Mum's Unexpected Breast Cancer Symptom: A Vital Warning for All Women
When Gemma Fish, a 43-year-old charity worker from Salford, Greater Manchester, noticed her right breast gradually shrinking, she initially attributed it to normal post-pregnancy changes. After giving birth to her daughter Rosie in late 2021, Gemma observed her breast reducing in size over the following year, eventually becoming three cup sizes smaller than her left breast.
The Turning Point: An Inverted Nipple
Fourteen months later, when her nipple became inverted, Gemma decided it was time to seek medical advice. On February 17, 2023, she received the devastating diagnosis: breast cancer. As a single mother, Gemma admits she never considered breast shrinkage as a potential indicator of a tumor.
'I put it all down to pregnancy changes,' Gemma tells Metro. 'It didn't even enter my mind that it would be anything along those lines at all. I purely just thought a symptom of breast cancer would be finding a lump and that it would be quite easy to find. I didn't know that changes in breast size was a potential symptom.'
A Grueling Treatment Journey
Gemma's cancer journey has been arduous, involving:
- Countless chemotherapy sessions
- Radiotherapy treatments
- Removal of both ovaries
- Two mastectomies
Initially diagnosed with stage one breast cancer, doctors explained that her right breast had shrunk to the size of the tumor beneath her skin. 'It was just really, really surreal,' Gemma recalls. 'I was thinking: "I'm a single mum, I just don't have any ability to deal with the logistics of being poorly."'
The Progression to Stage Four
In March 2023, four weeks after diagnosis, Gemma underwent a single mastectomy on her right breast, followed by aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The following January brought more difficult news: her cancer was 'oestrogen fed,' requiring removal of both ovaries.
Tragically, testing revealed cancer cells in her ovaries, indicating the disease had spread and progressed to stage four. While this means her cancer is incurable, Gemma maintains faith in her treatment plan.
'Living with stage four cancer is completely different now compared to how it was years ago,' she explains. 'It's no longer a straight death sentence so to speak. There's lots of ladies that live long lives on various different treatment lines.'
Life After Double Mastectomy
Nearly three years after her initial diagnosis, Gemma has had both breasts removed, opting against reconstructive surgery. 'When I had the single mastectomy I just lived asymmetric,' she shares. 'Since then I now just live flat chested, which was a massive adjustment. It was easier to live with one breast than to live with no breasts which sounds bizarre, but it was a massive mental toll getting used to my body again.'
How to Check for Breast Cancer Signs
Organizations like CoppaFeel! recommend these simple steps for breast self-examination:
- Look: Examine your breasts, pecs, or chest area from armpit to collarbone. Note any changes in size, outline, shape, or skin texture like puckering or dimpling.
- Feel: Systematically feel each breast area, checking for lumps, bumps, skin thickening, or texture changes different from the opposite side.
- Notice Your Nipples: Observe for discharge (not milky), bleeding, rashes, crusting that doesn't heal, or changes in nipple position.
A Message of Urgency and Hope
Gemma's primary goal now is living 'as happily as we can and enjoy as many things as we can' with her daughter Rosie. 'I think that's the one thing that cancer teaches you is that our time is the most important thing in the world,' she reflects.
She urgently advises other women: 'If I had not ignored it and not buried my head in the sand it would have been caught a hell of a lot sooner. The whole treatment plan would have been completely different from what I've ended up doing, and possibly avoided it spreading.'
The Stark Statistics
According to Cancer Research UK:
- 56,900 new breast cancer cases occur annually in the UK
- A woman is diagnosed every 9 minutes
- A man is diagnosed daily
- Without intervention, by 2040 a woman will be diagnosed every 8 minutes
Gemma's story serves as a powerful reminder that breast cancer symptoms extend beyond lumps to include subtle changes like shrinkage or nipple inversion. Her message is clear: it's better to be safe than sorry. Any noticeable changes warrant immediate consultation with a healthcare professional.
