A Birmingham woman's world stopped when she was diagnosed with breast cancer on the same day as her niece's wedding, after doctors initially told her a lump was "nothing to worry about."
Jay Kaur, 53, a counselling therapist, discovered the lump during the pandemic in 2021 but was reassured by her GP. She was so confident the follow-up appointment would confirm a benign diagnosis that she told her partner not to accompany her.
"The three of us sat there and all of a sudden they said, 'we're really sorry to say that you have breast cancer,'" Jay recalled. "I think at that moment your world just stops."
Despite receiving the devastating news on her niece's wedding day, Jay was determined not to miss the celebration. She attended the wedding, dancing and celebrating whilst privately breaking down in tears in the bathroom.
Jay underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, describing the experience as "very, very difficult." Despite her gruelling treatment, she pushed herself to live life fully, running a half marathon against medical advice and completing the London Marathon just six months after treatment ended.
Almost five years on, Jay recently took part in Breast Cancer Now's annual fashion show in London, saying: "This was an opportunity for me to show my friends and people I love, thank you, this is me and I'm living my life."
