Rasa Stonyte, 38, an international relocation manager living in Flintshire, Wales, has shared her story of being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive breast cancer at age 37. Despite the shock of the diagnosis, she now has no evidence of disease and wants to show others that there is life after cancer.
From a Lump to a Rare Diagnosis
In mid-February 2025, Stonyte noticed a lump on the side of her left breast. A GP on March 4 said it was likely “nothing to worry about,” but a follow-up ultrasound at Glan Clwyd Hospital three weeks later led to a biopsy that same day. On April 1, she was told she had triple-negative invasive metaplastic ductal carcinoma with squamous differentiation, a rare subtype accounting for less than 1% of all breast cancers.
Stonyte admitted her first thought was, “Is that a joke?” because it was April Fools’ Day. She described bursting into a “flood of tears” and everything becoming a “blur,” before her fiance, William McManus, 47, asked follow-up questions about the diagnosis, prognosis, and next steps.
Treatment and Surgery
Within two weeks of her diagnosis, Stonyte began a three-month course of chemotherapy, which was “very stressful” due to her fear of needles. She experienced fatigue, dizziness, and hair loss, and also had “absolutely horrible” self-administered immunotherapy injections that caused “shooting pains” throughout her body for days.
“The worst came when I had the Red Devil because it is very potent and knocked me out for weeks on end,” she said, referring to the doxorubicin chemo drug. “I was extremely fatigued, I had mouth ulcers and all of my hair – including eyelashes and eyebrows – fell out. It’s very difficult to describe the feeling, but it was as if everything inside of me was dying.”
After six months of treatment, genetic testing revealed she carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, increasing her risk of several cancers. She decided to have a double mastectomy on October 23 to reduce the chance of recurrence. She opted against breast reconstruction, saying she wanted to “get back” to her normal life “as soon as possible” and was worried about complications. “I’m very happy with my decision; I feel a sense of freedom now that I’m flat,” she said.
Life After Cancer
In early November 2025, Stonyte was told there was no evidence of disease. She credits medical professionals, including nurses at Glan Clwyd Hospital, whom she described as “absolute angels,” as well as keeping physically active. She also had support from her fiance and her parents, who flew from Lithuania to help care for her.
Stonyte, who loves hiking in Wales and is “very outdoorsy,” said staying active is important for her survival, even though she still experiences bone pain from treatment. “I feel free, happy and strong when I’m hiking,” she said. “Since it helps me mentally, it automatically helps me physically. And I definitely feel more alive when I’m outdoors.”
Dr Sophie Ketchen, director of research and charitable impact at Breast Cancer UK, told PA Real Life: “Studies show that people who are the most physically active after a breast cancer diagnosis have a 30-40% lower risk of dying from the disease than those who are least physically active. Some evidence also suggests that physical activity may reduce the risk of recurrence, demonstrating the importance of trying to be physically active if you can after receiving a diagnosis.”
Stonyte hopes her story encourages others to get screenings. She recalled a former colleague who reached out after seeing her social media posts, saying she was the reason the colleague checked herself and got diagnosed with breast cancer. “I just want to show other people who have been diagnosed that there is life after cancer,” she said.
