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Sometimes you never know when the most mundane thing can end up saving your life. For 27-year-old Hollie Drynan, from Chelmsford, Essex, it was a moisturizer, of all things, that she credits with saving her life.
She actually bought some moisturizing oil to help alleviate her severe abdominal pains. She had been suffering from the pains for five months but doctors told her it was just caused by her periods. The moisturizer didn’t do anything for her abdominal pain but it led her to discover a hard lump on her left breast after she tried to rub the excess oil onto her breasts.
The mother of one was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2018 but luckily, her cancer had been discovered early enough that six months of aggressive chemotherapy, including mastectomy and breast reconstruction, was enough to send her into remission.
Hollie said: “I went to the doctors four times as I had horrendous abdominal pain, the first time my GP said it was period pains, the second I was told to try a gluten-free diet leading to a third diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome.
“I never in a million years would have thought I had cancer, but I knew something wasn’t right, once I had to call an ambulance as the pain was unbelievable and again, I was told it must be period pains. I was beginning to give up as it had been five months and I still had the pain but no answers, I felt like I would never get to the bottom of it, I attempted to rub the pain away by massaging my stomach with oil.
“I had some left on my hand, so I rubbed it into my breasts and was shocked to feel a huge lump on my left breast. It was almost stuck to my ribs and I could pinch it between my fingers, I got a doctor’s appointment for the Monday and was referred straight to the breast unit.
“My friends and I thought it wouldn’t be anything serious, perhaps just a cyst or something that can easily be removed. A week later I went for an ultrasound and the doctor said she was going to do a biopsy, at this point, I didn’t even know what that was.
“She asked if I had brought anyone with me and thankfully, I had gone with a friend, who sat with me when I was told I had a tumor. They told me to expect a two-week wait to find out if it was cancerous or not but I already knew it would be.”
Abdominal pains are not usually associated with breast cancer but they can occur as a side effect of chemotherapy. Hollie learned that she had a brain tumor in 2005 and even more recently found out that she carries the TP53 gene mutation that practically guarantees that she will develop cancer.
The former hairdresser continued: “The last nine months have been an emotional roller coaster for me but I have had to stay strong for my little girl Bella, who is 18 months’ old. She gets me through every day and my cousin Chloe Marshall, 21, has been by my side for every single appointment.
“It was hard for me to lose my hair as I was a hairdresser and always took pride in my appearance, but I have dealt with it a lot better than expected. I had the worst news any single young mum can ever get but after eight long months I am finally in remission and I have a new body.
“I had a tummy tuck and the fat from my stomach was used to reconstruct my left breast, my right breast is likely to be removed in the future as there is an 80 percent risk of getting cancer again. I am a positive person and I have kept smiling – I made friends with other patients following my surgery and we laughed so much I thought my stitches were going to pop out.
“I will probably spend the rest of my life thinking ‘have I got cancer?’ but I will continue to be strong and live as best as I can with my gorgeous daughter. I still have no idea why I had severe abdominal pains but I am so glad I did otherwise I wouldn’t have found the lump in my breast, I can’t urge girls enough to check their breasts.”