Devon woman diagnosed with incurable condition at 33

A Devon woman who has been diagnosed with incurable cancer, has promised to stay as positive as possible and keep a smile on her face. Hannah Blight, 33, was told she had secondary breast cancer just five years after being told she was in remission.

Hannah was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 and bravely fought through the highs and lows of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and bone infusions. She was given the all-clear, but in November her “world spun on its axis again”.

The hardest part for Hannah is knowing she will never have children – but she’s determined to stay as upbeat as she can. Her loved ones are now rallying around to help her tick off her bucket list, which includes going to Glastonbury Festival and seeing Kylie Minogue live.

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Hannah went to the emergency department thinking she had a lower chest infection, only to be hit with the heartbreaking news that her breast cancer had returned. Now, Hannah has Stage 4 Secondary Breast Cancer with Metastasis and it is incurable.

After her diagnosis, Hannah, who used to work as a care assistant, is now unable to continue her job, reports PlymouthLive.

Hannah shared: “The most annoying thing about this is that I’ll never have children, that’s not a choice I would have made, but generally, I just get on with it day-to-day and keep a smile on my face.”

“When I came out the other side after the treatment (five years ago) I thought I had the rest of my life ahead, but in November (2023) I was on a Dartmoor walk with my friend and I was struggling to breathe. I was treated for a chest infection with antibiotics, before it all spun out again and I was told the cancer was back.”

“Because the breast cancer is back in the pleural cavity, it will keep coming back. Medication reduces it, but will never stop it. I want to encourage anyone in doubt about a lump to get it checked out.”

Despite her situation, Hannah is full of life and wants to make the most of every moment. She’s studying hard on a nursing course at City College and aims to finish it, saying it ‘keeps my brain distracted’. She’s doing really well, with top marks in her work.

Hannah has come to terms with the fact that she won’t live a long life. She’s talked a lot about her health, what will happen when she dies, and her funeral plans.

She’s very ‘open about her expectations’ and is looking for a ‘good palliative care nurse’ to help her in the future. Hannah and her best mate, Karina Tobin, have set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for Hannah’s bucket list. Loads of people are sending their support.

Hannah has a few things she wants to do like watching England play at Twickenham with her dad, going to Kylie and P!

nk concerts, and popping over to Glastonbury Festival. She also wants to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Ireland and visit the Titanic Museum.

You can help Hannah tick off her bucket list by giving some money to the GoFundMe page here.