A never-ending cold was the first sign of the deadliest form of breast cancer that doctors said I was ‘too young’ to get

It’s an array of symptoms that will be familiar to most busy Britons, especially in wintertime. 

In early 2020, Natasha May, then 27, found herself suddenly blighted by exhaustion and a general feeling of being run down.

Over the course of the cold season, she found herself picking up every bug going.

But, as a teacher, she assumed it was just part of the job.

She never expected the collection of symptoms to signal something serious. 

In fact, they turned out to be the first, little-known sign of a particularly deadly form of breast cancer, which she was told she was ‘too young’ to get. 

Shockingly, the receptionist’s dismissive words were delivered during a phone call to ask for advice about a symptom that’s synonymous with the disease – a lump.

Weeks after the chilling words, Natasha would receive a devastating diagnosis: triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease that is more commonly diagnosed in younger women.

This type of disease is more difficult to treat than other types. Overall, women with triple-negative disease have a five-year survival rate of about 79 per cent, compared with around 91 per cent for breast cancer overall.

‘As soon as I felt it in the shower, I knew something was wrong,’ says Natasha, now 34, from Hertfordshire. 

‘My body’s natural reaction was to sit down because I felt like I was going to pass out.

‘It had appeared out of the blue. It wasn’t there the day before, or the day before that.

‘As I had such an extreme reaction, I knew it was something more serious than just a hormonal change.’

Natasha describes the lump as feeling small and hard, like an apricot stone.

But when she phoned her local GP practice, which she did not name, and told them about the lump, she claims they brushed off her concerns.

She recalls a receptionist saying: ‘Don’t be ridiculous. You’re 27. It’ll be hormonal.’

‘They told me to call back in a month or two if I still had symptoms. That didn’t sit right with me,’ she says.

Seeking a second opinion, Natasha saw a private GP, who ran tests. She claims the doctor said he would be shocked if it was cancer because she had no family history of the disease and no obvious symptoms suggesting cancer.

However, because she remained convinced something was wrong, she was referred to a breast clinic.

A week later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

One in seven women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime, around 56,000 a year, making it the most common cancer in the UK.

Triple-negative breast cancer means the cancer cells do not have receptors for oestrogen, progesterone or HER2, so it does not respond to many of the medicines commonly used to treat other types of breast cancer.

Some women with triple-negative breast cancer also have a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. If there is a fault in these genes, it means that cells can grow out of control. This can increase your risk of developing breast cancer.

Organisations like Breast Cancer Now and Cancer Research UK recommend genetic counselling and testing for BRCA mutations for anyone diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, particularly if diagnosed at a younger age.

Robin Woolcock, chairman and founder of the UK Charity for Triple Negative Breast Cancer, says clinical studies have shown that early detection and diagnosis are the most important factors in determining survival in breast cancer.

‘This is even more important in triple-negative breast cancer, as it is among the most challenging forms to treat,’ she says. 

‘All breast cancers are not the same and, because triple-negative breast cancer has no targeted treatments like other forms of the disease, survival rates are significantly worse.

‘If it is found early and treatment begins quickly, there is a good chance of a disease-free future. 

‘Triple-negative breast cancer is increasingly being found in younger, pre-menopausal women before the age at which they are offered mammograms, so breast self-checking is vital for people of all ages.’

Some people with triple-negative breast cancer experience no symptoms initially, which is why regular screening like mammograms is important. 

Natasha’s diagnosis was confirmed after a biopsy carried out at the breast clinic following a mammogram and ultrasound. 

‘It was quite daunting because I already knew it was cancer before they told me, but I didn’t really process what was going on,’ says Natasha.

‘I was drastically younger than everybody else in the waiting room as well, which was quite daunting.

‘A week later, the GP sat me down and told me it was stage one, grade three triple-negative breast cancer.

‘I was quite numb when they told me. I just nodded and said, “right, well, when do we start treatment?”

‘I was surrounded by family who were all sitting there crying, and I think I just went a bit cold, shut down and didn’t react.’

After her diagnosis, Natasha underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy between June and August 2020. 

‘I found it quite lonely and isolating. It really shows you who your friends are, who sticks around, and who checks in,’ says Natasha. 

‘But chemo wasn’t this big, scary, daunting thing that I thought it was going to be, and I made friends with people there. 

‘From feeling the lump to diagnosis, I was quite lucky in how quickly I went through the process because of how fast-growing it was.’

Around six months after her diagnosis, she had a lumpectomy, a surgical procedure that removes a breast tumour and a small rim of surrounding healthy tissue while leaving most of the breast intact. 

Her treatment also included hormone therapy injections to help protect her fertility.

She then underwent around ten rounds of radiotherapy, completing treatment in November 2020. 

‘I don’t think I realised until a couple of years ago the severity of what I went through and what that could have meant for my future,’ says Natasha.

She gave birth to her daughter in 2024 – something which she says helped her process what she had been through.

‘Having my daughter made me realise that if I hadn’t had all this testing done, I wouldn’t be here for her now. I wouldn’t have even had her,’ she says.  

Natasha advises others to know their body and what’s normal for them, pay attention to changes, and advocate for themselves rather than dismissing symptoms or making excuses for them. 

‘There’s no age limit on cancer. It doesn’t discriminate by age, race or gender.

‘You have to be in tune with your body, know your norm, and feel comfortable advocating for yourself.’

 

In the UK, the NHS Breast Screening Programme automatically invites women registered with a GP between the ages of 50 and 53 for their first mammogram, continuing every three years up to age 71. 

However, women aged 40 to 49 can discuss individual risk factors with a doctor, and private screening options exist.

Bupa has recently launched Prevention Pathways, a UK health insurance initiative that uses genetic testing, clinical assessments and AI to predict and prevent serious illness before symptoms appear.

Their breast cancer pathway uses digital triage and genetic testing, such as BRCA, to spot high-risk individuals and offer preventive medications or risk-reducing surgery.

Nikki Barraclough, chief executive of the charity Prevent Breast Cancer, says: ‘Early detection is absolutely vital for improving outcomes, and anyone who notices changes in their breasts or has concerns should speak to their doctor.

‘No one should be afraid to ask for a second opinion or a specialist appointment if something doesn’t feel right. After all, you know your body best.’

Cassie Kingswell, clinical nurse specialist at Breast Cancer Now, says: ‘Although uncommon, younger women must be empowered to know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and the importance of regular breast checking. 

‘We say it’s as simple as TLC: Touch, Look, Check. 

‘The sooner breast cancer is found, the greater the chance of treatment being successful and lives potentially being saved.

‘Many women know that a lump can be a possible symptom of breast cancer, but it’s important to be aware of other signs and symptoms too, including changes to the skin, such as dimpling or puckering, changes to the nipple or nipple discharge.

‘Although most breast changes won’t be cancer, it’s important to contact your GP if you notice anything new or unusual.’