Edinburgh woman found breast cancer lump after getting stung by jellyfish at Portobello Beach
Nicky Mather first discovered the “hard lump the size of a pea” after inspecting jellyfish stings she received at Portobello beach
An Edinburgh woman who discovered a breast cancer lump after being stung by a jellyfish at Portobello Beach has returned to the water to complete a huge fundraising challenge.
Nicky Mather, 53, first made the discovery in 2022 when she was training for a huge swim challenge around Jersey.
She said: “I was doing a normal training swim on the beach at Portobello, and a large lion's mane jellyfish stung me all over the chest.
“In the process of inspecting the stings, because I was about to go to work, I found a lump and I knew it wasn't the work of a jellyfish. It just felt really wrong, so I phoned up the doctor.”
Nicky said what she found was “a very hard lump the size of a pea”.
Her decision to contact her GP steered her right, as she got her breast cancer diagnosis three weeks later.
She said: “I do check quite regularly and strangely, I'd been on a swimming camp with a friend who'd just had breast cancer treatment a few months before, so I think I was perhaps more alert than usual too.”
Nicky added: “Looking back, I like to think that I spent so much time in the sea, maybe the sea was trying to tell me something, the jellyfish were trying to tell me something.”
She underwent two rounds of surgery, hormone therapy, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy after getting her diagnosis.
The keen swimmer returned to the water for the first time in September 2023, saying: “It was a really busy day in Warrender Baths on a Saturday, and I burst into tears in the water, and the lifeguard said, you alright? And I said, I'm just so happy to be here.”
Eventually, one year later, Nicky went back to training for her incredible 58km non-stop, non-wetsuited sea swim around Jersey, this time with a worthy charity cause in mind.
She said: “I was treated by the staff at the Western General Hospital, and they were amazing, the breast clinic were amazing, but also my local GP surgery in Edinburgh was amazing.
“There’s the NHS Lothian Charity, and then within that, there's the Breast Cancer Institute fund that is managed by my consultant, and the team that looked after me, and I just thought it will go to directly supporting the research into breast cancer, supporting staff training at the Western, and supporting the patient experience, where I continue to be a patient.
“It just felt like that was a really strong connection for me, and I wanted to say thank you to them.”
After her incredible journey, Nicky completed the 58km continuous swim in 11 hours and 41 minutes on July 18, after catching the perfect time to undertake the challenge during a narrow five-day window.
She has so far raised £5,300 for the NHS Lothian Charity, just shy of her £5,500 target. You can donate to her fundraiser on her Just Giving page.
Nicky said: “There were really big waves for the last 45 minutes and I was really tired, so I just put my head down. I thought, I'm not going to look up because the wall's not going to get any closer, and then eventually, the wall was right in front of me.
“I just couldn't believe it was finally done after five years since I'd signed up, and everything that had gone through.”
Oliver Young, clinical director of The Edinburgh Breast Unit, said: “On behalf of the team at NHS Lothian Charity’s Breast Cancer Institute, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Nicky. What she has achieved following her diagnosis and treatment is remarkable.
“We are in awe of her determination, resilience and commitment in taking on and completing this incredible challenge. We are deeply touched that she chose to do this to show her appreciation for our work and to support breast cancer patients, their families and loved ones, as well as the staff who care for them.”
Tumong Edwards, community and events fundraiser at NHS Lothian Charity, added: “Nicky’s achievement is nothing short of inspiring. Completing a 58km non-stop sea swim would be an incredible feat under any circumstances, but to do so after undergoing treatment for breast cancer makes it even more remarkable.
“Nicky’s swim is a reminder of the impact our NHS staff have on people’s lives. Her challenge was inspired by the care she received, and now her fundraising will help ensure others benefit from the same high-quality support in the future. A huge well done from all of us and thank you Nicky for making such a difference.”