By Islam El-Sakka
Beth Jenkins, a 42-year-old police officer from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, was repeatedly told by a GP that she was too young to have breast cancer and that her concerns might stem from "medical anxiety" linked to postnatal depression. By the time she was diagnosed in November 2024, she had lobular breast cancer with a 5cm tumour that had spread to three lymph nodes.
Initial concerns dismissed
Jenkins first noticed a pea-sized lump in 2018, but an ultrasound suggested glandular tissue and no biopsy was performed. In October 2024, after her infant daughter accidentally kicked her chest, the lump had grown significantly. A locum GP at Keir Hardie Health Park attributed it to an infection or anxiety and prescribed antibiotics, despite Jenkins insisting she was not anxious.
Push for referral
Two weeks later, a female GP reviewed her notes and advised an e-consult for urgent referral. The same locum doctor initially resisted, but Jenkins persisted and was referred to a breast clinic. She was diagnosed on 14 November 2024; the cancer had already reached three lymph nodes.
Treatment and complications
Jenkins underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, losing her hair during treatment. She later developed neutropenic sepsis, a life-threatening complication; doctors said a 24-hour delay in hospital admission could have been fatal. She is now classed as having no evidence of disease but will be monitored for 15 years.
Guidelines and systemic issues
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines state that women aged 40 and under with an unexplained breast lump should be referred for further investigation. Dr Lee Campbell of Cancer Research Wales said there is an "inequity" in how GPs apply these guidelines, with some relying on experience over protocol. Routine NHS breast screening in the UK begins at age 50.
Advocacy and charity
Jenkins is sharing her story to encourage others to "keep pushing" for answers. To mark two years since her diagnosis, she organised Breast Fest, a charity event on 14 November that raised £6,000 for Merthyr Cancer Aid. Her GP practice later acknowledged the missed diagnosis and thanked her for returning to seek a second opinion.
