Home / Health / GP Misses Cancer; Woman Diagnosed After Telling Her She Was Too Young
GP Misses Cancer; Woman Diagnosed After Telling Her She Was Too Young
3 Nov
Summary
- A woman was diagnosed with breast cancer after being told she was too young.
- The cancer had spread to three lymph nodes by the time it was diagnosed.
- Her GP suggested her concerns might be 'medical anxiety' or an infection.
Beth Jenkins, a 42-year-old mother, was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2024 after a locum GP initially suggested her concerns about a growing breast lump were linked to 'medical anxiety' or postnatal depression. Jenkins had first noticed a small lump in 2018, which was then dismissed as glandular tissue. After childbirth, the lump grew significantly, prompting her to seek medical attention again in October 2024. She was told she was too young for breast cancer and prescribed antibiotics. A subsequent consultation with another GP led to an e-consult, which resulted in a referral to a breast clinic and her diagnosis of lobular breast cancer with three lymph nodes affected. Jenkins underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, experiencing severe complications including neutropenic sepsis. She is now cancer-free but will be monitored for 15 years. She emphasizes the importance of GPs being 'gatekeepers' and calls for better adherence to NICE guidelines, which recommend investigation for unexplained lumps in women under 40. Cancer Research Wales is working to improve GP practices in this regard. Jenkins organized a charity event, Breast Fest, to raise funds for Merthyr Cancer Aid, which has raised £6,000.
