Co Down mum opens up on shock breast cancer diagnosis in her 40s after having no symptoms

Joanne Henderson from Holywood with her children Phoebe and Ronan
-Credit: (Image: Submitted)


A Co Down mum has opened up about how she was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer after a friend pointed her in the direction of a unique mammogram service for women in their 40s.

Joanne Henderson, 44 and from Holywood, says she owes her life to the charity Action Cancer and has shared her story to mark this Breast Cancer Awareness Month in a bid to encourage other women to book a mammogram.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer type among females in Northern Ireland accounting for 30% of all cancer diagnoses among women. The latest statistics state that 1,490 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 312 die from the disease every year.

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Breast screening is for well women who have no signs or symptoms and is the most effective tool for picking up cancers at an early and treatable stage. Action Cancer offers screening to women aged 40-49 and 70+ and encourages women aged 50-70 to attend for routine screening when called by the NHS.

Screening takes place at Action Cancer House in South Belfast and on board the charity’s Big Bus, supported by SuperValu and Centra. This free service is not available anywhere else in the UK or Ireland. The charity detects six cancers for every 1,000 screenings, with the majority of women receiving reassurance.

Joanne., who is a keen reader and also enjoys going to the gym, concerts and socialising with family and friends, says her breast cancer was detected in May 2023.

She said: “I was having coffee one day in Holywood in January 2023 with a friend who first told me about the free screening available at Action Cancer for women in their 40s and encouraged me to book an appointment. I was aged 43 at the time. I had every intention of booking a mammogram but life got in the way.

“Four months later I remembered that I still needed to contact Action Cancer so I went online and made my appointment, it was a really easy process. I booked my screening slot in between meetings at work. I had never been to Action Cancer House before. The environment was very clean, welcoming and friendly. I didn’t find the mammogram itself to be painful and I was in and out of there in 15 minutes.”

Joanne explained how a week later she received a letter to advise that something had been detected and that further investigation was required: “I wasn’t overly worried, there was a bit of anxiety but I thought it was maybe just a cyst or something. I checked my breasts at the time and couldn’t feel anything untoward.”

Joanne attended the Breast Clinic at the Ulster Hospital for her follow up assessment: “I went on my own as I didn’t feel there was any need to bring anybody. I’d be in and out soon enough - or so I thought.”

She had a physical examination by the Consultant who could feel something in the left breast so she then went on to have an ultrasound and biopsies: “As the morning wore on, more and more people were leaving whereas I continued to stay. I just knew then that it was obvious - I was not going to receive good news.”

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Joanne received her diagnosis of breast cancer that morning. “I was really shocked but I wasn’t feeling stressed about it. I was reassured that it was discovered early. It was 1.8cm and I would need a lumpectomy and radiotherapy to treat it.

“I went home and phoned my husband. We were both accepting of what needed to happen. The good news was that it had been caught early and I clung to the fact that it was treatable and that chemotherapy was not needed.”

The next day Joanne and her husband sat down to break the news to the children: “There were lots of tears, as to be expected, but I kept telling them that it was positive, the cancer had been caught early.”

Following a family holiday, Joanne had a lumpectomy at the Ulster Hospital. It was a day procedure and it took a week to recover. One lymph node was taken away for testing and came back clear which confirmed that the cancer had not spread and that chemo was not needed.

Joanne then went on to receive her radiotherapy sessions at the City Hospital in Belfast in October as she recalled: “The treatment was for five consecutive days. I found this to be incredibly tiring and I suffered from burning on the skin. When I rang the bell to mark finishing treatment, my sisters came with me. I felt very emotional that day and exhausted but also positive and looking forward to getting back to a new kind of normal.

“My son was born with a medical condition which has resulted in multiple trips to Great Ormond Street Hospital and my daughter has been in and out of the hospital over the years. I am therefore no stranger to the hospital environment and have always felt I was in safe hands under medical supervision. So, for me, this time was no different.

“I put my trust in the fact that the medical professionals had my best interests at heart and when they said the outlook was positive, I believed them. I never had any feelings of panic or fear that I could die,” she added.

Joanne with other Action Cancer Ambassadors who had their breast cancer detected by the charity’s breast screening service: Pat Simpson, Sharon McCrory, Pamela Brady and Pauline McCauley
Joanne with other Action Cancer Ambassadors who had their breast cancer detected by the charity’s breast screening service: Pat Simpson, Sharon McCrory, Pamela Brady and Pauline McCauley -Credit:Action Cancer

Joanne says she returned to work as a statistician for the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) in January 2024 on a phased return. “Now life has pretty much returned to normal. Working away and looking after two busy teenagers. I would encourage any woman in their 40s to come forward for a breast screening.

“The service is free and the vast majority of women receive reassurance that everything is ok. My cancer was detected at an early and treatable stage. I believe Action Cancer saved my life as I had no symptoms and have no idea how long before I would have noticed anything. I may not have reached the age of 50 for my first mammogram with the NHS.”

Joanne bravely shared her story to mark Action Cancer unveiling its Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign taking place during October, which is supported by Gordons Chemists and local online car insurance company its4women. She is also amongst a cohort of new Ambassadors for the breast screening service as one of the women who had their breast cancer detected by the charity.

Since Joanne’s diagnosis, she has been encouraging friends and colleagues to go for a screening. One friend of Joanne’s has also received a breast cancer diagnosis following an Action Cancer screening and is currently undergoing treatment.

The mum-of-two also shared details of her upcoming participation in the Breast Friends Abseil fundraiser: “I have signed up to the Action Cancer abseil on 6th October 2024 which marks the year anniversary of me ringing the bell, signalling the end of my treatment.

“I am keen to raise awareness and to give something back to Action Cancer. I have a £1,200 target (enough to screen 10 ladies) and I am delighted that its4women will match fund my fundraising as part of the Breast Friends campaign to bring that to a total of 20 screenings! Early detection saves lives, please book your appointment today.”

You can support Joanne's fundraiser for Action Cancer here. Women aged 40-49 and 70+ can book an appointment online at www.actioncancer.org where you'll also find details of upcoming Big Bus visits. or by calling 028 9080 3344.

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