Mom Of Two, 57, Noticed ‘Something Strange’ While She Was Drying Her Hair: It Turned Out To Be Cancer, And Spotting It Saved Her Life

"I was drying my hair and as I lifted my arm, the round, cup part of my breast went flat," she told ITV News. “I was a G-cup so it was difficult to feel anything but I knew the appearance wasn’t right. Whilst I was worried about the results, I was convinced that it wouldn’t be anything too serious."

When she visited her doctor to follow up, she was told it likely wasn’t anything serious but was sent for a scan. When the results came back, she was told she had a six centimeter tumor in her left breast, with another mass being found in her right breast. In addition, she was told she had stage 2 invasive bilateral cancer in both breasts.

“My husband, Simon, came along to my appointment and I'm so glad he was there because out of the blue I was told I had cancer," she said. “It was such a shock as I really couldn't comprehend me having cancer."

She was prescribed a six-month course of chemotherapy, followed by surgery to remove breast tissue. In total, she underwent four surgeries and underwent four weeks of radiotherapy.

“It was pretty much a full year of appointments and treatment but you're so pleased that they are treating you," said Hunter-Dabson, who hails from Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom. “I did have some nights when I woke up wondering if I would make it but then I was told the amazing news that I was in remission and I knew that I had a future. It was the biggest relief… I sat in my car after hearing that and burst into tears. That was the only time I broke down during the whole ordeal as I was just so relieved."

With the cancer in remission, Hunter-Dabson is fundraising by biking in Cancer Research UK’s Cycle 300 campaign and has already raised £6,000.

Breast Cancer Facts

Breast cancer remains incredibly common in the United States, with around one in eight women being diagnosed over the course of their lifetime, making it the second most common type of cancer among women. According to BreastCancer.org, over 43,000 American women are expected to die of the disease this year.

Genetic testing has become a key part of risk assessment for cancer, due to the disease’s link to the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Women with mutations on those genes are at increased risk of developing breast cancer. However, those mutations are linked to only five to 10 per cent of breast cancer cases.

The American Cancer Society recommends several steps to help catch breast cancer early, including yearly mammograms for women as young as 40, although that age goes down to 30 for women who are at high risk for the disease.

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