‘At any age be breast aware’

Twenty-seven-year-old Alanna Kells has taken to TikTok to share her journey with breast cancer and to raise awareness on the illness.

What started as tiredness turned into a breast cancer diagnosis for Alanna, who received the news in December last year.

After initial general tests came back "normal", she put her tiredness down to planning a wedding while also trying to complete her PhD in Medical Law.

As someone who always carried out regular breast checks, the Milltown woman encouraged people to find out how you can properly do the test.

"I happened to be lying down and I found the lump when I wasn't looking for it," she said.

Airing on the side of caution, her doctor sent her for further tests. "Initially when I first got diagnosed, I felt like the only person my age to have breast cancer," she said, speaking on the idea behind her TikTok account to reach out to women on a similar journey.

Her account has connected her with people from all over Ireland, some of whom are reaching out a helping hand in the most heartfelt way.

Alanna took the decision to shave her head immediately upon starting her chemotherapy.

"A girl texted me that she had finished her chemo and her hair had grown back. She had a real human hair wig that she had gotten, and if I wanted it she'd post it up to me.

"She wouldn't take anything for it, she wouldn't even let me pay for postage or anything like that."

She said the wig has been "brilliant" to "get me by".

"It was so generous of her, people have sent me other things as well."

Another woman sent cold gloves, which help with the side effects of chemotherapy, which can cause your hands to tingle.

"They understand what it's like. I can see why you'd want to help other people, but it's crazy that people are so willing to just send whatever you need."

Another topic she addressed on her social media page is how people approach her since they found out about her diagnosis.

"I think it's kind of awkward; people don't know what to say to you sometimes. It's literally as simple as 'look sorry to hear, I hope you're getting on well'."

"Let's not get too tragic on things or too emotional on things," she continues.

"All of my friends have been brilliant... At the start everything revolved around cancer but I missed normal conversations. I think people don't want to complain about their lives because you're going through cancer."

However she counters: "Please tell me your normal ordinary problems, I would love to hear about your boss or bad tinder dates. I would gladly listen to that," she laughs.

"Just try to keep things normal," she advises.

Get it checked!

She made the following appeal to women: "if you feel any change at all just go and get it checked."

Alanna continued: "You're meant to be doing breast checks once a month and you can do them standing up, lying down, or in front of a mirror. Different positions are really important because I could not feel my lump standing up but I could feel it lying down. It's not something I've ever heard before but a few people have commented on my TikTok to say they were the same."

She has learned that breast cancer is rising. Statistically, one in seven women in Ireland will get breast cancer at some point which she says is "scary".

"At any age be breast aware, and look up how to properly do these exams. The earlier young find it the better."

Meanwhile, Alanna highly praised the nurses in the oncology unit in Cavan, who are "so friendly" and always "have a laugh" with you.

"They just make you feel so at ease and that has been brilliant."

You can support Alanna's gofundme via the link here.