“Hearing those words ‘no heartbeat’ was so painful. I was already trying to deal with a cancer diagnosis and now I was navigating the loss of my baby”
Cara’s Breast Cancer Journey
A Co Antrim mum has shared her breast cancer story in the hope that it will raise awareness for the signs and symptoms, and to highlight the important work of a local charity.
Cara Fenton, from Lisburn, was diagnosed with Breast Cancer at just 33 years old. She said on June 15, 2024, she was breastfeeding her daughter Sienna and planning a fun night out with friends, a rare occurrence with a one-year-old baby.
She was in the bath, washing under her left arm, when she says she felt something. She then asked for her partner to check it too, and he agreed there was a lump.
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“It felt like a bouncy ball, and it moved when I touched it,” Cara said.
“I wasn’t too worried about it, the left breast was the only one my daughter would feed off, so I put it down to a blocked duct from breastfeeding, but to be safe I called my GP. I was referred to the Ulster Hospital by my GP, and when I attended my appointment for an ultrasound and biopsy five weeks later, the consultant was confident the lump was benign, and it was nothing to worry about. I would receive a letter in 7-10 days, and life just continued as normal.
“My partner and I had been excitedly planning to extend our family for the past few months, we always wanted a small age gap between the kids, and one month after I found the lump, I discovered I was pregnant. We were absolutely delighted.
“The 7 to 10 days came and went, and I hadn’t received my results from the biopsy. I still wasn’t worried, but I decided to chase them up for peace of mind. I called the hospital, and after a few hours they told me I needed to come back to the hospital in two days.
“I started to panic. Why did they want to see me if it was nothing? I was in the waiting room with my mum, and when I was called by a cancer nurse, I knew something was wrong. The consultant came in and sat beside me, holding my hand. When I heard the words ‘breast cancer’ all I could think of was my daughter and unborn baby. I was shattered. I am a healthy woman in my early thirties, why is this happening to me?
“I was diagnosed with grade 3 triple negative breast cancer. I told the consultant I was pregnant, and I was referred for an early scan. I thought that it wasn’t possible to receive any more devastating news, but on the 19th of August, despite no signs of miscarriage, we learned we had lost the baby.
“Hearing those words ‘no heartbeat’ was so painful. I was already trying to deal with a cancer diagnosis and now I was navigating the loss of my baby. I tried to focus on what I could control and remember how lucky I was to have my daughter, Sienna.”
Three weeks after her diagnosis, Cara had surgery to remove the lump and before starting chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she said she had her eggs frozen, which was “the most important thing” to her.
Cara says throughout her whole cancer journey, she was worried about the effect all the treatment would have on her fertility.
“I was only 33 and I wanted to make sure I had options to expand my family when the time is right, I didn’t want cancer to take that from me,” Cara added.
“We had a family holiday planned in October before my cancer diagnosis, right when I was supposed to begin chemo. I didn’t want to miss any core memories with my daughter and my little family, luckily, we were able to go, and it turned out to be the break I needed before everything that was to come.
“I started my first round of chemo on the 30th of October, I think there is a perception that you will look thin and frail when you’re going through treatment, but along with the hair loss, losing my eyebrows and eyelashes, which I already found really tough, I had gained 2 stone which was really difficult to deal with, especially after having already put in the hard work to lose weight after my pregnancy with Sienna. It was like losing my identity all over again.
“My final treatment was in March 2025 and now I want to focus on me. Eating better, moving my body and avoiding stress. My breast cancer diagnosis really opened my eyes; everything can change in an instant. Life is precious. I am still so young, and I want to travel to new places, or run that 10K, I even have a marathon on my bucket list. I still can’t wait to expand my family and have a little sister or brother for Sienna, but for now it’s appreciating everything I already have.”
Speaking about experience at Cancer Focus NI, Cara said: “Ringing the bell on the cancer ward to mark the end of my treatment wasn’t how I expected it to feel. You see all of these amazing videos on Instagram and TikTok, but I didn’t feel that sense of relief. If anything, when your treatment stops, that’s when the worrying really starts. Your sense of security goes when you no longer have to attend appointments, or have your next radiotherapy or chemo session, as strange as that seems.
“You are paranoid about the cancer returning, and that’s when I realised, I really needed support. That’s when I leaned on Cancer Focus NI. A friend referred me to one of the charity’s Group Work Coordinators, even during my treatment Caroline was checking in with me, which meant so much. It was comforting to know the support was there when I was ready.
“I finished treatment in March 2025, and by April I was able to attend their breast cancer retreat and get some much needed support from a trained counsellor, and group support from other women who were also trying to make sense of their own breast cancer diagnosis.
“I have the most amazing family, but being able to talk about all my fears, worries and concerns with someone outside of my family and friends was a game changer. It was such a relief to be surrounded by women who just ‘got it’.
“We all had different experiences. Different types of breast cancer, different treatments and different recoveries, but we were all bonded by the experience and leaned on each other to get through it. I was able to get perspective on how their journeys unfolded, and some positive advice from women further along in their recovery that life really does get better.
“There were laughs and tears, and I know I have found lifelong friends. The fear of reoccurrence is always on your mind, but knowing that I have a group of women who know exactly what I am going through are only a message or call away, or I can get in touch with Cancer Focus NI to ease my worries, or give me advice, is invaluable.
“I don’t know what I would have done without Cancer Focus NI.”
Throughout her experience, Cara has been supported by Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, The charity’s mission is to support local people on their cancer journey. This October they encourage local people to ‘Go Pink’ to support the 1 in 8 local women who will be dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis. The charity’s highly in demand breast cancer services include counselling, family support, bra and swimwear fitting, and specialist support groups.
Speaking about Cancer Focus NI Breast Cancer Services, Cara said: “Every week another 30 women are told they have breast cancer in Northern Ireland. Until you hear the words ‘you have cancer’ you don’t fully understand the kind of support you’ll need and how traumatic the experience is.
“Every breast cancer journey is different, and every woman will need access to different services. I have three aunties and a cousin who were all diagnosed with breast cancer in their late 20’s or early 30’s, which meant I needed a gene test. Thankfully it came back negative but if it was positive I would have needed a double mastectomy, and a service like the specialist bra fitting would have been so important for me.
“Or if Sienna was older and was more aware of what was going on, the family support service would have been vital to help her talk about her feelings and how she is doing through it all. And even for myself, I don’t know what support I will need going into the future. I feel lucky to know I can pick up the phone and call Cancer Focus NI to support me with whatever I am needing in that moment. Whether that’s counselling or exploring my feelings with other survivors. I know I am not alone.”
Just £50 could pay for a one-hour consultation with a bra & Swimwear Fitting specialist, helping to give a woman back her confidence after treatment or surgery. To host your own Go Pink Fundraiser, visit cancerfocusni.org, email fundraising@cancerfocusni.org or call 028 9066 3281.
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