Kimberley Anderson, 39, from Dundee, Scotland, blamed persistent back and shoulder pain on sleeping on an old mattress, but a CT scan in August 2023 revealed stage four metastatic breast cancer.
Anderson was initially diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in October 2019 after finding a lump in her left breast while showering. She underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and a mastectomy with reconstruction, and was given the all-clear in early 2021.
Fatigue and unexplained aches
At the start of 2023, Anderson began feeling extremely tired, needing daytime naps, and experienced muscle aches, loss of appetite, and weight loss. She attributed the pain in her back, shoulders, and ribs to an old mattress, and bought a new one in the January sales, but the pain persisted.
In August 2023, she went to A&E because severe neck pain made it difficult to breathe or swallow. A CT scan found a 5cm tumour in her neck, and in September 2023 she was diagnosed with stage four metastatic breast cancer. The cancer had also spread to her chest wall, ovary, rib, and adrenal gland.
Treatment and spread to the brain
Anderson underwent five rounds of radiotherapy for the neck tumour and 12 rounds of chemotherapy. In July 2024, she learned the cancer had spread to her brain. She had surgery to remove the brain tumour in September 2024 and continues taking daily chemotherapy tablets.
She says her cancer is now 'stable' with no growth for over a year. While there is no cure, she hopes the treatment will continue to work for as long as possible.
Raising awareness
Anderson is urging other women to check their breasts regularly, regardless of age. She said: "I advocate that women should be checking their breasts no matter what age they are - even if you're in your 20s. We know our bodies better than anyone, including the GP, so don't let a GP fob you off. Advocate for yourself, push past the primary care barrier, do what you need to get seen by proper specialists."
The NHS notes that breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the UK. Symptoms include a lump or swelling in the breast, chest, or armpit, skin changes like dimpling or redness, and a change in size or shape of the breast. Secondary breast cancer symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, and difficulty sleeping. Main treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy.
