Health & Lifestyle

I went for breast reduction surgery to downsize my size H boobs and left with five years to live – after surgeon found a stage 4 cancerous lump

A Tennessee woman claims reduction surgery on her size H breasts saved her life after surgeons discovered a ‘fist-sized’ lump that turned out to be stage 4 cancer.

Savannah White, 30, suffered from agonizing back and shoulder pain and friction sores in her right breast from a lump she said doctors dismissed as a harmless cyst.

‘I had what I thought was a cyst on the bottom of my breast, and it would rub up against the underwire of my bra. It was truly, truly uncomfortable,’ Mrs White said.

The social worker opted for breast reduction surgery last February but was shocked when doctors found a cancerous lump. Tests revealed that she has stage 4 breast cancer, leaving her with a life expectancy of just five to 10 years. 

Savannah White opted for breast reduction surgery last February to bring her breasts down from size H. She thought she had a cyst under her breast, but doctors dismissed it as harmless

Savannah White opted for breast reduction surgery last February to bring her breasts down from size H. She thought she had a cyst under her breast, but doctors dismissed it as harmless

Savannah White opted for breast reduction surgery last February to bring her breasts down from size H. She thought she had a cyst under her breast, but doctors dismissed it as harmless

Mrs White was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, which has a survival rate of five to 10 years. She credits the surgery for ultimately saving her life

Mrs White was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, which has a survival rate of five to 10 years. She credits the surgery for ultimately saving her life

‘[The doctor] said that he could tell by looking at it that it was cancer. It didn’t hit me until later. I just remember bawling [on the way home],’ Mrs White said. 

‘It was a complete shock. Nowhere in my brain did I think this could happen to me, especially at the age of 29.’

‘It felt like the wind got knocked out of me. Stage 4 is synonymous with death, or at least it was in my mind. I thought I was going to die.’

‘The breast reduction surgery saved my life.’

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in American women and is the second leading cause of death among women after lung cancer.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that in 2023 alone, nearly 300,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 43,000 will die.  

Localized breast cancer, meaning cancer confined to just one area, has nearly a 100 percent survival rate after five years. However, once it spreads to other areas, such as during stage 4, five-year survival drops to just 31 percent. 

Mrs White’s diagnosis at age 29 is especially rare, as the average age women are typically diagnosed is 63. 

Mrs White (pictured with her husband, Phillip) underwent 12 rounds of chemotherapy. She will be on chemo and hormone blockers, which have left her unable to have children, for the rest of her life

Mrs White (pictured with her husband, Phillip) underwent 12 rounds of chemotherapy. She will be on chemo and hormone blockers, which have left her unable to have children, for the rest of her life

Mrs White (pictured with her husband, Phillip) underwent 12 rounds of chemotherapy. She will be on chemo and hormone blockers, which have left her unable to have children, for the rest of her life

Mrs White believes that if she was sent for a mammogram instead of being misdiagnosed with cysts, her cancer may have never reached stage four. 'Advocate yourself as far as talking to doctors, because they definitely want to dismiss younger patients,' she said

Mrs White believes that if she was sent for a mammogram instead of being misdiagnosed with cysts, her cancer may have never reached stage four. ‘Advocate yourself as far as talking to doctors, because they definitely want to dismiss younger patients,’ she said

She underwent 12 rounds of chemotherapy and is now in remission. However, she now has to take oral chemo medication and hormone blockers for the rest of her life. The hormone blockers have put her in menopause at age 30, which means she can no longer have children.

She’s also only expected to live another five to 10 years.

‘Usually, a lot of people think that remission means cured, but it doesn’t really mean that, and it definitely doesn’t when you’re at stage 4,’ Mrs White said. 

‘For now, I’m on oral chemo and I will be on oral chemo for the rest of my life.’

‘Once a month I go in and get hormone blocker injections. They put me in menopause, so I’m in menopause at the age 30. I’ll never be able to have children.’

‘It’s a day-to-day thing. I will never live a normal life, and I’m trying to come to terms with it.’

Mrs White has vowed to start her own non-profit or provide therapy to other cancer patients and is currently writing a book about her experience.

She believes that if she was sent for a mammogram instead of being misdiagnosed with cysts, her cancer may have never reached stage four.

‘Anyone who isn’t feeling right should trust their body. Your body will tell you what to do,’ Mrs White said.

‘Advocate yourself as far as talking to doctors, because they definitely want to dismiss younger patients.’

‘Speak for yourself and push for what you need, whether that’s a mammogram or an ultrasound.’

‘Cancer is [more] curable if you can find it early enough. If my doctor who said I had cysts had sent me for a mammogram, I might not be stage four right now.’

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