Beth Jenkins, 42, from Merthyr Tydfil, was told by a locum GP that her concerns about a growing breast lump were likely linked to anxiety and postnatal depression, only to be diagnosed with lobular breast cancer weeks later. According to BBC News, the cancer had already spread to lymph nodes by the time she received her diagnosis on 14 November 2024. Her experience has prompted her to campaign for better awareness of breast cancer in younger women and stricter adherence to referral guidelines.
Jenkins first detected a small lump in her right breast in 2018, but after an ultrasound at her GP practice, she was told it was likely glandular tissue and no biopsy was performed. Years later, after giving birth to her daughter Robyn, the child accidentally kicked the area during a nappy change. Jenkins then noticed the lump had grown substantially. When she visited her GP practice in October 2024, the locum doctor dismissed her concerns, suggesting the lump might be an infection or related to her mental health rather than a serious medical condition.
Frustrated by the initial response, Jenkins returned to the practice two weeks later while attending an appointment with her baby. A female GP reviewed her notes and advised her to submit an e-consult, acknowledging that she should have been referred immediately. The same locum doctor who had previously dismissed her concerns then picked up the referral and contacted her. Jenkins described the interaction:
"He was like, 'you're still a bit anxious about this lump here.' I said, 'I'm not anxious. I said it's something, it's non-infection. I need to have it seen to'."
Following her referral to a breast clinic, Jenkins received her diagnosis: lobular breast cancer with a 5-centimetre tumour. According to RSVP Live, the cancer was classified as stage two and was oestrogen- and progesterone-positive, with cancer found in four of 26 lymph nodes examined. The diagnosis came as a shock to Jenkins, a police officer and mother of two.
Jenkins underwent a left mastectomy followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. During her treatment, she experienced severe complications, including neutropenic sepsis—a life-threatening condition. RSVP Live reported that she spent five weeks in hospital and that radiotherapy later caused severe burns, limiting her right-arm movement. She was told that had she delayed seeking emergency care by 24 hours, she would not have survived.
Jenkins decided to tell her eight-year-old daughter Fallon about her cancer diagnosis before beginning chemotherapy. Initially, she had explained her mastectomy as a "boob job," to which Fallon responded by asking why only one breast had been treated. After losing her hair during treatment, Jenkins chose to shave her head first, a decision she said allowed her to maintain some sense of control during an overwhelming period.
What treatment is Jenkins receiving now?
Jenkins is currently classed as having no evidence of disease but will be monitored for 15 years. According to RSVP Live, she underwent a hysterectomy and is now taking letrozole for 10 years and ribociclib for three years, with annual scans planned. She has also been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and is receiving EMDR therapy.
Why are younger women at risk of missed diagnoses?
In the UK, routine NHS breast screening is not automatically offered to women aged 40, as standard invitations begin at 50. However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines state that people aged 40 and under should be referred for further investigation if they have an unexplained breast or armpit lump, with or without pain, or skin changes that could indicate breast cancer. Despite these clear guidelines, research by Cancer Research Wales found significant variation in how GPs apply them—some follow them closely while others rely on experience or instinct.
Dr Lee Campbell from Cancer Research Wales noted that although breast cancer in women under 40 is uncommon, there are approximately 100 to 115 cases annually in Wales. He emphasised that
"Age should not be a deciding factor for referral for further investigations if symptoms present in younger women."He also highlighted
"an inequity" on how GPs apply referral guidelines for people aged 40 and under.
Jenkins described GPs as "the gateway to the services" and stressed the importance of proper referral:
"If you can't get past the GP to get to that service, there's people dying."She warned that delayed diagnoses could result in cancer spreading to bones or the brain, making treatment far more difficult.
How has the GP practice responded?
Practice 1 Keir Hardie Health Park said it could not discuss individual cases but encouraged patients to "make a second appointment" if they had concerns about their health or care. However, since Jenkins raised her concerns publicly, the practice issued a statement on social media in July 2025 acknowledging that
"a serious diagnosis was unfortunately missed at first. Thankfully, she returned to see another member of our team who sent an urgent referral—but had they not, the outcome could have been very different. In the patient's own words 'trust your instincts'."
What is Jenkins doing to raise awareness?
Jenkins has decided to turn her experience into advocacy. She hopes sharing her story will encourage others to "keep pushing" for answers and to fight to be heard.
"If I hadn't had a voice, or if I'd just listened to that doctor, I could be sitting here now and they'd say, 'it's in your bones, in your brain'. So many more people are sat in the house right now who should have been diagnosed and by the time they go back they're terminal. Cancer didn't care that I was a mother to a 10 month old... cancer doesn't discriminate."
To mark two years since her diagnosis, Jenkins created Breast Fest, a charity event scheduled for 14 November 2026 to raise money for Cancer Aid Merthyr Tydfil. According to RSVP Live, the event has sold out and will raise substantial funds for the organisation. Jenkins said:
"People are being so kind. It's gone really well and I'm hoping to raise a lot of money."
What happens next?
Dr Lee Campbell and Cancer Research Wales are working with researchers and primary care centres across Wales to ensure NICE guidelines are followed and best practice is pursued. Campbell stated:
"With respect to cancer, this will enable GP practices to go from gatekeepers to case-finders and will ensure cases like Beth's are dealt with sooner and not readily dismissed."The Breast Fest fundraiser on 14 November 2026 will continue to raise awareness and support for cancer patients in the local community.
