When Rachael Williams -- a young woman of 24 with no family history of cancer -- was diagnosed with breast cancer, her doctor told her she had better odds of winning the lottery than she did getting cancer. "I just wish I had bought a ticket," said Williams. In fact, because she was no where near being in the risk-factor category for cancer, when she found the lump and contacted her universal health care physician, they put her on a 14-week wait list. Her parents were more concerned and insisted she see a private physician. A week later Williams had a lumpectomy and was diagnosed with breast cancer. She went on to have lymph nodes removed, radiation therapy and suffered the usual debilitating and demoralizing side effects of hair loss and weakness from the chemotherapy sessions. She had to deal with early menopause, self esteem, and deciding what to do about the prospects of becoming a mother in the future.
At 24, she felt very alone and isolated from friends her own age. When she talked about cancer, they talked about one of their grandparents with cancer. Breast Cancer Care Lavender Trust connected Williams to support groups and young adults living with cancer. This made all the difference for her morale and cancer survivorship. To read more about Williams, go to the BBC News feature article I had breast cancer aged 24.
Photo credit: Jane Elliott BBC News
