A woman was left in shock after she was diagnosed with breast cancer despite not having any symptoms or prior family history of the disease.

Angela James, 59 from Windsor attended a routine mammogram in June 2018.

Following the appointment, she was quickly called back in by her doctor and she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer.  

Angela said: “As I didn’t have any symptoms my diagnosis came as complete shock.

"I’m lucky it was picked up when it was and has now allowed me to change direction in life to help others who are in a similar situation to mine.” 

Looking back Angela could have been in a very different situation had she not gone to her routine mammogram and been diagnosed in the early stages.

Thanks to private health insurance Angela underwent a biopsy within days of her recall by her doctors and arranged to have her surgery to take place after a short break away.

This was followed by 20 sessions of radiotherapy over four weeks at specialist cancer care provider, GenesisCare in Windsor.  

Dr Narottam Thanvi, clinical oncologist at GenesisCare explains “The recall rate for mammograms is around five per cent in the UK, and one in five of those recalled will have cancer.

"Angela was fortunate her cancer was caught when it was. 

"Her experience highlights the important role mammograms play in the early diagnosis of breast cancer.”

Prior to diagnosis, Angela was made redundant from her job of 26 years during the pandemic.

Whilst looking for a new role after her treatment, Angela noticed a position being advertised at the same GenesisCare, where she was treated and she joined the team in November 2022 as a receptionist.