Leona takes part in The MoonWalk Scotland after breast cancer diagnosis at 30

“I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of just 30. I’m taking part in this year’s MoonWalk Scotland to raise awareness that anyone can get breast cancer, including very young people like me.

In late 2021, just two weeks before my wedding, I found a lump in my left breast, purely by chance. I hadn’t got into the habit of checking my breasts regularly, as I was still so young. A lot of younger people believe they’re not at risk of getting breast cancer, as it’s often seen as a disease which mainly affects older people. It was a fluke that I found the lump – I just raised my arm, noticed it and realised that it was new.

I initially thought that the lump has been caused by stress, as there was a lot going on in my life at the time. My husband Stuart and I were getting married in Cyprus and I was worried that I might get Covid and not be able to fly. My job as a nurse on a Covid ward for the elderly at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh meant that I was regularly exposed to Covid. Due to the restrictions at the time, it was touch and go as to whether the wedding would go ahead, but thankfully it did!

I thought that the lump would probably disappear once my life was a little less stressful and I’d got home from the wedding and finally relaxed. Unfortunately, it didn’t. I made an appointment with my GP when we got home – as I had promised Stuart I would.

The GP referred me for tests and in November 2021, I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. My diagnosis came as a huge shock - my initial thought was “what have I done to deserve this”? I’d always eaten healthily, exercised, rarely drank alcohol and didn’t smoke. I kept on thinking that I wouldn’t be there to see my then three-year old daughter Hollie go to school or lose her first tooth. The list goes on! I knew that I had to complete all the treatment which was being suggested for me, to give myself the best chance.

I had a lumpectomy, followed by 13 rounds of chemotherapy, which started just as we moved into our new house! I was originally meant to have only seven rounds, but unfortunately, I had a bad reaction to the second type of chemo drug I was given and ended up in hospital with sepsis. I was then put on a different type of chemotherapy, with meant I had smaller doses over a longer period. I wore a cold cap during chemo, to limit hair loss – it worked relatively well, although I did still end up losing quite a bit of my hair. I then had all my lymph nodes removed under my left arm, there was a spot of cancer found within one, so I am extremely glad I got these removed, even though it has caused some issues to my left arm. The final part of my active treatment was 15 sessions of radiotherapy in August 2022.

The further I went into my treatment, the more I realised that I wasn’t the only young person being diagnosed with breast cancer. In fact, I’ve now met a lot of young people like me who have gone through the same as I have. It’s a very scary thought.

I’m now taking the hormone therapies to prevent my breast cancer coming back, and luckily I haven’t had any side effects from either. I’ve also benefitted from a new treatment called Phesgo, which is used for patients with my type of breast cancer. I feel really fortunate to have had this treatment, as it wasn’t available at all in Scotland until three years ago.

My medical team at Western General Hospital have been amazing and I can’t thank them enough for the care they have given me all through my treatment.

My whole family, friends and work colleagues have been so incredibly supportive throughout a very difficult time. My daughter Hollie is now five but was too young to really understand what I was going through during my treatment. However, occasionally, she will say something to me like “Mummy, remember when you had no eyelashes”. So, she does recall something, but didn’t understand that I was unwell as such.

I’ve always wanted to sign up for The MoonWalk Scotland and this year felt like the right time to do it. My consultant told me that it would take a while for me to feel totally normal again after my diagnosis and treatment and he was right! I feel much stronger now and realise that I can do so much more. I’m taking on the 26.2 miles Full Moon challenge at this year’s MoonWalk Scotland with a group of girlfriends. I want to raise as much money as possible – it makes me fill sick to my stomach, thinking about all the other families like ours affected by breast cancer.

My message - to people of all ages – is to keep checking your breasts and chests. Breast cancer can affect so many of us. If you find anything different, go and see your GP like I did. It could save your life.”

Thank you for sharing your story Leona and we look forward to seeing you and your team at The MoonWalk Scotland 2024!