A woman from Sheffield explains how she set up her own company after undergoing a mastectomy, tailored to women who had shared a similar experience.
Melanie Luxton-Brookes, 45, from Coal Aston, Jordanthorpe, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2017, aged just 39 and with two young children.
Luxton-Brookes claims she was cleaning the house one day, when she stretched out and felt a sharp pain under her arm. On inspection, she discovered a ‘pea-sized lump’.
Initially she was turned away by doctors, who said it was nothing to worry about.
She said: “Because of my age the doctors said I was ‘too young’ and that ‘it will just be a cyst’. I feel like this means women are getting diagnosed too late, as they go to the doctors with the symptoms, but because of their age, the doctors aren’t taking it any further, and then sadly can be diagnosed with stage four cancer.”
Following her diagnosis, she had a mastectomy and reconstruction, as well as six months of chemotherapy, followed by radiotherapy.
After making a recovery, Luxton Brookes began to look for swimwear for her first holiday one year after her treatment, and realised there was very little available for her.
She said: “When you go on holidays to Europe they have the most amazing swimwear shops with little bikinis that I used to really like wearing but there was just nothing like that on the market, so I just decided to start designing swimwear more aimed for younger women who had gone through breast cancer.
(Photo of Melanie modelling her swimwear brand)
“With breast cancer I feel like you always assume it affects women more in the menopausal age, therefore lots of the swimwear for people who had gone through breast cancer was aimed at older women. It’s actually getting really common in younger women, even women in their twenties, the youngest girl I’ve heard getting a diagnosis is 18.
The swimwear company, called ‘Lady Survivors’ was officially launched in early 2020, and focuses on making comfortable, flattering swimsuits for women who have undergone a mastectomy following a breast cancer diagnosis.
The swimwear offers left or right straps, depending on which side needs the most support, and also can come with padding for extra support and shape.
Today, Luxton-Brookes continues to support those going through breast cancer, and recently took part in a sponsored walk around Carsington Water, to raise money for ‘Little Lifts’ a charity who make packages with gifts for women undergoing chemotherapy.
She said: “I just really want to encourage young people to be checking their breasts, as it is on the rise in younger ladies, and the sooner you find it and get treatment, the better the outcome will be. I now feel grateful for every day.”
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lady Survivor’s website can be found here.
The link to ‘Little Lifts can be found here.
For anyone affected by breast cancer in South Yorkshire, additional local charities have been linked below: