I put bad odour down to being a tired mum hitting 40 – I was shocked to find out it was cancer and I’d ignored the signs

WHEN Maria Schenkel suddenly noticed her recurring bad body odour, she thought little of it. The 41-year-old “tired” mum of two was used to rushing around and believed she was just getting hot and sweaty during her busy days. After the smell failed to subside weeks later, even straight after washing herself, Maria grew concerned Credit: Maria Shenkel / SWNS Maria also experienced regular bloating, fatigue and bruises appearing on her legs Credit: Maria Shenkel / SWNS But, after the smell failed to subside weeks later, even straight after washing herself, she grew concerned. Maria, from Greenville, South Carolina in the US, said: “I remember thinking, ‘Why do I smell so bad?’, because I would have just showered, not sweat at all and then smell so BO. Sign up for the Health newsletter Thank you! “But because I was busy working and raising a family, I ignored it all.” Maria also experienced regular bloating, fatigue and bruises appearing on her legs for no obvious reason and struggled to relax. READ MORE ON BREAST CANCER “I would wake up feeling like a bus had run over me,” she added. “My legs felt incredibly heavy and I’d had eight or nine hours’ sleep, but I still felt exhausted. “I honestly thought that was just what turning 40 felt like. “I bruised really easily. I also had this constant tightness in my chest that made me think I needed to stretch more or maybe see a chiropractor because I assumed it was coming from my back.” Most read in Health “If I sat in the sun, I couldn’t stay there, I always felt like I had to get up and be doing something. “I just told myself I was a tired young mum. “I neglected myself because I was focused on providing for my family.” Then, in August 2024 she discovered a lump in her left breast, after her four-year-old accidentally pressed against her breast, leaving it feeling sore. The former business development worker assumed the lump was nothing serious and only booked an appointment to be safe. Instead, she was shocked to be diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in September 2024, after undergoing an ultrasound, mammogram and biopsy. Maria was shocked to be diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma Credit: Maria Shenkel / SWNS Also known as ICD, it is most common type of breast cancer, accounting for about 80 per cent of all diagnoses. Invasive breast cancer means that the cancer cells have grown through the lining of the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue. The most common symptom of invasive ductal carcinoma is a painless lump in the breast or armpit. Other symptoms can include redness, asymmetry for example if one breast is bigger than the other, changes to the nipple or a red rash. Maria said: “I thought it was just dense breast tissue. “I really didn’t think it would be cancer, but I thought I should get it checked anyway.” “I couldn’t believe it. I lived a healthy lifestyle. I exercised, ate a plant-based diet, didn’t smoke or drink and there wasn’t any history of cancer in my family. “It came as a complete shock.” Following her diagnosis, Maria spent months researching the disease and weighing up her treatment options before deciding on the path she felt was right for her. “I just want people to advocate for themselves and make informed decisions,” she added. “If something doesn’t feel right, in your body, or with the results or solutions they give you, ask questions.” Now, almost two years after her diagnosis, Maria hopes her experience will encourage others not to dismiss persistent changes in their health. Following her diagnosis, Maria spent months researching the disease and weighing up her treatment options Credit: Maria Shenkel / SWNS Signs of breast cancer and the importance of screenings Signs and symptoms of breast cancer include: A lump or swelling in the breast, upper chest or armpit A change to the skin, such as puckering or dimpling A change in the colour of the breast – the breast may look darker, red or inflamed A nipple change, for example it has become pulled in (inverted) Rash or crusting around the nipple Unusual liquid (discharge) from either nipple Changes in size or shape of the breast On its own, pain in your breasts is not usually a sign of breast cancer. But look out for pain in your breast or armpit that’s there all or almost all the time. One million people are missing screenings Thousands of women may be living with undetected breast cancer after missing screening appointments. The NHS warned about a third of eligible patients did not accept the free test offer last year. Figures show that was just over one million people, and 2.2million have missed an appointment in the past three years. An estimated one in 100 women are diagnosed with cancer after screening. In 2023 there were 18,942 tumours detected out of 1.93million women screened for breast cancer, but a further 1.05m women who were invited did not attend. The one per cent detection rate means there were potentially 10,000 missed cases. Screening is generally offered to women every three years between the ages of 50 and 71, when their risk increases. Scans are carried out in local clinics and hospitals, as well as in roving scan vans in some places. Women who have had a mammogram should still check their breasts regularly. She said: “I’ve met a lot of people through this journey who said they ignored symptoms because they were busy looking after everyone else. “Don’t assume you’re overreacting. “If something keeps bothering you or doesn’t feel normal, get it checked. “Listening to your body could make all the difference.” According to Breast Cancer now, bad odour during cancer can be due to a rare condition called fungating breast wounds. Breast cancer now said: “A fungating breast wound happens when cancer cells damage the healthy cells and blood vessels in the breast. “This causes a breast cancer tumour to break through the skin of the breast or chest.” One in seven women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime—around 56,000 a year—making it the second most common cancer in the UK. But, nearly 1,000 people die from the disease every month in the UK, with the disease killing around 11,500 women and 80 men each year. Early detection significantly increases the chances of treating the cancer effectively. Research has linked a range of factors to the rise in breast cancer among younger women – from increasing rates of obesity and having children later in life to changes in diet and environmental exposures. But despite increasing awareness, many still dismiss key early symptoms of the disease, experts warn. Comment now