I was told I had anxiety but it turned out to be breast cancer — SkimNews
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- Beth Jenkins noticed a pea-sized breast lump in 2018 and was told it was likely glandular tissue, with no biopsy performed at the time
- Beth Jenkins returned in October 2024 after the lump grew significantly post-pregnancy and was told she was 'too young' for breast cancer, with a locum GP suggesting 'medical anxiety' or infection
- Beth Jenkins was diagnosed with 5cm lobular breast cancer on 14 November 2024, with the disease already spread to three lymph nodes
- Dr Lee Campbell from Cancer Research Wales stated that while rare, 100–115 women under 40 are diagnosed with breast cancer annually in Wales and age should not block referral
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines specify urgent referral for unexplained breast lumps in those 40 and under, but research shows inconsistent application by GPs
- Beth Jenkins underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, suffered neutropenic sepsis, and was told a 24-hour delay would have been fatal
- Beth Jenkins founded Breast Fest, a charity event that raised £6,000 for Merthyr Cancer Aid, marking two years since her diagnosis
Why it matters: Women under 40 with breast symptoms risk delayed diagnosis when GPs dismiss concerns due to age, even though NICE guidelines require urgent referral—this gap in primary care enforcement can turn treatable cancer into a life-threatening delay, as seen in Jenkins’ near-fatal case.
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