Doctors Dismiss 26-Year-Old Woman's Bleeding Nipple as 'Just Hormones'— but It Was an Early Sign of Cancer

Mar. 15, 2025

Courtney Bailey’s initial cancer symptoms were dismissed as “just hormones”.Photo:Kennedy News

Kennedy News

A 26-year-old woman sought medical care after noticing a bloody discharge on her nipple — but said her doctor told her it was just a “hormonal imbalance.”And when Courtney Bailey noticed a lump a few days later, the Newastle, England, resident was referred to a breast clinic, where the lumpwas dismissedas a blocked milk duct or cyst. “I was told all the time that I was too young,” she told Kennedy News and Media viaThe Daliy Mail,sharing that doctors said it was “just hormones” and she “did not fit the criteria” forbreast cancer.Still, Bailey underwent a precautionary biopsy — and the results found that she had an early stage ofbreast cancer.Courtney Bailey underwent a mastectomy after her cancer symptoms were dismissed as “just hormones.".Kennedy News“We need to shift this mindset that you’re too young to have cancer because anyone can have it,” she told the outlet. “I was made to feel like it was nothing.”“You can’t categorize someone’s health based on their age,” she added. “Anyone can get cancer.‘Bailey was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ, which theMayo Clinicdefines as when “the cancer cells are confined inside a milk duct in the breast.”However, precancerous cells were found outside of Bailey’s milk ducts and elsewhere in her breast, so she opted for a mastectomy. “Originally the plan was to do a lumpectomy and the grade of the cancer would determine if I needed further treatment,” Bailey said. “But after they found more precancerous cells, I said to my consultant that it would make more sense to do a mastectomy and she agreed.”Courtney Bailey underwent a mastectomy after her cancer symptoms were dismissed as “just hormones.".Kennedy News“It really put my mind at ease because everything has been scooped out and I know they haven’t missed anything.”She called the mastectomy a ‘life or death decision’ — and said, “‘When people aren’t taking you seriously, it adds to the stress. I’m lucky that I actually had symptoms and it was caught this early.”“I never thought at the age of 26, I would have one breast, but I’m proof it can happen to anybody.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

A 26-year-old woman sought medical care after noticing a bloody discharge on her nipple — but said her doctor told her it was just a “hormonal imbalance.”

And when Courtney Bailey noticed a lump a few days later, the Newastle, England, resident was referred to a breast clinic, where the lumpwas dismissedas a blocked milk duct or cyst. “I was told all the time that I was too young,” she told Kennedy News and Media viaThe Daliy Mail,sharing that doctors said it was “just hormones” and she “did not fit the criteria” forbreast cancer.

Still, Bailey underwent a precautionary biopsy — and the results found that she had an early stage ofbreast cancer.

Courtney Bailey underwent a mastectomy after her cancer symptoms were dismissed as “just hormones.".Kennedy News

“We need to shift this mindset that you’re too young to have cancer because anyone can have it,” she told the outlet. “I was made to feel like it was nothing.”

“You can’t categorize someone’s health based on their age,” she added. “Anyone can get cancer.’

Bailey was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ, which theMayo Clinicdefines as when “the cancer cells are confined inside a milk duct in the breast.”

However, precancerous cells were found outside of Bailey’s milk ducts and elsewhere in her breast, so she opted for a mastectomy. “Originally the plan was to do a lumpectomy and the grade of the cancer would determine if I needed further treatment,” Bailey said. “But after they found more precancerous cells, I said to my consultant that it would make more sense to do a mastectomy and she agreed.”

“It really put my mind at ease because everything has been scooped out and I know they haven’t missed anything.”

She called the mastectomy a ‘life or death decision’ — and said, “‘When people aren’t taking you seriously, it adds to the stress. I’m lucky that I actually had symptoms and it was caught this early.”

“I never thought at the age of 26, I would have one breast, but I’m proof it can happen to anybody.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

source: people.com