My name is Sarah and I was diagnosed with hormone responsive breast cancer aged 26 last summer, August 2021. I have no family history of any cancer and I have had genetic testing for BRCA1, BRCA2, PALBS and TP53 which were all negative so I am clear of any faulty genes or mutations. My only risk factor was the contraception pill.

I want to make it a compulsory change that when you are prescribed the contraception pill, you are clearly told the increased risks of cancer, what signs to look out for and how to correctly self check your chest monthly. 

I found my lump myself undergoing my monthly self examination and instantly I booked in to see my GP for advice because I knew this was not my ‘normal’. Thankfully I was self aware and took action but not everyone is aware of this risk. A lot of women I have spoken to have said they don’t self check, because they don’t know how to and don’t know what they’re looking for. This initial conversation could save a life.

Taking the contraception pill will slightly increases your risk of developing breast cancer by 7% every 5 years. When you stop taking the pill, your breast cancer risk stops increasing. About 10 years after stopping, a person’s risk is no longer affected. (Information from Cancer Research UK)

I was at 14% more at risk of developing breast cancer as I was taking the pill for 10 years. I have only just found this information since being diagnosed with cancer. If I had known the information prior… things may have been different.

Since being diagnosed, I have made several viral TikTok’s about my diagnosis which have been flooded with comments of young girls shocked to find out the contraception pill increases your risk of breast cancer.

This is when I knew that a change needs to be made. Social media should not be the way young people are told medical information, especially for something they are already taking. 

The risk of breast cancer from contraception may be rare but I am proof it can happen to anyone so it should not be overlooked. If I was not aware of this risk to know to self check, I may not be here today wanting to make this change so please help me make a difference.