This woman’s freckles actually turned out to be an aggressive form of breast cancer

About 1 in every 8 women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetime, which makes up 12 percent of the female population. It’s a scary statistic, and you probably know somebody who has fought the disease themselves. That’s why it’s important to know all the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, because you don’t want it to go unnoticed before it’s too late.

Rebecca Hockaday, 39, knows firsthand what it’s like to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and her diagnosis came about in a strange way.

Hockaday noticed some odd freckles on her breasts, but just attributed them to sun exposure.

She initially went on with her everyday life, taking care of her kids and maintaining her orthopedic practice. Finally, when the freckles started to spread, she decided to visit her dermatologist and have a biopsy done.

She was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer.

It’s a rare form of breast cancer that makes up around five percent of all diagnoses, but it’s dangerous all the same. Typical signs include inverted nipples, a rash, bumps that look like bug bites, and skin dimpling. Seeing freckles on your breasts isn’t even a common symptom, so Hockaday was lucky to have gone to the doctor in time.

She fought the cancer for 10 months, going through chemo and radiation and getting a double mastectomy. During the process, she said the texture and color of her breasts changed to that of an orange peel, which is pretty common in these breast cancer cases.

“So many people talk about breast cancer, but they don’t realize how devastating it is to your life,” Hockaday said. “The treatment has lasting effects on your body.”

Thankfully, she’s cancer-free now. But she’s instructing all women to be vigilant about their health. Get regular checkups and don’t be afraid to visit the doctor if you see something unusual on your body. It’s always better to get tested, just in case.