“I never thought I would have only one breast when I was 26,” said Courtney Bailey, who had a mastectomy after doctors said she was too young to have cancer.

The 26-year-old woman sought medical attention after noticing a bloody discharge from her nipple, but said her doctor told her it was just a “hormonal imbalance.”

When Courtney Bailey noticed a lump a few days later, the Newastle, England resident was referred to a breast clinic. dismissed as a blocked milk duct or cyst. “I was always told I was too young,” Kennedy told News and Media. Daliy Post, She shared that doctors told her it was “just hormones” and that she “didn’t fit the criteria.” breast cancer.

However, Bailey underwent a precautionary biopsy, and the results revealed that he had an early stage of the disease. breast cancer.

Relating to: 24-Year-Old Woman Was Told to Lose Weight by Doctors Who Care About Her Pain – But She Had Ovarian Cancer

“We need to change the mindset that you are too young to get cancer because anyone can get it,” he said. “I was made to feel like it was nothing.”

“You can’t classify someone’s health by their age,” he added. “Anyone can get cancer.”

Bailey was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ. Mayo Clinic It is defined as “the trapping of cancer cells in the milk duct of the breast”.

But because Bailey had precancerous cells outside her milk ducts and elsewhere in her breast, Bailey opted for a mastectomy. “The initial plan was to do a lumpectomy and the extent of the cancer would determine whether I needed further treatment,” Bailey said. “But after finding more precancerous cells, I told my consultant that it would make more sense to do a mastectomy, and he agreed.”

Relating to: 25-Year-Old With Ovarian Cancer Reveals Symptoms That Doctors Rejected

“That really put my mind at ease because everything was missed and I know they didn’t miss anything.”

He described mastectomy as a ‘life or death decision’ and said: ‘When people don’t take you seriously, it adds to the stress. “I’m lucky that I actually had symptoms and was caught so early.”

“I never thought I’d have one breast at 26, but I’m proof that this can happen to anyone.”

Never miss a story — sign up PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter To stay up to date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling juicy stories.