Being breast aware: The 15-minute habit that could help to save your life
Juliette O’Connell shares her personal experience with breast cancer to raise awareness about the importance of self-examination and early medical intervention. She emphasizes that symptoms can be subtle and often overlooked by those without a family history.
Why it matters
Public health awareness campaigns regarding early detection are vital for improving survival rates in cancer treatment.
Juliette O’Connell was 41 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She now works for Breast Cancer Ireland as an outreach co-ordinator. She urges everyone to take the time to check themselves and speak to a GP if they’re unsure. Picture: Larry Cummins
When Juliette O’Connell was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 41, cancer wasn’t on her radar.
“There was no history of breast cancer in my family, and I wasn’t unwell or hadn’t even found a lump,” she says.
Instead, O’Connell had a rash around her collarbone and at the top of her left breast, which first appeared in June 2011. She initially thought it was a heat rash — she’d just come back from a cycle and noticed it while showering.
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