'My sister pushed for cancer test, without her I might not be here'

Glasgow Times

02-05-2025

The physiotherapist is in remission from cancer but she knows things could have turned out very differently.
'I felt fortunate to have Nadia by my side that day,' says Djennah, who is 33, and mother to five-year-old Millie.
Djenna with her daughter Millie (Image: CRUK)
Djennah, from Motherwell, first visited her GP after discovering a lump in her right breast in February last year. Initial tests showed there was "no cause for concern" but over time, the lump continued to grow.
Nadia, who lives in Blantyre, had been treated for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), an early breast cancer, in 2021 when she was 39. DCIS means some cells in the lining of the ducts of the breast tissue have started to turn in to cancer cells.
Djenna is taking part in the Race for Life (Image: CRUK)
Djennah returned to the breast clinic in September last year and this time, she took Nadia with her. The two women persuaded medical staff to do a mammogram, which picked up an area of concern. Djennah was referred for a biopsy, and on October 1, 2024, she was told she too had DCIS.
'Your world collapses when you hear the word cancer,' says Djennah. 'My daughter had just started school and we'd been making plans for her fifth birthday which was three days away.
'But I felt lucky that the cancer had been caught early."
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She adds: 'If my sister hadn't come with me to that appointment, I don't know if I would have pushed for a mammogram and the outcome could have been very different.
'I'd been told that mammograms are harder to read in younger women because the breast tissue is denser. They agreed to go ahead with the test because of our family history.
'We've always been close as sisters and I felt fortunate to have her by my side that day. I'm grateful for her support all through the treatment that followed.'
Djenna in hospital during treatment (Image: CRUK)
Djennah's story did not end there, however. A week before her surgery to remove the lump, blood tests picked up a fault in the ATM gene, which is important for repairing DNA damage and maintaining the health of cells. It means she has a higher risk of breast cancer than the general population.
'That was a lot to take in,' she admits. 'I also knew this was information I'd now need to share with my wider family so the news came with a feeling of responsibility.
'I worried that I was giving people something to worry about and I couldn't help feeling guilty about it.'
Nadia, who is now 42, has since discovered she has the ATM gene fault. The women's other sister Luisa, and mum Sandra, have not taken the test.
After the operation and radiotherapy, Djennah rang the bell to mark the end of treatment at the Beatson Cancer Centre.
Djenna with her daughter Millie and partner Ross (Image: CRUK)
She said: 'It's been an emotional time but I'm stronger now. There have been tears but my wonderful sisters and mum were there for me every step of the way.
'My partner Ross has been incredible. I don't know what I'd have done without him.'
She adds, smiling: 'And my daughter Millie is my ray of sunshine, who makes me smile every day.'
Djennah is sharing her story as she prepares to take part in Cancer Research UK's Race for Life at Glasgow Green on May 18.
The family have vowed to complete the 5k, crossing the finish line together, and are calling on people to join them.
'The ATM gene fault was only discovered in the 1990s so I'm aware we're being helped by science which in the past was simply not known about,' says Djennah.
'Now I want to do what I can for people going through similar situations and to raise awareness that cancer can happen at any age.
'I firmly believe that knowledge is power. It has allowed me to make plans. I will definitely be having a double mastectomy to reduce my risk in the near future.'
Every year around 34,600 people are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland. Cancer Research UK's Race for Life, in partnership with headline sponsor Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, is an inspiring series of 3k, 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer by funding crucial research.
Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK's spokeswoman Scotland, said: 'We are grateful to Djennah for her support and know her story will make an impact on everyone who hears it.
'Sadly nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime, but all of us can support the research that will beat it. We're proud that Race for Life has had such a positive impact.'
To enter, visit raceforlife.org