Four years ago, I found out that I have a mutation, BRCA2+ which means, I am at high risk of developing breast cancer. For that reason, I have breast screenings every year since.. In April 2019, I had to undertake a biopsy as there was something abnormal, but the result came back clear. In January 2020, my annual screening was due and unfortunately it showed something suspicious, a 5cm size tumour in one of my breasts. One month later, I was told I had Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. The cancer had spread to my axillary lymph nodes, liver and bones..

After 3 months of weekly chemotherapy I achieved total remission, the cancer disappeared leaving some residual tissue in the breast and axilla which was removed in September. Although the response has been amazing, I will have to live with cancer for the rest of my life, there is no cure at the moment.

Being diagnosed with cancer just before the pandemic has been especially frightening as the uncertainty increased day by day. I didn’t know whether my treatment was going to start or even if it was going to be cancelled at some point. I was terrified of going outside or even to my appointments.

The restrictions made the process a bit difficult at the beginning, as I had to go to chemotherapy on my own but then, I was grateful to have 7 hours of me-time and all the attention from the nurses. When I changed my mentality and saw things with a new light, chemotherapy days became my favourite day of the week.

My advice to other women going through cancer during coronavirus is to minimise the risk as much as you can and to try to go out every day for a walk to improve your mental health and wellbeing. Stop watching the unpleasant news on your tv and start watching the beautiful world that surrounds you.

I changed my nutrition completely, I gave it the importance it deserves; food is medicine. I want to believe that this sacrifice lead to the great response I got.

I started doing yoga, meditation and anything that relaxes me such as reading, colouring, looking after my plants… Doing things you like has a positive and strong effect on your body and mind.

• Don’t panic. I know, it's easier said than done and beginnings are always difficult because you don’t know what's going to happen.
• When you hear your diagnosis, you might be in shock for a few days, feeling lost and hopeless. Have a team of people that can help you out with appointments, calls, meals or anything you need.
• Once you feel better, seek for a second or even third opinion as this can change the entire picture. Counselling, nutrition, reading, complementary therapy and some light exercise is a big part of your treatment as well.

Is there anything you would like to add here about raising awareness of breast cancer in younger women?

Cancer is not a mid-age disease; it can happen at a young age whether you are healthy or not, whether you have family history or not. Explore your breast on a monthly basis; that was the mistake I made. If I knew how my breast felt like, I probably could have detected an abnormality much earlier, maybe before the cancer spread.