'I found something slightly different in one of my breasts. It felt like a pearl you’d get in boba tea'

A breast cancer patient from Cavan is encouraging people to regularly check their breasts this Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Twenty-eight-year-old Alanna Kells was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2025. Her diagnosis came about after she noticed a lump in her breast.

Every year, around 3,600 women and approximately 30 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland.

Speaking about the lump she discovered and the importance of regularly checking your breasts, the Millotwn native described how she always did breast checks standing up, but in October 2025 she checked while lying in bed one night.

"I found something slightly different in one of my breasts. It felt like a pearl you’d get in boba tea," she recalled.

“It was malleable and it wasn’t rock hard, which I assumed it would be if it was cancer.

“But I was able to move it around, and it blended into the surrounding tissue quite easily. I asked my partner to check it too, and he said I needed to get it checked.

“I hummed and hawed about it for a day or two, but then I thought, ‘I should get this checked’.”

Alanna went to her GP who referred her to a Breast Clinic, where she underwent further tests and received her diagnosis.

“The surgeon was straight to the point and told me I had cancer. They told me the ultrasound found two tumours, and that the lymph nodes were inflamed.

“The breast MRI showed that I had cancer across all four quadrants of my breast. It ended up forming into one tumour that I could feel.”

After her diagnosis, Alanna started treatment. She had chemotherapy, which she finished in June, and had a mastectomy in July. The next stage of her treatment will be radiotherapy.

Alanna is sharing her story to raise awareness of breast cancer and encourage people to support the Pink campaign to help people who, like her, who have been affected by breast cancer.

She is encouraging the public to host a Pink event to help fund vital breast cancer support services and life-changing breast cancer research projects.

“I would encourage everyone to please get behind the Pink campaign. A huge amount of the funding for the Irish Cancer Society’s breast cancer support services and breast cancer research projects comes from donations made by the public.

“If you are at all able, please support this important cause. You can donate or register your fundraising event at cancer.ie/pink”

Mary O’Kelly, Cancer Nurse with the Irish Cancer Society, said self-examination is "so important" for women of all ages, even those who are eligible for screening, as this only takes place every two years.

"Pick a date and try to do it as consistently as you can on a monthly basis," she advised.

“It’s really important that we are breast aware and know what is normal for us. If you notice any of the signs or symptoms of breast cancer and the change persists, please go to see your GP as soon as possible.

"Women can sometimes feel embarrassed or uncomfortable attending their GP with breast issues, but this examination could save your life. Your GP will perform a routine examination of your breast and if appropriate, refer you for further assessment.

"If you are concerned about breast cancer, call the Irish Cancer Society’s Support Line on Freephone 1800 200 700. You can also find out more at www.cancer.ie”

This October, the Irish Cancer Society is encouraging people to host Pink events in their homes, workplaces, communities and colleges to raise funds to support breast cancer support services such as free counselling, transport to treatment, night nursing and much more.

Funds raised will also be used to fund ground-breaking breast cancer research projects.

Symptoms of breast cancer include:

A lump or thickening in your breast or armpit.

A change in size or shape of one breast like one breast becoming larger than the other.

A change in the skin of your breast, like puckering or dimpling (the skin may look like orange peel).

A breast abscess – (infected boil) this may appear as a red, tender area on your breast.

A change in your nipple, like a pulled-in, sunken or flattened nipple.

An unusual discharge (liquid) from one or both of your nipples. The discharge may be blood stained or watery.

A change on or around the nipple like a rash or flaky or crusted skin.

Swelling in your armpit or around your collarbone.