New mum who blamed boob lump on pregnancy left shocked at breast cancer diagnosis at just 26 years old
WHEN Lisa Gentles noticed a lump in her breast, she put it down to the fact she'd had a baby a few months earlier.
But the new mum couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Weeks later, her instincts were proved correct when she received a devastating breast cancer diagnosis aged just 26.
The mum-of-one told The Sun Online: "Initially I just felt something wasn't right, but I just put it down to how your breasts change when you've had a baby.
"But over time the more it played on my mind, and I thought maybe it's not."
After a couple of days, Lisa, who is mum to Isabelle, now three, went to the GP - and was told due to her age and the feel of her breast tissue, cancer seemed unlikely.
In fact, she was only referred for a mammogram due to legal requirements.
But, because her breast tissue was too tight for a mammogram - which is common in younger women - she was sent for an ultrasound.
Lisa, who works in events management, was so confident there was nothing to worry about that she went to her ultrasound appointment alone.
But, the scan revealed a terrifyingly reality - there was a growth, and medics warned there was a 50/50 chance it could be cancer.
The 28-year-old explained: "I didn't ever think it would be cancer because of my age. I thought 'it'll be a cyst or a bit of gristle', but then it played on my mind.
"The thing was, I went on my own because I thought it was going to be nothing. So my husband went to work, my mum had my little girl and I went on my own."
She added: "When they said to me you've got a 50/50 chance that it's cancer I was just in shock.
"It took seven days for the biopsy to come back and I don't think I can remember an awful lot about that week, it was just a blur."
After receiving the shattering diagnosis that she was suffering stage 2 breast cancer in August 2014, Lisa was put through a gruelling six rounds of chemotherapy at the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton-on-Tees.
Doctors wanted to find out if the cancer would respond to treatment before performing a mastectomy.
Every three weeks, Lisa bravely endured the intensive treatment, supported by her husband Dean, also 28.
The chemotherapy saw nurses inject the drugs directly into her veins - an experience so traumatic Lisa suffered panic attacks.
She said: "It got harder as it went on, Sometimes they couldn't find the vein, and it wold take three nurses to try and find a vein anywhere in my body.
"It was awful. I'd never ever suffered with panic attacks in my life, but during the third chemotherapy appointment my body just shut down. I just blacked out."
As a result of the treatment, Lisa, from Stockton-on-Tees, was even almost forced to miss baby Isabelle's first birthday - as she was hospitalised when the strong chemotherapy drugs caused her to vomit almost constantly.
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She said: "I had my first chemo a week before her first birthday, and I was really poorly.
"I couldn't even move without throwing up, there was nothing left in me, I had no energy.
"I just kept saying to them, I'm not bothered what you do to me, as long as I get home for her birthday, I cannot be in hospital.
"I made it home the day before her first birthday, and she decided to take her first steps as well on the day I got home. I think everything came at once, it was lovely."
And it wasn't easy being a mum while undergoing treatment, as Lisa found herself so drained and weak she couldn't even lift her baby girl from her cot.
She said: "I feel like I missed out on six months of Isabelle’s life.
"It was hard because she was so young she didn't understand why mammy couldn't pick her up or why I couldn't do things.
"I used to take her to a lot of baby and toddler groups, which I couldn't because my immune system was too low so I couldn't risk picking up chickenpox or anything like that.
She added: "My husband was amazing, he works full time, but after every chemo he'd be off for three days so he could look after me or Isabelle.
Don’t ever think it can’t happen to you – I was naive really. If i’d have left it any longer, things could’ve been completely different
Lisa Gentles
"I did struggle because I don't like relying on other people.
"But I just kept thinking if I can get through this I'll be there for her in the future, that was my main focus."
Fortunately, tests carried out after Lisa's third round of chemotherapy revealed the cancer was shrinking faster than doctors had expected.
Twelve weeks later she finished her treatment - on her own birthday.
Then, Lisa had four weeks to enjoy Christmas with her family before undergoing a mastectomy and latissimus dorsi reconstruction in January 2015, which used skin and muscle from her back to create a new breast.
Four months later, Lisa and Dean, a mechanical engineer, were able to finally have their dream wedding in Cyprus - after being together for 10 years.
And on the big day, despite having her second NHS wig specially styled for the occasion, Lisa made the courageous decision to walk down the aisle without it - instead asking a hairdresser pal to blow-dry her super-short locks.
She explained: "I didn't want to look back at photos and think 'that's not me', so in the end I just went with my own hair.
Symptoms of breast cancer
- A new lump or area of thickened tissue in the bresat
- A change in size or shape of one or both breasts
- Bloodstained discharge from either nipple
- A lump or swelling in either armpit, or around the collarbone
- Dimpling on the skin of the breats
- A rash around the nipple
- A change in the appearance of the nipple, such as becoming inverted
"Even though my hair was really really short, I just got my friend to blow dry it on the day.
"Dean said to me, the first thing he noticed when I was walking towards him was the fact I didn't have my wig on, and how beautiful I looked.
"He was so proud that I didn't have it on and the fact I could do it without the wig."
Now, brave Lisa is looking forward to being there for her daughter and her husband - and wants to warn other women that it doesn't matter how old you are, if something doesn't feel right, it's vital to get it checked.
She said: "Don't ever think it can't happen to you - I was naive really. If i'd have left it any longer, things could've been completely different.
"Someone said to me they thought I was the youngest they'd ever had at the hospital with breast cancer, and a lot of the doctors I came across were shocked at how young I was.
"Make sure you check yourself.
"The earlier you catch it the better chance you've got of them being able to do something."
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