TINY TERROR
I’m sharing a photo of the tiny lump in my breast that nearly killed me at just 31 – I felt ‘amazingly healthy’
A step-by-step guide on how to check your breasts and red flag signs to get checked out immediately
A WOMAN has shared a shocking photo of tiny lump she felt in in her breast while brushing her teeth - which ended up nearly killing her.
At just 31, Leila Esmaeili was on top of the world - healthy, happy, and thriving.
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But her life was shattered in an instant when she found a rock-hard lump in her breast.
The diagnosis that followed was every woman’s nightmare — one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer.
Leila recalls: “I was brushing my teeth when I felt it — a hard, quarter-sized lump in my breast."
In posted to Instagram she showed how she tucked a hand under her opposite arm for support, immediately feeling the small but firm lump on the side of her breast.
Read more on breast cancer
“It wasn’t painful, but it felt wrong. As a healthcare provider, I knew it wasn’t something I could ignore.”
As the lump had appeared so suddenly, Leila immediately panicked.
She rushed to her sister’s house that night to get advice from her brother-in-law, who is a dermatologist.
“He examined it and said, ‘If it’ll give you peace of mind, we can remove it tomorrow.’ I didn’t hesitate,” she says.
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The lump was removed and sent for testing, and Leila felt a sense of relief after several specialists reassured her it was likely benign.
But Leila wasn't prepared for the whirlwind of emotions that would follow.
Hollyoaks star Ali Bastian, 42, diagnosed with breast cancer leaving her in ‘total shock’ as she begins treatment
Just days later, her brother-in-law delivered the gut-wrenching news: “He looked at me and said, ‘It’s cancer.’”
The diagnosis was triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive types.
It's a less common form of breast cancer, accounting for about one in five breast cancers in the UK.
Breast cancer is called triple negative when it does not have receptors for certain hormones or for the HER2 protein.
This means treatments such as hormonal therapy or HER2 targeted therapy are not suitable for people with triple negative breast cancer.
Despite being in the best shape of her life, cancer had silently invaded Leila's body.
“I felt amazing before this — all the signs pointed to good health. I never thought it could happen to me,” she says.
I wanted to show what cancer looks like. My tumour was small, only 1.8 cm, but it nearly killed me
Leila Esmaeili
“Cancer doesn’t care how healthy, fit, or young you are. It doesn’t discriminate.
“If you feel something unusual, like a lump, don’t ignore it. Advocate for yourself.
"An ultrasound isn’t always enough—you need a biopsy.”
Leila has taken to TikTok and Instagram to shed light on her experience, even sharing a photo of her tumour.
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“People were shocked when I posted it,” she admits.
“I wanted to show what cancer looks like. My tumour was small, only 1.8 cm, but it nearly killed me.
"The scary part is, it looked a lot like a benign fibroadenoma.”
After receiving the shocking news that the tiny lump in her breast was an ultra-aggressive form of cancer, Leila soon started undergoing chemotherapy.
“People ask if chemo hurts,” she says.
“The infusion itself doesn’t, but the side effects are tough.
"For me, they kicked in two days after each session. I had infusions on Fridays, and by Sunday, I’d feel like I was hit by a truck.”
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One of the most challenging parts was losing her hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes.
“I managed to save about 50 per cent of my hair with cold capping, but the eyebrows and lashes? They went, and it was gradual.
"By my last chemo, I had maybe one eyelash left,” she jokes.
“I still wore mascara, though. It made me feel a little more like myself during such a difficult time.”
Cold capping - also known as scalp cooling - reduces the temperature of the scalp, making the blood vessels in your scalp smaller and reduces the blood flow to your scalp.
This can stop some chemotherapy drugs from affecting your hair follicles.
'Rolling with it'
Now, six months post-chemo, Leila is starting to see new growth in spots she lost hair.
“Starting with the sides, where I had the most balding, all the new growth is coming in as little baby hairs," she says.
"What’s fascinating is how the texture varies - some are coming in straight, while others are curly or wavy. It’s like a party of textures happening on one side,” she says.
“Now for the top, where things are a bit wild. I’ve become an expert at hiding the uneven growth, embracing a makeshift bangs era that sometimes makes me feel like a kid who cut her own bangs with craft scissors.
I want people to know they’re not alone. Cancer is terrifying, but you can get through it. There’s so much strength in vulnerability
Leila Esmaeili
"At times, I look like Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice or even the mayor’s son from Horton Hears a Who. It’s a whole vibe.”
Despite the wild textures and short length, she’s found ways to style her hair creatively.
“The growth on top is short—really short—all the way back, but with some curling and strategic placement, people often comment on how voluminous my hair looks.
";Little do they know, it’s my new hair growth acting like tiny pillars holding everything up.”
She laughs, adding, “I feel incredibly grateful to have kept as much hair as I did, but it’s definitely been an adventure managing this mix of normal and not-so-normal hair.
"It’s all part of the experience, and I’m rolling with it, embracing the journey and rocking what I’ve got.”
'Thriving'
“Cancer is terrifying, but you can get through it,” she says.
“2024 was the hardest of my life, but I’ve learned so much about myself. I’m not just surviving — I’m thriving. And I want others to know they can, too.”
Coping with the emotional toll has been just as important as managing the physical challenges.
“I’ve cried more this year than ever before,” she admits.
“But crying is necessary — it’s a release. If you’re going through something, let it out.
"Don’t apologise for grieving or feeling overwhelmed.”
What are the signs of breast cancer?
BREAST cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK.
The majority of women who get it are over 50, but younger women and, in rare cases, men can also get breast cancer.
If it’s treated early enough, breast cancer can be prevented from spreading to other parts of the body.
Breast cancer can have a number of symptoms, but the first noticeable symptom is usually a lump or area of thickened breast tissue.
Most breast lumps aren’t cancerous, but it’s always best to have them checked by your doctor. You should also speak to your GP if you notice any of the following:
- a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
- discharge from either of your nipples (which may be streaked with blood)
- a lump or swelling in either of your armpits
- dimpling on the skin of your breasts
- a rash on or around your nipple
- a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast
Source: NHS
Leila, from California credits her family for being her rock during this time.
“My sister was amazing. She let me cry, vent, and talk about my fears without trying to fix what couldn’t be fixed.
"Sometimes, all you need is someone to listen.”
Her message is clear: take nothing for granted.
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“You never think it’ll happen to you until it does. Stay on top of your health. If something feels off, don’t ignore it—it could save your life.
“I want people to know they’re not alone. Cancer is terrifying, but you can get through it. There’s so much strength in vulnerability.”
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