Sara Keenan
A nurse has shared the devastating moment she was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer, just weeks after a mammogram showed no signs of trouble.
Kristi Halpin, 33, from New Jersey, US, started noticing strange symptoms in early 2023, with her explaining on TikTok: "I thought I was just run down."
As a new mum to baby Caiden, who was born in October 2022, she put her issues down to exhaustion from sleepless nights and the chaos of life with a newborn.
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These strange symptoms included back pain, fatigue, weight loss, and random bruising - signs that arguably aren't that uncommon for parents of little ones.
She even joked that her unintentional weight loss was her 'getting lucky' and losing the baby weight early.
But when the back pain became unbearable - so bad she collapsed on the bathroom floor during her son's first birthday - Kristi knew something wasn't right.
In October 2023, after a visit to the ER turned up abnormal blood tests, doctors initially suspected gallbladder issues. Around the time, Kristi noticed a strange change to her nipple - it had became inverted and felt like a lump was forming underneath.
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Concerned, she went for a mammogram. To her relief, the scan came back clear, with doctors suggesting the lump was probably just a cyst. But Kristi wasn't convinced.
"I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong," she shared.
Determined to get answers, she sought out a breast cancer surgeon who performed a biopsy 'just in case'.
Five days later, Kristi's world was turned upside down. The results revealed she had breast cancer, and follow-up scans showed the disease had already spread to her spine, ribs, and lungs.
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Recalling the moment she received the diagnosis, Kristi said: "It felt like time stopped. I couldn't see, I couldn't hear anything - it was like I was gone for a couple of moments."
She shared the heartbreaking news with her followers online, admitting she was devastated and terrified about the future for her husband and young son.
"I can't leave my boys and have my baby grow up without me," she said.
Kristi’s doctors have recommended chemotherapy and radiotherapy to shrink the tumours and stop them spreading further. While the treatment is helping to keep the disease under control, her cancer is classed as terminal.
Kristi’s story highlights the growing concern about breast cancer in younger women. Research shows rates in those aged 25 - 49 have risen by nearly a fifth since 1990, with lifestyle factors like weight gain and alcohol consumption thought to play a role.
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Experts stress the importance of knowing the signs of breast cancer, which include lumps, changes to the skin or nipple, and unexplained swelling.
Kristi’s experience also underscores the limitations of mammograms. These scans can miss tumours, especially in women with dense breast tissue, as was the case for her.
Despite her diagnosis, Kristi remains determined to fight for as much time as possible with her husband and son. "I’m taking it day by day and focusing on the positives," she told her followers.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.