Cancer survivor Jenny Steele tells her story

Some young women, I was one of them, don’t really know for sure that they could even get breast cancer at a young age, most think it’s a mum or granny illness,” says Jenny Steele.

She found out the hard way that younger women certainly can get the disease.

But thanks to the organisation Coppafeel – which is dedicated to spreading that message – she persevered with her quest for diagnosis and has responded well to treatment.

Now she’s a Boobette, one of a group of young women attending events and sharing their stories to raise awareness for the charity which she credits with saving her life.

Jenny was enjoying a holiday in Philadelphia for a friend’s wedding in 2009 when she found a lump in her breast.

Back home in Oxfordshire she booked an appointment with her GP.

“She had a quick check and told me that it was most likely a hormonal cyst and to wait until my next cycle as it will most like disappear by itself,” says Jenny, 31, of Thame.

It didn’t and, by then, suffering stabbing pains, she returned to the doctor’s.

“I was told the same thing, the risk category is 35 years old therefore it couldn’t possibly be anything sinister since I don’t have any family history as a close enough link.”

But with the lump still there and the pain still happening Jenny booked another appointment.

“I had heard young women could get breast cancer so I wasn’t happy to be turned away another time,” she says.

Then fate intervened in the form of a magazine article about Kris Hallenga, who started Coppafeel after being diagnosed with terminal breast cancer aged 23, which Jenny spotted in her mum’s copy of Good Housekeeping.

“This is when a very large lump formed in my throat and I knew I was going to have to push,” she says.

Armed with Good Housekeeping she went back to the doctor’s and demanded to be referred to a consultant.

Within a week she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

“The day of going in to collect my results was a Monday, I was actually going to go alone as I had convinced myself it was all going to be ok and that is couldn’t possibly be anything that bad.

“Luckily, I have a very sensible and supportive boyfriend who categorically would not take no for an answer,” recalls Jenny, who lives with Gareth and “our very spotty Dalmatian, Bailey”.

When she was given the bad news she remembers blurting out: “Oh, I’m like Kylie Minogue, if she can beat it so can I!

“All I wanted to do was to know how we were going to fix this, I needed a plan of action. I was actually pretty calm,” she says.

First on that plan of action was to remove the lump and run tests on the tumour and lymph nodes they removed at the same time. They came back clear.

Jenny and Gareth also underwent fertility treatment in case the chemotherapy caused any damage. We decided to fertilise my eggs with my boyfriend’s sperm and since March 2010 we have been the proud parents of two frozen embryos tucked away nice and chilled in Great Missenden Hospital,” says Jenny.

“One day when we are ready to start a family we hope to use them, but if we are lucky enough to conceive naturally we hope to be able to help another couple who have been through something similar.”

Then came the ordeal of chemotherapy - six courses every three weeks.

“I had a chemo called FEC. All I could think of and say is FEC like on Father Ted,” says Jenny. “I was lucky and it didn’t make me sick but it was possibly the worst experience I have ever been though.”

During the treatment, Jenny lost her hair.

“Being a natural redhead and a rare one that actually loves it, this was horrendous, as I’m sure it would be for any woman, I know I’m not alone. I went from Goldilocks to baldilocks.

“Piling on the pounds and barely managing to get out of bed for the first four days after each session I still somehow managed to get into work to try gain some normality,” says Jenny, an account manager for Asian Sourcing Link.

She also underwent radiotherapy and takes Tamoxifen – a five year course which ends next August.

Jenny is full of praise for her “amazing” boyfriend, family and friends who helped her through the experience.

“In January 2015 it will be five years from my diagnosis,” says Jenny.

“Physically, my scars have healed very well although I still find it very difficult to deal with mentally.

“I think as each milestone gets closer I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and I am petrified that something is going to happen.

“Once I finish Tamoxifen my boyfriend and I are looking forward to trying for a family, this is something we would like more than anything in the world.

“ I am trying very hard to stay positive in my life and taking what I can from my experience. I’m not sure if this is ever going to be something I can mentally recover from but at least I know how important it is to be aware of how I am feeling and to talk to people about it.

“The Boobettes help me with looking after my mind more than they will know.”

JENNY TELLS HOW SHE JOINED THE BOOBETTES

I couldn’t help myself after telling my family and friends about my news but to email Kris at Coppafeel.

“I wanted to say thank you to her, there aren’t many people in the world lucky enough to be able to honestly say someone saved their life. Kris saved mine.

“Without Kris and her wonderful support network working so hard to set up the Coppafeel charity to bring awareness and educate young women on the signs and symptoms of breast cancer I would not be able to sit here today and say I have been through my journey with the best result possible, cancer free.

“I owe my life to Kris and wish I could dedicate all of my time to helping to continue their amazing work. Coppafeel promote awareness of the signs and symptoms and encourages young people through fun methods of education to get to know their bodies now.

“Luckily I knew mine so I noticed when something had changed, I really want to encourage everyone to take responsibility for their own bodies, if there are any changes, get it checked out, if the GP brushes it over, and you are still not sure its normal have the courage to push to take it forward for further checks.

“The Boobettes are a wonderfully amazing group of young women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 35, have had a breast cancer scare at a young age or a strong connection to the disease.

“Using our own stories we try to inspire other people to think differently about their lives and bodies, educating about the importance of getting to know your boobs now and making it a life-long habit.

“I am privileged to say I am the first person that contacted Coppafeel to say thank you and tell them how they have changed my life and saved my life, since then I have been lucky to work with the Coppafeel team to help bring this important message to others.”

More information on the Boobettes can be found on coppafeel.org 

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