'Cancer doesn’t discriminate': 31-year-old says breast cancer is not just an older woman's disease

Niamh Noonan and Dave Barry at the preview screening in the Mayson Hotel of 'Breast Cancer KNOW MORE', Ireland's first survivor-led breast cancer awareness campaign. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan

At 29, Niamh Noonan’s life seemed rosy, she had just moved in with her boyfriend and work was going well, but she was unaware breast cancer was around the corner.

Now 31 and going through treatment, she wants women and doctors to realise breast cancer is not only an older woman’s disease.

She struggled to get a diagnosis despite going to her “amazing” GP in April 2023 with concerns about “little pea sized lumps” in one breast.

She was seen at a breast clinic but recalls: “I think it was my age, they said I was too young, it’s probably just thick breast tissue is what they said.” 

They did a physical examination but no ultrasound.

“This infuriates me, because cancer doesn’t discriminate. I know people just 17 getting diagnosed with breast cancer. 

"But I’ll never know if that was the first breast cancer because there was no ultrasound done,” she said.

Within six months she had a “golf-ball sized lump” in her armpit.

Her GP sent an urgent referral which should lead to an appointment in two weeks. 

Instead, it came 11 weeks later in February 2024.

“Then on the third of March I was diagnosed,” she said, noting this was the day after she turned 30.

It was stage 3, triple positive, and had spread to her lymph nodes.

“I’ll never know but I could have maybe avoided chemotherapy or only have a lumpectomy. They were only pea-sized lumps at first but the tumour in my armpit was massive by then,” she said.

Tough conversations about children were had with her partner.

Some cancers are influenced by the hormone oestrogen. So treatment involves suppressing this and putting women into medical menopause.

“My oncologist said my tumours were really aggressive, so I didn’t have time to freeze my eggs,” Ms Noonan said.

She said: “The plan is five years on the treatment that I’m on, so I’m on injections to put my ovaries to sleep.

“I haven’t had a period in a year and a half, getting the hot flushes at 30 is crazy, I get eight to 10 hot flushes a day. That’s horrendous.” 

Now she is preparing for an eight-hour surgery to remove her other breast and reconstructive work. She is doing this after being told her cancer could recur as she is so young.

“That’s why now more than ever, I think it’s so important for young women especially, to check your breasts and know the signs and symptoms because it can happen to anyone, cancer does not care,” she urged.

Niamh Noonan and Fiona Cowman at the Mayson Hotel. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan

She finds it hard at times to look at her scar but said: "It’s a victory scar, not a victim scar, that’s how I see it now."

Niamh is now featuring with other women and one man in a new campaign from Breast Cancer Ireland, launching Monday.

In Ireland, one in seven women will get breast cancer and one in 738 men. 

Dara McDonagh said: “I never thought my war wound would be a mastectomy.” 

Breast Cancer Ireland CEO Aisling Hurley said: “It is really really inspiring to think these survivors are leading this campaign because they want to save the lives of others.” The charity surveyed about 1,000 people last month.

“What was really astonishing for me is that less than one-third were checking themselves on a regular basis. They weren’t doing it monthly,” she said.

“They were checking haphazardly; they thought breast cancer was a lump or maybe swelling on the arm. They didn’t know the other six symptoms.” 

The eight signs also include thickening, changes in size or shape, dimpling of the skin, changes to the nipple, rash, and pain.

She urged anyone whose relative had breast cancer to get checked. 

Cork University Hospital offers a Breast Family History Service as do other hospitals.

The charity focuses heavily on research and awareness.

“We have coordinators out on the road covering Munster, Leinster, Connaught who are delivering free breast health sessions to schools and community or health groups,” she said.