Woman reveals how her husband’s ‘cheeky fondle’ while tickling her saved her life when he discovered a cancerous lump in her breast which was undetectable when standing up
- Abi Otway, of Bradford, was diagnosed with an invasive breast cancer last month
- It was after her husband Marc Otway found a hard, pea-sized lump in her chest
- The 34-year-old claims she ‘would never have found it’ if it wasn’t for husband
A woman has revealed how her husband’s ‘cheeky fondle’ as they drifted off to sleep saved her life – as he discovered a hidden cancerous lump that was undetectable while stood up.
Abi Otway, from Bradford, was diagnosed with an invasive breast cancer after her husband Marc Otway felt a hard, pea-sized lump in her underboob early last month.
The 34-year-old claims she ‘would never have found it’ if it wasn’t for Marc, 29, as it could only be felt when she was lying on her side.
After diagnosed by medics on February 27, the fitness instructor and performing artist had a lumpectomy to remove the 6mm lump from her right breast.
She will now need a course of radiotherapy and five to 10 years of hormone blockers – but luckily does not need chemotherapy too because it had not spread to her lymph nodes.
Abi Otway, from Bradford, was diagnosed with an invasive breast cancer after her husband Marc Otway (pictured together) felt a hard, pea-sized lump in her underboob early last month
Abi claims she had to find the lump herself when attending appointments with doctors to prove it was there – with the cancer evading ultrasounds even after she had been diagnosed.
Now feeling positive after hearing she will not need chemotherapy, Abi is speaking out to warn others to thoroughly check their breasts from all positions.
Abi said: ‘I never ever checked for lumps. My boobs are 34C – they’re not big boobs. For some reason I had it in my mind that it’s larger boobs who usually have the bigger problem.
‘There was also an element of not wanting to check and putting it off because I was scared of what I might find.
‘I don’t think I’ve checked my breasts in eight or 10 years. When he found that lump, I could only find it in that position. When I stood up, I really struggled to find it.
Abi (pictured on holiday) claims she ‘would never have found it’ if it wasn’t for Marc, 29, as it could only be felt when she was lying on her side
‘I dread to think that if I had been single and Marc hadn’t found it, it could have been years until I found it. Just check your boobs, girls.’
Recalling the moment her husband discovered the lump, Abi said: ‘I was in bed one night around February 1 when Marc, my husband, was behind me.
What is invasive breast cancer?
Invasive breast cancer means that the cancer cells have grown through the lining of the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue.
The symptoms of breast cancer include:
- a new lump or thickening in your breast or armpit
- a change in size, shape or feel of your breast
- skin changes in the breast such as puckering, dimpling, a rash or redness of the skin
- fluid leaking from the nipple in a woman who isn’t pregnant or breast feeding
- changes in the position of nipple
In many people the cancer is found during breast screening.
It’s important that you see your GP if you have any symptoms. They may refer you to a specialist breast clinic.
Source: Cancer Research UK
‘He was moving his hand up and down just tickling me while we were going off to sleep. He often tickles my back because I love him tickling me.
‘He was tickling my side when his fingers brushed under my boob and he felt something. I asked him if he’d found something, and he said he had and I was like, “Oh gosh, I’m not going to sleep tonight”.
‘I was lying on the right hand side of the bed facing away from him, and he was behind me with his left hand on my ribs.
‘He just moved his hand up to feel my underboob and he was lingering there for a while. I couldn’t feel anything, but he was pressing in and he was like, “What’s that?”. I felt it.
‘Not pressing, but really gently moving my finger over my skin, I could feel a hard lump. When I pressed a little bit harder, it felt like a really rock hard pea.
‘Worst-case scenarios were running through my head all night and I couldn’t sleep just picturing how this was going to affect my future. I knew it was definitely cancer and it was bad.’
Doctors first dismissed the lump as gristle but, after she was urged to go for a second opinion, Abi was then referred to her breast clinic ‘for her peace of mind’.
After an ultrasound, mammogram and biopsy, a surgeon confirmed she had stage two to three breast cancer less than a month after Marc had initially found the lump.
Abi, who was performing with her band Issimo the day after her diagnosis, claimed she gave the ‘performance of a lifetime’ knowing that she wouldn’t be able to play again for a while.
After diagnosed by medics on February 27, the fitness instructor and performing artist (pictured) had a lumpectomy to remove the 6mm lump from her right breast
She will now need a course of radiotherapy and five to 10 years of hormone blockers – but luckily does not need chemotherapy too as it had not yet spread to her lymph nodes.
The couple had planned to start a family but were told that she cannot be pregnant while taking hormone blockers. But despite the news, the couple are determined to stay optimistic about the future.
Abi, who is self-employed, said: ‘This is the year we were planning to have a family and now we can’t.
‘Maybe we wouldn’t have been able to because of coronavirus, but there’s also the possibility that chemo can affect your fertility and you can’t be pregnant on those hormone blockers either.
‘It’s another thing to think about. We’re alright about it. We’ll just see what happens. They’ve offered to freeze my eggs.
The couple (pictured) had planned to start a family but were told that she cannot be pregnant while taking her treatment hormone blockers
‘I would like to say that I’m absolutely fine. We are doing alright. We’re staying positive and trying to be stoic about it.
‘Any time I start indulging in thought processes that start with “why me”, I try and instantly stop it and try and think of something else. Also, thinking where I am in my life, I’m quite happy.
‘My husband is really amazing. We’re a really good team and I’m happy. I wouldn’t change my life now. I feel really lucky and happy.
‘We’ve had a great life together so far and got married last May. We manage to laugh every day a lot. I think as long as you can still laugh and enjoy yourselves [you’re okay].
But Abi admitted: ‘One thing I do worry about it what treatment will be like or the fact that my quality of life is going to be different.
‘I’m a fitness instructor and performer and some of the drugs can affect your bones, so there are risks of getting osteoporosis.
‘Marc just says, “let’s take it one day at a time because you never know what’s going to happen”. We just enjoy each moment and try and find joy in that.’
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