18/10/2026
π©· Breast cancer π©·
October is breast cancer awareness month. Raising awareness of knowing when something feels different saves lives.
This is me, Lynsay, owner of Mini First Aid Fife & Forth Valley, Fifer, married to my favourite human for 31 years, mum to two wonderful young men and a breast cancer survivor.
I found a small lump through checking my breasts on my usual monthly check when I was 45 years old. Referral from my GP to the breast clinic for mammography, then an ultrasound biopsy revealed it was cancer. An MRI scan a couple of weeks later found another three cancers in the same breast that had not been detected on mammography or initial ultrasound.
At the time of surgery to remove the breast ( single mastectomy) another cancer was found when the breast was sent to pathology. It was aggressive cancer but finding that one small lump meant the others were detected too.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed and all I will say is everyone's experience of these treatments is unique to them and their cancer. I started treatment just before we went into the first lockdown.
I had support from my beautiful family and we had some amazing friends doing food parcel drops for us as we isolated as a family for five months.
Cancer survivor is a term which I'm still not sure I'm comfortable with. I am blessed/lucky/grateful to be here and think knowing what felt different for my body and acting quickly played a part.
Along with the sheer relief came a shift in how I experience everyday, mundane, things. It sounds cliche but the sun shines brighter, little snippets in the day with loved ones mean more. There is courage to do what brings joy and purpose, hence my wee business. So there is positivity in the aftermath, for sure.
The flip side is, it is not truly over. It's in the back of my mind - always. Ongoing treatment to prevent recurrence is reassuring, but there's a stark reality to why it's needed. Is that sore head just a sore head? Is that cough that's been there a couple of weeks, just a cough? Trying to keep positive is the best way forward but it uses up energy, which is lower now due to treatment. I'm careful with my energy as it does get sapped. I do what feeds my soul and say no to things that deplete energy, something I may not have found so easy to do years ago.
So, if you come and take your first aid training with me, you'll notice how much energy I put into it. I'm passionate about giving you a great training experience because I want you to enjoy your time whilst you learn life saving stuff! It feeds my energy so it's a win win situation. You become an awesome first aider and I'm recharged! π
Thanks for reading and please remember to check your breasts / chest regularly. Any lumps, skin changes, pain, ni**le discharge go get checked out. Know what your normal is and act quickly on anything that isn't your normal. π
Tattoo by Wayne Body Language Tattoos
Photograph by Rachel ShootSweet