'Cancer Doesn't Discriminate': 31-Year-Old's Battle Against Early Breast Cancer

Niamh Noonan was just 31 years old when she first noticed the "little pea sized lumps" in her breast that would change her life forever. Like many young women, she never imagined cancer could be the cause.

"I went to my amazing GP in April 2023 with my concerns," Niamh recalls. "But when I was referred to a breast clinic, I think it was my age that worked against me. They said I was too young - it's probably nothing serious."

Despite undergoing a physical examination, Niamh didn't receive an ultrasound during that initial visit. The dismissal of her symptoms due to her age reflects a common challenge faced by young women with breast cancer, who often struggle to be taken seriously by medical professionals.

"Cancer doesn't discriminate based on age," Niamh emphasizes, her experience serving as a powerful reminder that breast cancer can affect women at any stage of life. Her journey highlights the importance of advocating for thorough medical investigation regardless of age, and the critical need for greater awareness about early-onset breast cancer.

Niamh's story underscores the reality that while breast cancer is more common in older women, young women can and do develop the disease. Her experience serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of attributing symptoms to age rather than conducting comprehensive diagnostic testing.

Read the original article on Irish Examiner