**Mother Encourages Others to Seek Medical Help After Breast Cancer Diagnosis Following Changes During Pregnancy**
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In a moving account, Gemma Fish, a 43-year-old from Manchester, has shared her journey of breast cancer diagnosis following unexpected changes during her pregnancy. Initially dismissing her symptoms as a natural consequence of becoming a mother, Fish now advocates for increased awareness around breast health.
During her pregnancy, Fish noticed that her right breast had begun to shrink significantly, ultimately losing three cup sizes compared to her left breast. At first, she attributed these changes to the body’s adjustments that accompany pregnancy. “As other things settled down, one of my breasts was still quite large, and one was shrinking,” she remarked.
However, her situation took a worrying turn after giving birth to her daughter, Rosie, when Fish observed that her right nipple was inverted. It was this alarm that eventually prompted her to seek medical advice. “I still put it off a little bit longer, but then went and had that checked in February 2023. I wouldn’t have gone if I hadn’t noticed that the nipple was inverted,” she recounted.
Upon visiting her doctor, Fish was advised to undergo a mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy. The results were a shock; she was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer. “As soon as I went into the doctor’s appointment and explained everything, I could tell by her face that it was serious,” she recalled. Fish admits that the reality of her diagnosis felt surreal and overwhelming, particularly as a single mother grappling with the logistical challenges of illness.
By March 2023, Fish underwent a single mastectomy for her right breast, followed by chemotherapy treatment that lasted until August of the same year. In October 2023, she began radiotherapy in a bid to combat the aggressive disease. However, her health saga did not end there, as a subsequent surgery in January 2024 revealed that the cancer had progressed to Stage 4 after it was discovered in her ovaries. “As part and parcel of surgery, they were sent off for testing, and it came back that the breast cancer was in my ovaries,” Fish explained.
Despite being classified as living with terminal cancer, Fish remains resolute in her outlook. “I always take it as a win because it was found in the lab after they’d been removed from my body,” she added. She continued her treatment journey by undergoing a mastectomy on her left breast in March 2025, adjusting to significant physical changes along the way.
Living without breasts has posed a mental challenge for her. “It was easier to live with one breast than I found it to live with no breasts,” she said, acknowledging the psychological toll of her diagnosis and treatment. Fish’s cancer is now deemed treatable rather than curable, and she focuses on maintaining her health as best as she can, while looking after her daughter, who is now four years old.
Fish describes the evolution of living with Stage 4 cancer, highlighting that advances in treatment have changed perceptions of living with the disease. “It’s no longer a straight death sentence so to speak; there are lots of ladies that live long lives on various different treatment lines,” she noted. As a single mother, she has also had to carefully formulate plans for her daughter’s future in the event she is no longer able to provide for her.
In light of her experiences, Fish underscores the importance of vigilance regarding breast health. She passionately encourages others not to ignore any changes they notice. “Prevention is better than cure,” she emphasised.
Reflecting on her own journey, she stated, “Just don’t ignore it, because if I had gone initially and not ignored it and not buried my head in the sand, it would have been caught a hell of a lot sooner.” Her candid advocacy aims to empower others to be proactive about their health, reinforcing the need for early detection and intervention within breast care.