WARNING: This story contains images that some people may find upsetting
A grandmother’s breast cancer treatment resulted in her having blue breasts for three years. Beverley Godsell, 62, had no lumps or symptoms when a routine mammogram detected a mass in her breasts in August 2021.
Just five hours after her biopsy, she was diagnosed with stage one cancer in her right breast and stage two in the left. The grandmother of two underwent a scan that involved injecting blue dye into her bloodstream to highlight the lymph nodes – making them easier to locate and remove for cancer signs.
Fortunately, results indicated that it was confined to her breasts. After undergoing a lumpectomy in October 2021 to excise the tumours, Beverley had 15 sessions of radiotherapy to eradicate any remaining cancer cells.
Despite concluding her treatment, the blue dye used stubbornly remained visible on her chest. Fondly referring to them as her “blue boobs”, she earned affectionate nicknames like “bluetit”, “Smurfette” and “Avatar” from family members, including her husband, Brian, 64.
Post-treatment, Beverley was informed there was “no evidence of disease”, but she must take a hormone suppressant drug for five years. NHS guidance states that the colour from the blue dye will linger in the breast area for “several months, but it is not dangerous and will gradually fade” and “very rarely, the staining can last for more than one year”.
Beverley, a retired swimming teacher from Southend, Essex, said: “For nearly three years I had blue boobs – much to the amusement of friends and family.”
Beverley embraced the nicknames she was given as a testament to her fighting spirit. She shared that she had no lumps or symptoms when she was diagnosed.
Stressing the importance of regular health checks, she said: “It’s so important woman go to their routine mammograms. My doctors said by the time I would have felt a lump, it would have been too late. I wouldn’t be here today without it.”
Following her routine mammogram, Beverley received an invitation from the Nightingale Centre in Southend for a follow-up appointment.
Describing her experience, she said: “I was poked and prodded for hours and I knew something was wrong,” and “I left the appointment and just dissolved into my husband’s arms. There was a sinking realisation it was going to be cancer.”
In September 2021, Beverley was summoned back to the hospital to discuss her test results. It was there that she was informed she had hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in both breasts.
This type of cancer is characterised by receptors that respond to hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, which likely “fuelled” its growth. Reflecting on her diagnosis, Beverley admitted: “You hear the word cancer and you think the worst.”
She revealed the rarity of her condition, having cancer in both breasts simultaneously, and how her treatment would involve a teaching hospital where one breast would be operated on by a surgeon while a student worked on the other. Before undergoing surgery, Beverley had to go through a scan that required injecting blue dye into her bloodstream.
“Doctors follow the blue dye to find the tiny lymph nodes under your armpit,” she explained. “Luckily, the cancer hadn’t spread to them. But I woke up and my boobs were blue – nobody tells you! It was a bit of a shock.”
The operation was a success, with surgeons excising the malignant growths. Beverley was fortunate to avoid chemotherapy, instead starting radiotherapy on New Year’s Day in 2022.
She underwent what the medics termed a ‘megablast’ – a concentrated series of 15 sessions over five days aimed at eradicating any lingering cancer cells. She discovered invaluable support through the charity Breast Cancer Now and Bosom Pals, which she described as a “godsend”.
Beverley said: “Ladies – especially mums – have a tendency to say we’re ‘fine’ even when we’re not. But all need help and support. Getting involved with Breast Cancer Now has been amazing.
“Without cancer, I wouldn’t have done half the things I have. It’s open a lot of doors and I’ve met the most inspiring people. I’m very lucky to be here today.”
She is now championing the cause for Breast Cancer Now and their Afternoon Tea event slated for August 2025. More information can be found here