Charity, Health & Lifestyle | Posted on March 7th, 2025 | return to news
Dorset charity helping young woman diagnosed with breast cancer
The nursery worker has expressed her gratitude to Dorset Cancer Care Foundation for helping to help pay her food and heating bills.
A nursery worker who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer at age 28 has spoken of her gratitude after the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF) stepped in to help pay her food and heating bills.
Stephanie Peacey, from Verwood, was diagnosed with one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer in August last year, just weeks after moving into her own flat and starting a new job.
She noticed that her left breast felt hard and that her nipple was inverted but initially ignored the changes because she hadn’t detected an actual lump.
Peacey, now 29, said: “When I noticed a cloudy discharge coming from my nipple I went to my GP. But even then, I didn’t think it was anything serious as I had not found a lump of any kind and everyone was telling me I was far too young to have cancer.”
An ultrasound at The Jigsaw Centre at Bournemouth Hospital revealed a deep-set mass – not easily detectable through self-examination – and following a three-week wait after a biopsy, her worst fears were confirmed when she learned she had rare Triple Negative Breast Cancer and would require long and gruelling treatment.
“My chemo lasted from the beginning of September last year until New Year’s Eve and was exhausting,” she said.
But even worse was to come.
“When you have Triple Negative Breast Cancer, they also perform genetic testing. This revealed I have the mutated BRCA1 gene.”
BRCA1 genes normally act as tumour suppressors, but having a mutated version significantly raises the risk of breast cancer by up to 85 per cent and ovarian cancer by up to 46 per cent.
Peacey continued: “This is a hereditary condition. My mum has been tested, and we are waiting for the result of whether she too is affected.
“There I was, 28 years old and one minute I was happy. I had a new flat, a new job and a new car and my whole future to look forward to, and the next minute I was being told about preventative measures like losing my breasts and ovaries.”
Peacey had to stop working because of the high risk of infection from working with children.
“It was heartbreaking,” she said. “But then my fears about cancer were joined by fears about how I would pay my rent after my short-term sick pay ended.
“Someone at the Jigsaw Centre told me about the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation and I applied for a grant online.”
The DCCF fundraises to help Dorset people facing financial hardship because of a cancer diagnosis.
“When the DCCF came straight back and told me they could help me pay for my heating bill and some food I was so grateful.
“Other charities have since helped too and I don’t know what I would have done without this support.”
Peacey has undergone a full single mastectomy and will have another full single mastectomy and reconstruction in the future.
“Losing your breasts at any age is a terrible experience. I am slowly having to come to terms that I will look different, but it’s better than the alternative,” she said.
“I had some of my eggs frozen before my treatment, but time will tell if I am able to use any of them because of the BRAC1 mutation.
“My family have been wonderfully supportive – but my poor mum has sat and cried and said she just wishes this could have happened to her instead.”
Peacey has turned to TikTok to share her experiences and spread awareness.
“I started sharing posts about what was happening to me and people responded, including other young people going through similar things. Suddenly I didn’t feel so lonely and isolated, and it felt like something good was coming from what I was going through.”
She now has over 4,000 followers. She added: “It takes my mind off what is happening to me.
“I can now also signpost other cancer patients in Dorset to the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation and other charities for help. And most importantly I can tell people to seek a medical opinion as soon as something feels different – even if there is no lump.”
For more information on how the DCCF can support you, please visit www.dccf.co.uk.
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