A brave young woman battling breast cancer – whose chemotherapy has attracted “stares” in the street – has urged people to speak up about the disease.

Roxanne Betts, of Birchington, was diagnosed with grade two breast cancer after discovering a lump in February.

Now, the 23-year-old is speaking out about the physical and mental effects of the condition, and is urging others to do so.

Miss Betts discovered the hard lump in her left breast after experiencing soreness.

Immediately, the former Canterbury Christ Christ University student contacted her GP and was fast-tracked into a cancer pathway via the NHS.

She explained: “I found the lump - it was quite big - the doctor managed to get me in the same day and within two weeks I’d had an ultrasound, biopsy and was told I had cancer.

“It was a shock, it was like I didn’t have time to really think - the fact things were going so quickly made me believe it would be nothing, I really did just brush it off.

“I went in by myself and I remember the secretary calling me before, trying to subconsciously say to bring someone (else with me).

“She was trying to say 'please do bring someone’ without worrying me.”

When medics delivered the diagnosis at the QEQM hospital in Margate, Miss Betts felt as if the room fell silent as she “struggled to hear what was being said”.

The former Canterbury Christ Church University student was told she had stage-2 breast cancer - an early stage of the disease.

She described the taxing effects of chemotherapy as her social life and independence is placed on hold.

“For the first week, I just kept thinking about the things I used to worry about and I couldn’t even remember - It has really put things in perspective,” she explained.

“It’s the little things you miss, I can’t just go out for a drink or for food, it’s tiring to drive, my immune system is weak and I feel vulnerable.

“I got worried, I freaked out about losing my phone because I just couldn’t think straight,” she said, adding: “It’s such a psychological and physical battle.”

Miss Betts continued: “I felt so fit and healthy, so independent and I’ve had to adapt to the way society looks at me now.

“I knew what the side effects would be, but the reality was about 10 times worse, it’s quite debilitating, and to lose my independence has been the worst part.”

Recently, she has finished her latest round of chemotherapy and will undergo a number of MRI scans to help monitor progress.

Whether Miss Betts’ condition is genetically linked is also under investigation and, if it is, she may require a mastectomy to prevent the disease re-emerging.

Miss Betts says she is in favour of the operation because “the difference between (losing) a breast or my life is huge”.

The former Ursuline College pupil continues to battle the disease.

Learning to adapt, she is also trying to familiarise herself with people “double taking” her in the street because of her hair loss.

“When wearing my head scarf, people stare or do a double-take - especially as I’m so young.

“It feels like people are shocked and wonder if it is cancer or just alopecia,” Miss Betts explained.

“I feel like people think only old people get cancer and that’s not the truth at all, I am proof that young people get cancer.

“You’re used to older people having cancer and passing away but not a 23-year-old, even under 18s having cancer is more normalised than young adults,” she went on.

But she has vehemently encouraged anyone with cancer on their mind to talk openly about their plight.

“Talk to as many people as you can, try to make it more normal, it’s not talked about enough and we need to get people talking about this,” she said.

“You keep it in and try to be strong about it but it just makes it worse, there’s so many resources and people who want to help.

“We need to be having conversations about the side effects, about the impact of cancer, about young people and cancer.

“It can be overwhelming but don’t feel bad about it, there’s no such thing as talking about it too much. If you hold it in it’ll just make you feel so much worse.”

Miss Betts also thanked her friends, family, partner and colleagues at The Marshall Motor Group, which operates in Kent.

More than 20 co-workers are preparing to take on the Race For Life in July, in a bid to raise £3,800 for Cancer Research UK – a link to the fundraiser can be found here.

Speaking of her colleagues entering the race, she said: “I really can’t express my happiness, I feel so honoured and grateful and I can’t wait to see them smash it.

“I think for a lot of people it just rocks them like it could have been any one of them, especially for the girls in the office who are mostly around the same age as me.

“When this is over, I’m going to appreciate it all so much. I want to be out all the time, I want to enjoy food. I want to live my best life.”