Advertisement

Women diagnosed with breast cancer 48 hours after discovering a few ‘small’ symptoms

<i>Photo via GoFundMe</i>
Photo via GoFundMe

According to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, breast cancer will affect one in eight women during their lifetime. While we all know what to look for when it comes to self examinations, some symptoms are easier to miss than others.

A 33-year-old woman noticed a slight change to her nipple, and after seeing an article shared to Facebook about the symptoms of breast cancer, she decided to visit her doctor. Tara Simmons, from Brisbane, Australia, was diagnosed with breast cancer just 48 hours after noticing her nipple didn’t seem “as perky.”

“Within another 48 hours I had a preliminary diagnosis of breast cancer, then a formal diagnosis once my biopsy came back. It was really quick,” she told the Daily Mail.

Once her biopsy came back, Simmons was fully diagnosed with with triple negative multi focal breast cancer. Despite starting treatment within weeks of her diagnosis, Simmons can’t have targeted therapy due to the nature of her type of cancer. She doesn’t have any hormone receptors — meaning her cancer can’t receive the same targeted therapy as estrogen and progesterone receptive cancers do.

<i>Photo via GoFundMe</i>
Photo via GoFundMe

As a result, the mental health professional is having neoadjuvant chemotherapy – and is halfway through her current treatment. With another round of chemotherapy booked for Christmas Day, Simmons is a strong advocate for remaining optimistic.

ALSO SEE: Women bare their mastectomy scars for breast cancer awareness

“I have had this horrible thing happen which I thought I would react to quite badly but I have reacted to quite well,” she said. “I am really thankful that I have just been able to get along and do what I do.”

Simmons has a mastectomy scheduled for the new year, as well as radio therapy. Depending on how her tumours respond, she may also require further chemo. While Simmons admits she has noticed some fatigue and pain, she has been able to continue her work, part time.

<i>Photo via GoFundMe</i>
Photo via GoFundMe

“I haven’t had a lot of nausea, I have had fatigue and aches and pains, but right from the get go I have really invested in exercise and that’s been really helpful with combating what they call ‘chemo brain’,” she said.

Friends and family have been supporting the 33-year-old through a GoFundMe page to help assist with medical costs over the coming months. Simmons also maintains a closed Facebook page where she writes about her progress and journey with cancer. She admits social media has been a support system for her since the very beginning.

“When I first got diagnosed I posted on Facebook to let everyone know what was going on. I wanted to tell as many people as possible so that if people ran into me and I looked like crap, they’d know why,” she said.

ALSO SEE: This can not be happening’: 35-year-old mom shares breast cancer journey

<em>Photo via GoFundMe</em>
Photo via GoFundMe

Simmons confessed her diagnosis has changed the way she lives her life, inspiring her to fully commit to her goals and dreams.

“I am lining up everything in my life and thinking about what I want to achieve,” she said. “I am a musician as well and if I am going to be gone soon I want to release more music, it’s made me prioritise some of that stuff that I thought I had a bit more time with.”

“It’s making me think about those things that are really important to me, and getting them done.”

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA!
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.