bottom in these small circles. It helps to develop a system or pattern to make sure every inch is covered. Use light pressure for the skin and tissue just beneath, medium pressure for the tissue in the middle of your breasts, and firm pressure to feel the tissue at the back, feeling down to your ribcage.
- Step five: Feel your breasts while either standing or sitting, using the same small circular motions.
Her heartbroken widower Liam told : "Everyone was smiling all day. She was very unwell but it really showed what she was like, she battled to get there and put on a brave face.
"It was mind over matter. She got herself there and that is all she wanted.
"It has had a huge impact on our lives. She was amazing, she was such a lovely person.
"Nobody she ever met had a bad word to say about her, everyone loved her. It is just so tragic.
"When we were in the hospital, people would give us a second glance as they couldn't believe how young we were. She was only 31, we couldn't believe it."
KNOW THE SIGNS
Around one in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer, although recovery chances are high if detected early.
Breast cancer often causes changes in the breast, including an alteration in the shape or size in both or one of your breasts.
Sometimes there may be a lump which feels thicker or harder than the rest of the tissue and there are other changes to look out for such as rashes and nipple distortion.
Liam is now urging other women to check their breasts and go to their GP with concerns - regardless of age.
He added: "If her story helps even one more person to get checked, this will have all been worthwhile. She was the most amazing person.
"I just want to show that this can happen to anyone and urge people to get checked if they ever notice anything."
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A fundraiser has been launched on to support the family and help with costs of a funeral which will take place on October 7.
A fun day at a local pub and a canal ride from Leeds to Liverpool have been organised in the fundraising drive - and more than £3,000 has been raised so far.
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