Guernsey woman urges others to check breasts for cancer

Janine De Robillard was diagnosed with breast cancer in May

A Guernsey woman says advice from a stranger probably saved her life.

Janine De Robillard was diagnosed with breast cancer in May after a woman who was going through treatment suggested she check herself regularly.

On checking her breasts for the first time, she found an abnormal lump and booked an appointment.

Mrs De Robillard, 42, said her cancer was caught early and was now urging other women to check themselves and go to screening clinics.

"I just feel that I was given a blessing by running into someone that was going through it," she said.

"If she hadn't had the courage to say... to check, then I probably wouldn't be here or it would be too far."

Mrs De Robillard said she went with her best friend to buy a sofa and the lady selling it had just started her chemo and urged them to check themselves.

She said: "When we dropped the sofa off at my friend's house, we both checked, and I said to her this feels a bit weird... it all went downhill from there."

Start more conversations

Mrs De Robillard, who owns a dog-walking business, has been sharing her story on TikTok.

She hopes that by sharing her treatment process she can open up more conversations for women and encourage people to check their breasts more regularly.

"We're all very busy," she said.

"Nobody has the time to check.

"By the end of the day you are absolutely depleted from everything going on in life and you just don't end up checking, because you forget."

Sharon Treacy, a breast nurse consultant, said the most important thing was for women to get to know their own breasts and check them monthly.

Common breast cancer signs and symptoms include a lump or swelling in the breast, upper chest or armpit that may not be visible and changes in the size or shape of the breast.