{"id":3768,"date":"2025-06-04T16:37:24","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T16:37:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=3768"},"modified":"2025-06-04T21:33:29","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T21:33:29","slug":"like-jessie-j-i-was-told-i-had-early-breast-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/04\/like-jessie-j-i-was-told-i-had-early-breast-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Like Jessie J, I was told I had early breast cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\"Jessie\t<\/div>
Reading Jessie J\u2019s news brings it all flooding back (Picture: Mauricio Santana\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It is almost five years to the day since I heard those utterly unforgettable words on April 16, 2020: You have breast cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sadly, I am far from alone. This morning, 37-year-old singer-songwriter and mother-of-one, Jessie J<\/a>, revealed her own breast cancer diagnosis<\/a> via Instagram<\/a>. <\/p>\n

I recall my own experience so vividly. I remember screaming at the doctor that I was far too young, fit and healthy for this to be happening. Except it was happening. And to me.<\/p>\n

I was 41. At the time, my daughter was five, my son was 11 months, and we had just gone into the first Covid<\/a> lockdown.<\/p>\n

Half a decade on, hard as I try hard to crack on with life, reading Jessie J\u2019s news brings it all flooding back.<\/p>\n

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class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\twindow.addEventListener(‘metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded’, function(data) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tif (typeof(data.detail) === ‘undefined’ || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === ‘undefined’ || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === ‘undefined’) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\treturn;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar player = data.detail.carousel.el_;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar container = player.closest(‘.metro-video-player’);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar placeholder = container.querySelector(‘.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder’);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tcontainer.removeChild(placeholder);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tcontainer.classList.add(‘metro-video-player–related-videos-loaded’);<br \/>\n\t\t\t});<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"448\" src=\"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SEI_254285737-2b73-e1749052127778.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23331140\" alt=\"Esther Shaw: Early breast cancer\/Jessie J\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>I took comfort in the world ‘early’ (Picture: Esther Shaw)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is early breast cancer?<\/h2>\n<p>While I was told that I had triple negative breast cancer \u2013 sometimes described as a faster-growing type \u2013 I was also told, like Jessie, that it had been discovered \u2018early.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve found out you\u2019ve got breast cancer, it\u2019s hard to seek solace in almost anything. Yet I was able to take at least a little comfort from medics repeatedly telling me that if you are diagnosed early (known as \u2018stage 1 to 2\u2019), the disease is often highly treatable.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tMore information about early breast cancer\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p>Early breast cancer is more commonly known as stage 1 or 2 breast cancer. <\/p>\n<p>Stage 1 or 2 breast cancer is then further divided into stages 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B. Which stage you are diagnosed with depends on whether the cancer is bigger than 2cm or 5cm, and whether it has spread to the lymph nodes, how many and where. <\/p>\n<p>Common symptoms include a lump in the breast or armpit, skin dimpling or a change in texture, unusual nipple discharge, nipple changes, and changes in breast size or shape. <\/p>\n<p>You can find out more from Cancer Research UK <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancerresearchuk.org\/\">here<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Jessie herself has said she is \u2018holding on\u2019 to the word \u2018early\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>The staging system is worked out based on certain factors, such as the size of the cancer, and whether it has spread to lymph nodes in the armpit. (Mine was a little bigger than 5cm overall, but very fortunately, hadn\u2019t spread).<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"438\" src=\"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SEI_164834044-832b.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23324837\" alt=\"LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 20: Jessie J attends a special screening of "Barbie" on July 20, 2023 in London, England. "Barbie" is in cinemas from July 21st. (Photo by Dave Benett\/Getty Images for Warner Bros.)\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>I, and Jessie, are simply two of the unlucky ones (Picture: Dave Benett\/Getty Images for Warner Bros.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">My story<\/h2>\n<p>Prior to getting diagnosed, I was in really good health. I\u2019d been vegetarian since the age of nine, had never smoked, and did exercise most days. There was also no family history of it. <\/p>\n<p>But as I have come to understand in the wake of all this, cancer does not discriminate, even when you\u2019re a world-famous celebrity. I, and Jessie, are simply two of the unlucky ones.<\/p>\n<p>I made the appointment to get myself checked out after finding a lump on my left breast while sitting in the bath a few weeks into lockdown. At the time, I remember thinking it was more just precautionary, as opposed to anything else. <\/p>\n<p>At first, even the consultant wasn\u2019t too concerned, suggesting it might just be a sporting injury. But the scans soon told a very different story.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"473\" src=\"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SEI_254285721-8a65-e1749052239120.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23331145\" alt=\"Esther Shaw: Early breast cancer\/Jessie J\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>In October 2020, I got the \u2018all-clear\u2019 (Picture: Esther Shaw)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After going through a blur of<a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/02\/24\/vanessa-feltz-hailed-so-brave-after-getting-mammogram-live-on-this-morning-22615090\/\"> mammograms <\/a>and ultrasounds \u2013 and having several biopsies taken \u2013 it was confirmed that I was going to need chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.<\/p>\n<p>One of the toughest summers of my life followed. I underwent a gruelling four-month chemotherapy regime \u2013 consisting of Paclitaxel and Carboplatin \u2013 as well as an intense two-week course of daily radiotherapy.<\/p>\n<p>And in the midst of all that, I had an operation known as a \u2018therapeutic mammoplasty.\u2019 While this is not as major as a mastectomy, it is more involved than a lumpectomy. It essentially involves surgeons removing the tumour, but trying to save as much of the breast as possible. <\/p>\n<p>To paraphrase the words of Jessie J in her heart-wrenchingly honest and emotional Instagram video: \u2018I got to keep my nipples.\u2019<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SEI_250815045-1b8d.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23324834\" alt=\"Jessie J attends the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards.\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Jessie J mentioned how she had gone \u2018back and forth\u2019 on sharing her story (Picture: Alan Chapman\/Dave Benett\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In October 2020, I got the \u2018all-clear\u2019 (or at least the closest thing you get to an ‘all-clear’ as far as cancer is concerned \u2013 as once you\u2019ve had this disease, you never really get to walk away).<\/p>\n<p>All I can say to Jessie J \u2013 and anyone going through any version of this gruelling journey right now \u2013 is that I am forever grateful to my body for making it through all of this.<\/p>\n<p>It may look a little different these days, but I am still here \u2013 working full-time, being a mum to two high-octane kids now aged nine and six, playing netball, lifting weights, sea swimming and so much more \u2013 and I have my body to thank for that. I have also learned to love my boobs all over again.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"561\" src=\"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SEI_254285779-61f6-e1749052221125.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23331139\" alt=\"Esther Shaw: Early breast cancer\/Jessie J\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>I can\u2019t say it bluntly enough: Checking your boobs could save your life (Picture: Esther Shaw)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Jessie J mentioned how she had gone \u2018back and forth\u2019 on sharing her story. Having gone through this life-changing experience, I applaud her bravery and honesty.<\/p>\n<p>I am always keen to share mine because by opening myself up and by being vulnerable and brutally honest, I hope I can show the solidarity Jessie speaks of, and maybe even offer a little help to others going through something similar.<\/p>\n<p>I also believe that if reading my story gets even one woman to do a breast examination or schedule an appointment, then some good has come out of all I\u2019ve been through. I can\u2019t say it bluntly enough: Checking your boobs could save your life.<\/p>\n<p>Hard as it is to write these words, catching breast cancer in its early stages really can be the difference between surviving \u2013 and not. Get a tumour removed at an early stage, and there\u2019s a far better chance of things going well.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"500\" src=\"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SEI_254285710-2546-e1749052192989.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23331148\" alt=\"Esther Shaw: Early breast cancer\/Jessie J\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>I hugged my children very hard (Picture: Esther Shaw)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In April this year, I reached my fifth year since diagnosis, a not insignificant milestone in my journey, as doctors say that at this stage post treatment, the risk seems to go back down (though the <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2023\/10\/29\/there-is-no-such-thing-as-the-all-clear-after-breast-cancer-19694221\/\">increased risk <\/a>does not go away completely).<\/p>\n<p>To mark this five-year anniversary, I did a host of fundraising events, including a \u2018Mighty Hike\u2019 along the Cornish coast in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, raising almost \u00a33,000.<\/p>\n<p>And, on April 16 itself, I went to the beach \u2013 here, where I live, in beautiful north Devon \u2013 with my husband and children, and watched the waves lap against the shore. I also hugged them all hard. Very, very hard.<\/p>\n<p>I hope and wish that Jessie J will get to do the same.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing <a href=\"mailto:jess.austin@metro.co.uk\">jess.austin@metro.co.uk<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Share your views in the comments below.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reading Jessie J\u2019s news brings it all flooding back (Picture: Mauricio Santana\/Getty Images) It is almost five years to the day since I heard those utterly unforgettable words on April 16, 2020: You have breast cancer. Sadly, I am far from alone. This morning, 37-year-old singer-songwriter and mother-of-one, Jessie J, revealed her own breast cancer […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3770,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3768"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3768"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3768\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3778,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3768\/revisions\/3778"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3770"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3768"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3768"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3768"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}