Keisha Chadwick was only 28 years old when she received the devastating news that she had breast cancer, just seven weeks after giving birth to her first child.
Since making a full recovery, and determined to raise awareness, she is throwing all her weight behind Build to Beat Breast Cancer, Prevent Breast Cancer’s flagship campaign to build a life-saving academy to change the future of breast cancer.
We spoke with Keisha to find out more about her diagnosis and why she’s campaigning for more screenings, more staff, and more research:
When I was around eight months pregnant I found a lump in my breast. With it being my first child, I asked my cousin and a few friends about lumps and bumps, and they all said it would most probably be just my body changing due to pregnancy and preparing for milk to come in. I put it to the back of my mind and then gave birth to my beautiful daughter, Milana-Mae, in June 2021.
When she was four weeks old, I could still feel the lump. I decided to go to the doctors and within ten days I had an appointment at my local breast clinic. I was reassured it would most probably be a blocked milk duct and to return in two weeks for the results of a biopsy, which they decided to take after doing an ultrasound.
I returned two weeks later, alone, as I didn’t think anything of it and was told I had breast cancer at the age of 28. My world ended.
As expected, Keisha went through a mixture of emotions:
First of all I was heartbroken and couldn’t take it in. I think I spent 48 hours just hugging my new-born baby as I was petrified I was going to die. I was in shock.
It wasn’t until I went back to hospital on the Monday to get my treatment plan, that I went into a fight mode. I didn’t cry for months, and I just did what I had to do to survive. It’s been an emotional roller coaster. Being diagnosed when my child was only 7 weeks old was so hard. The actual experience of being a new mum was taken away from me and was instead taken up with hospital appointments. Milana had to come to those appointments, and I feel like the whole thing snatched a really special experience from me.
I decided to have my eggs frozen and then underwent 18 weeks of gruelling chemotherapy before having a single mastectomy. The following year, I had a preventative mastectomy on my left breast, which was followed by further radiotherapy. I was then told I had no evidence of disease in March 2022.
I had never checked my breasts before my diagnosis, but breast cancer can happen to anyone, at any age. Breast cancer doesn’t discriminate. Checking your breasts could save your life.
After her recovery, Keisha was able to continue with her studies, and graduated from university with a degree in nursing. Between working and being mum to Milana, she has found time to show her support for Prevent Breast Cancer’s Build to Beat Breast Cancer campaign.
When I heard about the fundraiser to build a National Breast Imaging Academy, I knew straight away that I had to support it in any way I could.
Although breast cancer has taken a lot from me, it’s also given me this drive to raise awareness, especially among younger women.
She continued:
The building of the Academy means more mammograms, more research and more lives saved.
Having access to screening is so important because the earlier breast cancer is found, the better the outcome. I dread to think what would have happened to me if I hadn’t been able to visit a breast unit.
Having a little girl of my own, I also see how important it is to keep researching breast cancer so that in her lifetime everyone who is diagnosed with breast cancer lives. Wouldn’t it be great if no one was diagnosed at all!
The Academy will change the future of breast cancer and will protect the lives of women all over the UK.
The Academy is for women just like me.
Please consider a donation today, no matter how big or small, and help make this building a reality.
Thanks so much to Keisha for sharing her story with us today.
Find out more about our Build to Beat Breast Cancer campaign and why we need to build this life-saving Academy.
About Prevent Breast Cancer
Prevent Breast Cancer is the only UK charity entirely dedicated to the prediction and prevention of breast cancer – we’re committed to freeing the world from the disease altogether. Unlike many cancer charities, we’re focused on preventing, rather than curing. Promoting early diagnosis, screening and lifestyle changes, we believe we can stop the problem before it starts. And being situated at the only breast cancer prevention centre in the UK, we’re right at the front-line in the fight against the disease. Join us today and help us create a future free from breast cancer. If you have any questions or concerns, email us today.
