Miles and milestones: Megan's journey
“Feeling your boobs once a month can save your life."
Last week I met with Megan. A 26 year old from Suffolk, a lover of musicals, being with her friends and family, reading, and getting outside for walks. In July of this year, Megan was diagnosed with breast cancer.
After initially being turned away by her GP in 2025, to then be diagnosed just one year later, was a shock for Megan, to say the least.
In Megan’s words
“It wasn’t until being on holiday with my mum in Malta [June this year] and we had just come back from the pool, I was getting ready to shower, and I just catch a dimple in the corner of my eye… where the lump before was.
“I took a picture of it, told my mum and she told me to book a doctor's appointment. So I did that whilst I was on holiday.
“It was really weird as with my health anxiety, I instantly go down that route of I’ve got this, I’ve got that. But as soon as I saw the dimple I didn't feel anything. I was texting my friends and didn’t feel anxious because I know it was something real.
“But everyone around me was just saying it's nothing and I don't have anything to worry about.
“I went to the doctor; he had a look at it and said if it wasn’t for the dimple we wouldn’t refer you, but because there is one there, we will. Thank god he did.”
"The dismissal I received could’ve lead to a much worse outcome if it wasn’t for that dimple appearing."
Going back to February of 2025, Megan went to what would technically be her first appointment of her cancer journey, although unknowingly at the time.
Megan rightfully booked herself to see her GP as she noticed a lump forming on her breast and wanted to get it checked out. As she suffers from health anxiety, naturally she wanted to rule out the worst as soon as she could. Which is exactly what happened, as in the aftermath of this appointment one year ago, Megan was advised it was just her hormones, as she is so young, she has nothing to worry about, and it's just a fatty tissue. Megan got what she believed was the all clear.
When Megan noticed the change in the lump she decided it would be wise to get it rechecked. Since moving back to Suffolk, it felt like a wise thing to do and smart to see a different care team and get a second opinion.
"Every time I felt the lump between seeing the doctors in February 2025 and the dimple appearing, I just thought that’s how my tissue was."
“I went to the referral in Ipswich on my own because I just thought it would be fine, went to the scan and got sent for an ultrasound and biopsy. I started to get a bit nervous but just thought they are just being cautious. I would rather them be more cautious than not. At the biopsy, I then got referred for a mammogram. Again, just telling myself they were being cautious.
“The lady who did the ultrasound did the biopsy, and said, ‘It is a mass,’ and I just burst into tears. My dad works in the clinic next door, so they got him, which was really nice. Put us in this small room and said, ‘We are pretty sure you’ve got breast cancer.’ I just sat with my hands over my face, like, ‘What the hell?’ and my dad was just asking all the questions, whilst I was sobbing.
“From that moment, it has been so surreal. I had just under a week, and I got the biopsy results back. They told me it was a grade 2 tumour. Which is different to stages. At this point, they said it was measuring 4cm.”
"I am definitely really frustrated that it wasn’t taken seriously a year ago, as that could have made all the difference, but everyone at Ipswich Hospital has been really amazing."
More commonly in the media, cancer is referred to in stages. This term ‘Stage’ is used to identify the size of the cancer, and whether it has spread from where it began.
The ‘Grade’ of the cancer, refers to how abnormal the cancer cells are in comparison to healthy cells. This is used to identify how quickly the cancer may grow, or how it is likely to spread.
Stages and Grades typically range from 1, meaning it is developing slowly and has been caught early. To 4, which means it has developed quickly and is a more aggressive form of cancer.
“What really shocked me was the actual size of my tumour. It's actually 5.5cm, which if you look at it, it's the length of an egg, and the width of an egg. I asked them to take a picture of it, I was shocked; how was that in me!”
“After the diagnosis me and my boyfriend went away to Sicily, which we had pre-planned. I think that was the best thing for me. I decided I am not going to be miserable in Sicily, I am going to eat all the Italian food and drink all the Hugo spirits."
“As soon as we came back I had an appointment the next day. I had surgery and it turned out it was a grade 3 tumour, which means it is more aggressive.
“Which means I am having chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
“Hearing those words was the most terrifying thing ever. I think because of what cancer is associated with. In film and books, it's always people dying and who are frail. So I definitely got that into my head.
“One of the hardest things for me now is being the youngest in the room. I never thought this would be something I would be dealing with at this age. Or naively, I never thought I would have to experience this ever. None of it feels real; it feels like I am floating in someone else's life."
“I have tried to keep positive and not let myself fall into despair. I have really down days, but I try and keep my head up most of the time. I feel like positivity goes a long way with your health, and it's not a magic medicine, but I think it can definitely help you throughout your journey.”
Since Megan’s diagnosis, she has been receiving treatment at Ipswich Hospital. She has two core people who are at every appointment with her, a team of breast cancer nurses and consultants who also help with appointments, treatment, care, and any medical advice.
“They have been really great at getting appointments fitted in around my lifestyle.
“My breast care nurses and Consultant have been amazing. I don’t look forward to my appointments, but I look forward to seeing them.
“One of my nurses who wasn’t in the room one time with me, I heard a knock on the door and she came in and said ‘I saw your name was on the board so I wanted to come in and see you’
“It's bittersweet; I don't want people to know me at the hospital, but it's nice that they make a big deal. The team at Ipswich have made the process so much better, and different, if it wasn’t for them I would be so much more anxious all the time.”
Fundraising and the future
Megan’s story doesn’t stop there, determined to continue normality in her life and take control on what she does have power over, Megan will embark on two fundraisers over the next few months.
The first being a charity rounders tournament this Sunday 13th September at 12pm, Freston Village Hall. A £5 donation to be made to get involved, with lots of prizes up for grabs including a Spa Weekend for two, Sony wireless headphones, Jellycats and MORE!
Megan will also be taking part in the London Landmarks half Marathon on Sunday 4th April 2027. In aid of Breast Cancer Now, Megan is on a mission to raise as much money as she can, and make it through the race (her words not ours) for Breast Cancer Now. She hopes to raise even more awareness, especially to young people and their breasts.
“I have been planning a charity rounders match all the time I have been recovering from surgery, and it's nice to put my thoughts somewhere else, on something really important.
“I have been talking to Breast Cancer Now and they told me the amount I have raised already is enough money to fund 28 hours in the lab. It was really interesting to read it like that. I am really looking forward to it. Somewhere else to put my effort in and something to look forward to.
“Fundraising has been great, as it shows me how many people I have supporting me and how generous people are.
“Me and my boyfriend now don't ever say good news or bad news, it's just news. And we always want something to look forward to, to have that normality back for a second.”
From the very first appointment, Megan described her experience as a complete whirlwind. Within just three weeks, she had undergone a Biopsy, and received her final diagnosis of Grade 3 Breast Cancer.
Looking ahead, Megan knows what the road ahead looks like with Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy, but shared there is no exact time frame of when this will begin. The main focus for now is getting healthy, as she has been advised by her medical team that once they believe her body is ready they will begin finalising the next steps of treatment.
Megan described herself as a naturally inquisitive person, and she would quite like to know the exacts of when everything will be happening. But with the nature of her diagnosis, it is much better and generally more mentally digestible to take each day as it comes.
"There is always so much information on each appointment my mind would just be blown.”
Megan's message to you
“I have had a few people message me now saying they have never checked their breasts before but they do now, because of me. They always do it in the shower now!
“I must admit, I was always a bit scared to check myself, as I didn't really know what I was looking for or what I was feeling for. My friends have asked to feel mine to know what they are feeling for which is good.
“I have learnt a lot as well on this journey, about cancer. The one thing I have learnt and encourage is knowing what is normal to you. Boobs do have bumps and tissue. It's important to check around the boob, neck and armpit for anything abnormal.
“I have seen a lot of charities sharing to check your boobs on the first of every month, so you don't forget. So every time I see that I share it onto my Instagram story.
“If ever in doubt, and you are not sure, then go to the doctor. I really want people to push if they think something is wrong. When a doctor says it's okay, it's so easy to just agree and say okay; a second opinion is also important."
“In terms of advocating for yourself, I would say get to know your boobs, get to know what is normal. If something doesn't feel right, whether that's in your boobs or somewhere in your body, just making that first appointment, fight for yourself, no one will advocate for you more than yourself. And it could potentially save your life. Feeling your boobs once a month can save your life."
“Check in on people and letting people know you are there. Even if it's just a ‘thinking of you' message. Even if you don't know how to approach someone, just do it anyways; it will always be appreciated.”
Details of Megan’s fundraiser
Please consider joining Megan's mission in fundraising for Breast Cancer Now and push towards making a difference for many women like Megan in the UK.
