A businesswoman who thought she had strained her back was shocked to discover she had breast cancer that had spread to her bones and liver.
Giovana Nascimento put her aches down to training in the gym and keeping fit.
And when the 36-year-old started to feel extreme fatigue, she assumed it was because of her busy work schedule.
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But when Giovana’s body finally “exploded” in pain, she finally got a correct diagnosis – and it was devastating.
“The pain became unbearable and I started having trouble breathing,” she told Need To Know.
“That’s when I noticed a swollen lymph node in my armpit and decided to go to the emergency room.”
A series of tests followed, leading to devastating news.
Giovana said: “I was told it was cancer with metastases to the bones and liver.
“It turned my world upside down.”
Giovana’s cancer is HER2-positive, a type that grows more aggressively.
She is now undergoing her ninth cycle of chemotherapy – attending one session a week with a break every third week.
She said, “It started with back pain that I thought was muscle tension or a strain from training.
“It felt like I wanted to crack my spine, but I couldn’t.
“Along with the pain came extreme fatigue, which I put down to my intense work schedule and life as a businesswoman.
“I even thought it was burnout.”
Giovana consulted a specialist who advised her to be more careful with her daily routine and workouts.
Later, her psychologist agreed with the burnout diagnosis.
Despite the true diagnosis being missed by medical professionals, Giovana believes her hectic work life might have played a role in triggering the disease.
She said, “Before my diagnosis, my work routine was relentless.
“I worked all day, and when I wasn’t working, I was thinking about work.
“I lived like that for many years.
“I always exercised and ate healthily, but stress was definitely a major factor in triggering cancer.”
Giovana, who is living in Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil, is being supported by her husband and mother.
She also praised her “fantastic” medical team and said her treatment is progressing well.
She said: “Exams show the nodules and metastases shrinking, and my quality of life during treatment is excellent.”
Now Giovana is raising awareness about her experience to help others.
She added: “Don’t ignore your body’s signals.
“It’s not a whim, it’s not ‘just stress’.
“You need to pay attention and seek help.”
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