A 26-year-old police constable, who was initially reassured that a breast lump was nothing serious, is now living out her bucket list after being diagnosed with incurable, stage four cancer.
From Reassurance to a Devastating Diagnosis
Shanice Bennett, from Sittingbourne in Kent, first sought medical advice after discovering a lump on her right breast. Her GP told her it was likely not malignant and was probably just a blocked milk duct.
However, four months later in May 2023, the lump had grown and become painful. Shanice insisted on further tests, which revealed she had stage three breast cancer. She underwent surgery to remove her breast and lymph nodes, followed by gruelling chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
The Shock Return of Cancer
After believing she had beaten the disease, Shanice was rushed to A&E in June 2024 with severe back pain. Scans delivered a crushing blow: the cancer had not only returned but had spread, or metastasised, to her bones. Her diagnosis was now stage four terminal cancer.
"My second diagnosis I didn't expect at all," Shanice shared. "Because I was young and I went through all the treatment I just thought I would be fine."
The cancer has since spread to her spine—causing a partial collapse of a vertebra—as well as her pelvis, skull, liver, and lungs.
Living Life to the Fullest
While Shanice's treatment is progressing positively, she is determined to seize every moment. She is ticking off destinations and experiences from her bucket list, which she documents on TikTok.
Her adventures so far include:
- Two trips to Rhodes
- A visit to Disneyland Paris with her nephew
- A trip to New York
- Being at her mum's wedding
She also has tickets for concerts next year, including performances by James Arthur and Ariana Grande.
"There is nothing that I can do. The situation is out of my control," Shanice stated. "So, sitting around being sad won't actually change anything."
Despite her dream job as a police officer, she hasn't been able to work for over a year. She has also raised nearly £2,000 through a GoFundMe page.
Finding Connection as a Young Patient
Shanice highlighted the unique challenge of being a young cancer patient, often being the youngest person on the ward by decades. She turned to TikTok to connect with others her age facing similar battles.
"It has been nice to be able to connect with people my age across the country and be able to speak online," she said. "I have made friendships that I never would have if I hadn't started it."
