A mum of two received a devastating diagnosis after trusting her instincts during a shower. Claire Goldthorpe, 50, immediately sought medical attention after feeling compelled to check her left breast in the shower, where she discovered a "hard mass".

Following a mammogram and biopsy, the cancer was confirmed. Claire endured chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a complete left mastectomy before receiving the all-clear. However, 12 months on, Claire began experiencing pain in her right pelvis, which doctors initially put down to a tennis-related injury.

Scans revealed the breast cancer had metastasised to Claire's right pelvis and left femur, leading to a hip replacement and radio frequency ablation - a procedure using electrical currents to destroy tissue. Two years down the line, Claire learned it had progressed further to her spine, ribs and liver, and was incurable.

Since her terminal diagnosis, Claire has tried numerous chemotherapy regimens and is currently receiving immunotherapy to control the cancer and extend her life. Claire, a former PE teacher and business owner from Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, said: "I'm fully aware my situation is terminal, so I fight for time and I fight for my family.

"The last two scans showed that there has been further spread in my hip and pelvis area, and to my bowel and now an enlarged vertebrae section. But currently my liver is functioning well, and my blood test results are good, so there are still positives. I'm here and I'm still fighting. I'm loving life again, determined to get as much time as I can."

Back in March 2018, Claire discovered something alarming whilst in the shower – an overwhelming impulse to check her left breast led her to find a sizeable, solid lump. She wasted no time booking a GP appointment.

"That morning, for some reason, something made me squeeze my left breast," Claire recalled. "I could feel a mass in there that felt really hard, and I was wondering what it was. I went straight to the doctors, who referred me immediately to the hospital."

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Upon arrival at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, doctors rushed her through for a mammogram and biopsy. Days later, Claire received the devastating news – she had breast cancer.

Following eight gruelling cycles of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a mastectomy, she was declared cancer-free in October 2018. Claire remembered: "When I was given the all clear, the sense of relief was unbelievable.

"You feel like you have gone through hell, but it is worth it all as it has gone. I felt like I was going to be okay. I went back to playing tennis, and I was back at work."

Back in September 2019, Claire was battling pain in her right pelvis, initially dismissed by medics as a tennis-related injury. A scan revealed devastating news – her breast cancer had metastasised to her right pelvis and left femur.

Claire then had a hip replacement and radio frequency ablation. She recalled: "I was devastated they were talking about me having a left hip replacement, I thought that can't happen. I asked for a second opinion, and they confirmed the worst, and I underwent the hip replacement."

By 2021, scans showed the cancer had invaded her spine, ribs and liver, prompting doctors to switch her to a different chemotherapy regime alongside additional radiotherapy.

Come January 2022, Claire's condition had deteriorated so severely that medical staff doubted she'd survive until summer. Claire remembered: "I was devastated. All I could think about was the kids.

"I knew we had a problem, and from then on, it has been an ongoing battle. When they told me it was terminal, they started talking about life expectancy. I then decided I was not going back to work - I needed to be at home to be there for my kids."

She walked away from her role as a PE teacher to prioritise precious moments with her wife, Suzi, and their two daughters, Evie and Frances. By October 2023, Claire's liver began failing, causing dangerous fluid accumulation in her body.

Doctors were hesitant to administer further chemotherapy to Claire due to significant weight loss, but she refused to back down and began a different chemotherapy regime that same month. Claire said: "Eventually, I was unable to do very much. I looked like I was carrying triplets in my abdomen.

"My oncologist was reluctant to give me any more chemotherapy or similar treatment, because I'd lost a lot of weight. I then started to have a build-up of fluid and ended up in hospital for weeks to have it removed, followed by a permanent drain. I refused to give up. I demanded a new type of chemotherapy, which I started in October 2023."

By February 2024, Claire requested the removal of her permanent drain so she could return to playing sport. Then in April 2025, scans revealed the cancer had spread once more to her breast bone, bowel and vertebrae.

Claire is now receiving immunotherapy, which is delivering encouraging results as the cancer has stabilised and ceased spreading. Throughout her diagnosis, Claire credits her cherished sports - including tennis, cricket and hockey - as her lifeline, saying that playing sport has made her "feel alive again".

Claire said: "Being active is my survival outlet. It makes me feel better when I'm low and, without a doubt, it helps with my treatment side effects.

"Although I'm still going for regular blood tests and continuous chemotherapy, I'm back to playing regular sports. I feel alive again.

"The hospital were cautious about me playing sport, but now says 'just go and do what you want to do and enjoy your life. You'll do it anyway, despite what we say'."

Breast Cancer Now has joined forces with 14 other prominent health and social care charities as part of the We Are Undefeatable campaign.

The initiative aims to encourage those living with breast cancer and other long-term conditions to stay active, highlighting how even modest amounts of physical activity can significantly benefit both body and mind.

Those seeking guidance or support about getting back into exercise following a diagnosis can contact Breast Cancer Now's expert nurses via their free, confidential helpline on 0808 800 6000.