A mother's story

As a busy mum, wife, friend and director of her own business, Champagne Recruitment – being vigilant about her health is what saved her life. With a family history of breast cancer on both her mum and dad’s side, as well as quite dense breast tissue, Leah began annual MRIs in her early 30s.

At age 42 Leah was diagnosed with stage 3 hormone receptive breast cancer that was spreading aggressively and rapidly growing in size.

Leah’s cancer was found on the back wall of her breast, meaning it couldn’t be felt in self-checks and was unlikely to be seen in mammograms.

“It hadn’t spread to my lymph nodes yet, but if I had put off my scan and gone a couple months later, it would’ve been a completely different diagnosis.”

Leah underwent a double mastectomy, where both breasts are removed to ensure not only the cancer is removed, but there is less risk of it returning.

The busy mum of three now gets to spend so many more precious everyday moments with her family, thanks to early detection and advancements in cancer research.

“My outlook is really positive now. I was just really lucky I caught it when I did,” says Leah.

“I have a six-year-old daughter who is at very high risk, so we need to invest in research so the outlook is even brighter for her in the next 20 years.”

“I want every woman to know that they must keep checking every month, but also be more vigilant than that. Educate yourself and take the next step if you feel you need to – get a mammogram or MRI to be sure.”

Breast cancer research is incredibly close to Leah’s heart, and she believes strongly in its power to change the outlook for cancer patients.

“I think research is incredibly important. It’s amazing to think how far we’ve come over the past 20 years,” she says.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month you can help revolutionise the way we diagnose and treat breast cancer and spark hope in the hearts of those affected, like Leah, and their families.

Learn more about how you can make a lifechanging difference this October.