A woman who believed she had beaten aggressive breast cancer was devastated to learn just two months later that it had spread to her bones, after she claims her GP brushed off an early warning sign.
Discovery of the Lump
Rebecca Bell, 33, a sales manager, had only just got engaged at the start of 2025 when, in April of that year, she found a grape-sized lump in her left breast. During a visit to her GP a few days afterwards, she says she also raised concerns about pain in her shoulder blade, but was reassured the two issues "were not linked" and was told it was "one problem, one appointment." Following scans and tests in May 2025, doctors confirmed she had triple-negative breast cancer – a type of the disease which around 15% of breast cancer patients are diagnosed with.
Treatment and Initial Success
She was informed the tumour measured 95mm by 75mm, but swiftly began treatment and by December 2025 the tumour had reduced in size to 75mm by 55mm. After surgery and radiotherapy, she says she received the all-clear from breast cancer in February 2026.
Despite the "heartbreak" of her engagement ending around the same time, Rebecca, from Rainham, Kent, said she remained optimistic about what lay ahead. However, in April 2026, a PET scan conducted as part of a drug trial revealed that the cancer had spread to her bones, and she said doctors confirmed that the shoulder blade pain she had previously flagged to her GP was an indication of this.
Living with Cancer
In June 2026, Rebecca resumed chemotherapy and immunotherapy and is now resolute in adapting to life "living with cancer."
Rebecca said: "I didn't really want to tell anyone that it had spread – I didn't want to be known as the sick one again. I had already lost all my eyebrows, eyelashes and patches of hair, and I didn't want to go through that all over again."
"Last time there was an end point, but now there isn't, it's like I'm going through hell again. That doesn't mean I'm not going to live a good life – I've just got to change my mindset."
Early Symptoms Ignored
At the start of 2025, Rebecca was in a "very happy bubble" having just got engaged, and was enjoying a "normal life," concentrating on work and her family. However, in April 2025, she said her nephew was playing nearby and accidentally bumped into her, triggering an "achy and heavy" pain in her left breast.
On April 26, she examined her breasts in the shower for any lumps or swelling – something she said she did on a regular basis. During the check, she detected a lump on her left breast, roughly "the size of a grape."
She said she immediately called her GP and managed to secure an appointment a few days later at Marlowe Park Medical Centre in Rochester. During the visit, she explained that she had found a lump, but also wanted to highlight the pain she was experiencing in her shoulder blade.
She said: "They told me it was one problem, one appointment, and it won't be linked. They just ignored me, basically."
Diagnosis and Treatment
Rebecca was subsequently referred to hospital for an ultrasound scan on her breast. Three weeks later, in May, following the ultrasound, she underwent a mammogram and biopsy on the same day.
"I thought everything was fine, I thought they might just tell me I had a cyst, but I realised it was serious after all the scans," she said. "They told me they were confident I had cancer."
While awaiting her biopsy results, she also had CT and MRI scans carried out. At a follow-up appointment on May 28, 2025, doctors confirmed she had triple-negative breast cancer and that it was "curable."
According to Cancer Research UK, triple-negative breast cancers are cancers whose cells do not have receptors for oestrogen and progesterone and a protein called Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2). Triple-negative breast cancer develops more often in women under 40 and symptoms often include a lump or thickening in the breast or armpit, a change in the size, shape or feel of the breast, skin changes in the breast, and fluid leaking from the nipple. Doctors told her the tumour measured 95mm by 75mm.
Rebecca added: "That's where it was scary – I would always check myself in the shower and I can't believe it got so big without me knowing. I felt really silly because I didn't notice until it was that size. I was petrified and it didn't feel real."
Her doctors explained she could freeze her eggs through the NHS, where they would be stored for 10 years, and she proceeded with this straight away. Rebecca underwent chemotherapy for six months, beginning in June 2025, alongside immunotherapy every three weeks. She also received hormone therapy in the form of a Zoladex injection once a month, which placed her into a premenopausal state.
She said: "I wore a cold cap during the chemo, but I still lost clumps of my hair and I had to go through all the premenopausal symptoms at the same time. You go into fight mode because you've got no choice."
Midway through her chemotherapy, in September 2025, an ultrasound and MRI scan revealed the tumour had begun to shrink. She completed chemotherapy on December 4, 2025, by which time the tumour had reduced in size from 95mm by 75mm to 75mm by 55mm.
"I felt really happy and positive," Rebecca explained. "Life was good, we were going to get back on track with planning our wedding at that point."
Surgery and Relapse
In January 2026, she had surgery to remove the remaining tumour in her breast, along with the surrounding lymph nodes. Following three weeks of radiotherapy, on February 4 she received the all-clear from breast cancer. By this stage, her relationship with her fiancé had broken down, leaving Rebecca "heartbroken."
She added: "I have amazing friends and family who make sure I'm looking after myself and message me every day."
In April 2026, she underwent further radiotherapy to eliminate any residual microscopic cancer cells. That same month, preliminary tests were carried out for a drug trial aimed at preventing the cancer from returning, one of which included a PET scan.
The scan revealed Rebecca had cancer in her collarbone, and subsequent tests confirmed it had spread to her spine, hips, femur and pelvis, meaning her cancer had advanced to stage four.
"If I hadn't had those scans, I might have just had a follow-up mammogram in a year's time," Rebecca said. "My doctors said there was a lot of cancer growing in my clavicle (collarbone) area, and it had been there for a long time."
"They said that was what was causing the pain in my shoulder blade at the beginning, which I explained to my GP. The GP said it wasn't linked – but that pain actually showed the cancer had spread."
Current Condition and Fundraiser
In June 2026 she embarked on immunotherapy and chemotherapy once more, with doctors telling her she would most likely continue on treatment for the remainder of her life. She revealed that immunotherapy has also triggered an underactive thyroid, leaving her feeling "even more" tired and "puffy." To secure the "best possible care" for Rebecca, her sister Jennie has launched a fundraiser.
A spokesperson from Marlowe Park Medical Centre said: "While we are unable to comment on the details of an individual patient's care due to patient confidentiality obligations, we recognise that concerns about healthcare experiences can be deeply distressing for those involved. We take any concerns raised seriously and review them through the appropriate processes. We remain committed to providing safe, high-quality care and to continually learning and improving the services we provide to our patients."
