Emma Hall, 42, was diagnosed after she noticed a lump and tenderness following the accident
A mum’s life was saved when a freak laundry accident led to the discovery of her cancer. Emma Hall, 42, accidentally bumped into a door frame while carrying a basket of washing, leading to an unexpected cancer diagnosis.
The mother of two from Gomersal, West Yorkshire, noticed a lump and tenderness on her breast after the incident but initially dismissed it. However, when the tenderness subsided and the lump remained, she admitted she “struggled to shake the feeling that something was wrong”.
After numerous tests and examinations at her GP’s office, doctors delivered the devastating news that she had breast cancer. Following surgery, a significant portion of her cancer was removed, and further rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy helped reduce its size.
While doctors can’t give Emma the all-clear, they have assured her that the hormone therapy treatment she is receiving will help prevent the cancer from growing. Since her diagnosis, Emma has been actively fundraising and raising awareness through Cancer Research UK’s Shine Night Walks, joined by 60 friends and family members.
Emma said: “My life was turned upside down and I didn’t know what was going to be around the corner. I’d never had so many injections or taken my top off in front of so many strangers. The doctors can’t guarantee that my cancer has all gone, but the treatment I continue to have will work to prevent any growth.”
Looking back on the accident that sparked her journey, Emma said: “Days after the bump, the lump hadn’t gone. I started to find other reasons for it and didn’t think I should be concerned, as I was only 39 at the time. But in the end I couldn’t shake the feeling there might be something wrong and booked to see my GP.”
During the consultation, which fell on Valentine’s Day, Emma informed the doctor she had no family history of breast cancer. However, the GP was sufficiently worried by the lump and alterations to the nipple on her other breast that she arranged a referral to the breast clinic.
Emma explained: “The consultant took me seriously straight away and as the appointment went on, the reality of what the diagnosis could be hit me. I had an ultrasound, mammogram, multiple biopsies and another ultrasound.”
Emma revealed that, as the examinations continued, the consultant was convinced it might be breast cancer, though they would need to await the results for confirmation. For Emma, what ought to have been a romantic day with her partner, Richard, instead became about facing the possibility she might have cancer.
She explained: “The appointment sadly fell on Valentine’s Day so, I spent the day being prodded and poked. My husband Rich and I have been together since we were 17 years old. We met at school and he proposed to me on Valentine’s Day, so it’s always been a special day for us.”
A fortnight later, Emma received the devastating news that she had been diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, invasive lobular breast cancer is the second most common form of the disease that begins in the lobules – the glands responsible for producing milk during breastfeeding.
In April, Emma endured a marathon nine-hour operation at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield. During the procedure, she underwent a single mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction using tissue from her thigh, a technique known as TUG flap reconstruction.
Tragically, the surgery revealed the cancer had already spread to her lymph nodes, meaning she would need additional operations and further treatment.
Emma, who documents her journey on the Instagram page emma_breast.cancer.and.me, explained: “All margins showed positive traces of cancer, so I had all my lymph nodes removed in a second surgery and the reconstruction had to be removed. It felt like such a step backwards and that the cancer I had initially thought would be easy to tackle suddenly got a lot scarier.”
She subsequently underwent treatment at the Bexley Wing at St James’ Hospital in Leeds, which comprised chemotherapy, followed by radiotherapy, and then targeted drug therapy. During her treatment, Emma marked her 40th birthday and her daughter’s GCSE results, celebrations that should have included a family holiday to Disney World.
She said: “It was supposed to be a big celebration year and we had planned a dream holiday to Disney World, but it all had to be cancelled. Instead we were juggling hospital appointments.”
Fast forward three years, Emma is still undergoing hormone therapy treatment, which medics believe will halt any further growth. She and her husband have also rebranded Valentine’s Day as Live Life Day.
Since her diagnosis, the courageous mum has been raising awareness by participating in Cancer Research UK’s Shine Night Walks with a team of 60 friends and family members. The Shine Night Walks involve a 10km trek through the heart of Leeds, armed with glow sticks, aiming to raise awareness for the disease. The next walk is scheduled for Saturday, October 4.
Emma said: “Taking part in an event like Shine is a great way to support research that will help drive more life-saving discoveries and breakthroughs.”
Donations can be made to Emma’s fundraiser online.