Bethany Eaton, 46, was diagnosed just weeks after being given a clean bill of health
Bethany Eaton, a 46-year-old busy mum and entrepreneur, was the picture of health following a comprehensive medical check-up that showed no issues. However, just weeks later she discovered a lump and received a diagnosis of triple-positive breast cancer.
She immediately began treatment, which included a gruelling 12-week course of chemotherapy. “In February 2024 life was chugging along,” said Bethany, who co-founded the dairy-free yoghurt company Nush with her husband Paul.
“Running your own business comes with its fair share of stress and back in early 2024 I thought I was dealing with this pretty well. I felt well, I had recently lost a few kilos, I was feeling fit and healthy and had no concerns with my health.”
Bethany and her husband Paul, both ex-police officers, routinely underwent health checks, and as of January 2024, all results were clear. But soon after, Bethany’s life took an unexpected turn when she found a lump on her breast.
“It was the Monday of half term February 2024 and we had decided not to go away,” recounted Bethany, from Chislehurst, Kent. “Instead, we were working from home when our internet was playing up for about the zillionth time.
“I laid back on our living room floor and as I rolled back my hand brushed across my left breast and I felt a lump. I jumped up and said to my husband ‘I’ve found a lump’.
“He felt it and said it was probably nothing, but best to get it checked out. I immediately contacted the doctor and headed down that afternoon to get it checked. I thought it was probably nothing because all my recent blood tests had been absolutely normal, including tumour markers.”
The doctor examined the lump and voiced some concerns.
“As soon as the doctor felt my lump he looked at me and told me that although it felt mostly normal, there was a small area that he didn’t like and he wanted to get checked out,” Bethany explained.
At this point, Bethany’s anxiety began to rise and she sensed that her life might be on the cusp of a profound change. The next day, she met with a breast cancer consultant at the hospital, and upon examination, it was clear that he was not satisfied with the results.
“From there things snowballed, I had a mammogram and ultrasound, followed by a biopsy. This was on the Tuesday and on the Friday I was called back and told I had breast cancer.”
Bethany was left reeling from the news, but she steeled herself to tackle the treatment plan head-on, determined to do everything in her power to overcome the cancer.
“I remember being called into the room with the surgeon and in the corner of the room a nurse in a blue outfit was sat there,” Bethany recalled. “I didn’t realise at the time but this was my breast care nurse who would help me get through the journey ahead. When the doctor told me ‘unfortunately Bethany you have breast cancer’, the words echoed in my head. The only thing I could think of saying was ‘I can’t die, I have two kids’.”
The medical team assured Bethany they would do everything possible to help her. She was promptly scheduled for an MRI and a CT scan to determine if the cancer had spread.
“This was actually the most terrifying part of everything,” she confessed. “The two weeks following my diagnosis and all the tests that would determine my treatment plan and how likely I was to get through this. It’s a funny thing, but when you get a cancer diagnosis you will do anything you are told to try to get out the other side.”
When Bethany received her results and treatment plan, it seemed quite straightforward: chemotherapy, adjuvant therapy, a mastectomy followed by five to ten years of hormone therapy.
“I found the hardest part for me was going from being a normal person walking down the street to a cancer patient and then to a cancer patient having chemotherapy,” she admitted.
The treatment was tough, but Bethany tackled it by incorporating it into her daily routine. “The nerves before my first chemo session were immense,” she shared.
“Every Friday I headed to the treatment suite to be looked after by my amazing nurses. It became a routine: I would arrive, have bloods, be given the go-ahead for treatment and then the cold cap would go on and we would be off.”
Initially set for 24 weeks of chemotherapy, her journey took a turn when, after just 12 weeks, a scan revealed her lump had disappeared, leading her surgeon to suggest moving straight to a mastectomy. This was contingent on further tests; if cancer cells were detected in her tissue, she would need to complete the remaining chemo sessions.
“The day my amazing nurse Oonagh called me up and said I had had a pathological full response to treatment and I was cancer-free,” she recalled. “It was a day to remember!”
Bethany is now an advocate for regular breast checks for women of all ages.
“I always thought breast cancer affected only older women, but since being diagnosed I realise that it affects women, and some men, of any age,” she shared.
She has encountered incredible women in their 20s to 50s who have battled this illness. Bethany emphasises the critical importance of early detection, which significantly increases the chances of overcoming the disease, hence the vital message to check your breasts regularly.
“Any new lumps, bumps, pain, itching, any change in or around your breasts, armpit, shoulder blades, get it checked! Early detection saves lives and it saved mine.”
Bethany has achieved remission and is now channeling her energy into spreading knowledge about the illness and offering a helping hand to those affected. In collaboration with her venture, Nush Foods, she’s working alongside Future Dreams, a notable UK Breast Cancer support charity.
To contribute to the cause, Nush Foods donates five pence from every Strawberry and Raspberry Protein Yog sold to Future Dreams and lends support through various events and by arranging in-house tasting sessions. Reflecting on her cancer ordeal, Bethany expressed gratitude towards her family and team at work for their invaluable support during treatment.
“Being diagnosed with breast cancer and running a business of the size we own was challenging but my staff stepped up and took over while I took some time to get through this, they have all been amazing,” she shared.
“It is almost a year on from finishing my last round of chemo and I have recently finished active cancer treatment. It has taken time to get back on my feet, and I have to make sure I don’t do too much in a day.
“My life has changed, I put my health first, I put my family first, without them I wouldn’t have got through this and will be forever grateful for their support. I have learned not to sweat the small stuff, life is too short. A cancer diagnosis certainly puts things into perspective.
“I used to love shopping and buying nice handbags but now I just want to travel the world and make memories, material things just don’t seem that important anymore.”
Bethany’s latest milestone was strutting down the catwalk for the Future Dreams charity show, which supports those affected by breast cancer. “I recently was asked to walk in the Future Dreams charity catwalk show for those touched by breast cancer, and my family came to watch and were cheering and emotional in the audience. I felt so proud of everything I have been through!”
Discover more about Bethany’s business venture at https://nushfoods.co.uk