'I ran 5k then was told I had breast cancer'

A woman has spoken of her shock at being told she had breast cancer at 23 years old, despite appearing to be fit and healthy.

Ellie Philpot, now 24, from Wigan was an active runner and gym-goer when she found a lump on her breast while watching TV.

Despite feeling "physically fine", she went to have the lump checked - and was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2025.

"The morning I got diagnosed I went for a 5k run before my appointment," Ms Philpot told Radio Manchester.

Ms Philpot has since had a mastectomy and finished a course of chemotherapy last week.

Now she wants to make younger people "more aware" of self-checking.

"You only get screenings from my mum's age, well age 50," Ms Philpot said. "So there is nothing unless you check your own boobs.

"I'll be honest, self-checking wasn't something I did regularly, it was just by chance that I found the lump.

"At first I didn't really think anything of it," she said. "I thought I'm just being dramatic.

"I left it for a bit and then found it again in the shower, and then I was like maybe I should get this looked at."

Ms Philpot said her GP "didn't seem worried" about the then 2cm lump, but because of a history of breast cancer on her paternal side, she was referred for a six-week family history referral.

She had ultrasounds and a biopsy but said she was "literally living life like normal" before receiving her diagnosis.

"I was physically fine," she said. "Working 12 hour shifts, still going to the gym, still running."

On 17 June, she was told she had Stage 2 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (breast cancer).

"When the doctor and the nurse walked in, my mum instantly knew - because of the Macmillan lanyards," Ms Philpot said.

"The doctor was talking to me and he's saying 'you've had your biopsies I'm here to give you the results' and honestly we can't remember what was said in that room.

"It's just like adverts they show you, it's just all like a fog and you're just sat there.

"It's like an out-of-body experience, that's exactly what it's like."

Ms Philpot had a single mastectomy in July and has since undergone treatment, including chemotherapy at The Christie in Manchester.

Having finished a course of chemotherapy last week, Ms Philpot will be starting a new drug on New Year's Eve.

Ms Philpot said losing her hair was a very difficult moment - but her mother praised her for being "very brave" and said she was "extremely proud" of the way her daughter has taken control of her situation.

Ms Philpot decided to shave her head before having chemotherapy.

"They've taken my boob and now they're taking my hair - you kind of lose your sense of identity.

"But I think I shaved my head, I cried for two days and now I don't care," she said.

There are around 56,900 new breast cancer cases in the UK every year - meaning there are more than 150 new diagnoses every day, according to Cancer Research UK.

But Ms Philpot wants people to know that while it is less common for people in her age category to be diagnosed with breast cancer - the possibility is still very real.

She added that with the age barrier for annual NHS mammograms currently set at 50, younger women are reliant on their own checks.

"Check your boobs," she said.

"Obviously if you don't know how - Google 'How to check my boobs?' - ask someone else to check your boobs, do whatever you can do."

According to the NHS website, to check your breasts or chest:

• Look at your breasts or chest in a mirror to look for any changes. Start with your arms by your sides and then raise them.
• Feel around each breast or side of your chest in a circular motion all the way up to your collarbone and under each armpit. Use a mix of light and firmer pressure. Do not press so hard it hurts.
• Feel around and over each nipple.

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