A former police officer from Kent is facing an incurable cancer diagnosis after she claims her initial concerns were dismissed by a GP who told her she was too young to get breast cancer.
A Dismissed Concern Leads to a Stage 3 Diagnosis
Shanice Bennett, from Sittingbourne, was just 23 years old in 2023 when she first discovered a lump. Alarmed, she visited her GP, but left the appointment feeling dismissed after being told her age made breast cancer unlikely. Due to a family history of the disease—her aunt had also had breast cancer—Shanice found the courage to return and push for a referral, though she was reportedly told that nothing was going to come of it.
Contrary to that prediction, the referral led to a diagnosis of stage 3 breast cancer. Shanice subsequently endured an intense regimen of treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, a mastectomy, and the removal of her lymph nodes. By March of the following year, she had finished her treatment and was in remission.
The Devastating Return of Cancer
After a period of remission, the cancer returned with a vengeance. Shanice initially dismissed her new symptoms, which included severe back pain, believing it to be simple fatigue or even a slipped disc. However, the pain eventually became so debilitating that she struggled to get out of bed or dress herself.
After rushing to A&E with extreme pain, she received the devastating news the very same day. The breast cancer had not only returned but had spread, or metastasised, to her liver, lungs, and bones. This progression to stage 4 cancer means her condition is now considered incurable.
Living with a Terminal Diagnosis
Doctors have not given Shanice a definitive timeline for how long she has left, explaining that patients respond to treatment differently. Instead of waiting, the former police officer has chosen to actively live her life by embarking on a bucket list.
She has already achieved several of her wishes, including visiting New York with her family, seeing her mother get married and joining the honeymoon, and taking her seven-year-old nephew to Disneyland Paris.
Shanice is now fundraising to fulfil other dreams, such as trips to Switzerland and Tokyo, and attending an Ariana Grande concert at London's O2 Arena in August. She is documenting her journey for her 22,000 followers on TikTok and has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for her bucket list goals.
