A mother-of-three has credited a slice of pizza with saving her life after she detected a breast lump while eating it . Melanie Thorpe , from Cumbria , found the lump while brushing the crumbs from her salami and mushroom pizza off her shirt . Concerned , she saw her GP and just five days later was given the devastating news she had breast cancer . Melanie Thorpe , with husband Craig , detected the lump in her breast while brushing the crumbs from her salami and mushroom pizza off her shirt . Mrs Thorpe , 52 , said : ' I felt absolutely fine and have always been fit and healthy so I had no idea there could have been something wrong . 'It was November 2012 and my youngest son had gone off to university - as a family we always sat at the table to eat , but my husband Craig and I had pizza and were sitting with it on our knees . ' I dropped some on my shirt and went to brush it off and felt a lump . ' I had never noticed it before . 'It was n't big . but it was substantial and I could definitely feel it - it was n't just like when you have a spot on your skin . ' The next morning she phoned her GP - and was given an appointment within the hour . 'They referred me to Royal Lancaster Infirmary and I had an appointment later that day , ' said Mrs Thorpe . ' I met with a surgeon and they did scans . It was all so fast . ' Just five days after finding the lump , Mrs Thorpe ( pictured before her illness ) , was given the devastating news she had cancer . She underwent a mastectomy , breast reconstruction and chemotherapy . Scans revealed she actually had two lumps , both of which were cancerous . In January 2013 , Mrs Thorpe underwent eight-and-a-half hours of surgery . Mrs Thorpe , who is mother to Adam , 29 , Alex , 27 , and Niall , 20 , said : ' I had to have a full mastectomy , but they did reconstructive surgery at the same time . ' I always say I went to sleep with two boobs , and woke up with two boobs . ' Doctors deemed the surgery to be a success and Mrs Thorpe went on to have six rounds of chemotherapy . She now has six-monthly check ups to make sure the cancer has not returned . She added : 'The doctors told me had I not found the lump so early it would have grown and been terminal . 'So I guess the pizza saved my life . ' As a result , she is now backing an early diagnosis campaign . 'It is so important to get the message across so that people get checked out if they feel any any slight changes , ' she said . Breast lumps are common and have a number of different causes - and 90 per cent of them are benign . Although most lumps are n't breast cancer , any unusual changes to the breasts should be checked by a GP as soon as possible , explain experts writing for the NHS Choices website . If your GP finds a lump on examination , they will routinely refer you to be seen by a hospital specialist . While 90 per cent of breast lumps are benign , experts stress it 's important to be breast aware and take note of any changes or warning signs . There are several types of benign ( non-cancerous ) breast lump , most of which are harmless and are caused by hormonal changes that occur at different times in a woman 's life , such as during the menstrual cycle . Common types of benign breast lump include : . *a fibroadenoma – a firm lump that moves around easily in the breast and is more common in younger women . * a breast cyst – a smooth , firm fluid-filled lump most commonly seen in women aged 30 to 60 . * a breast abscess – a painful collection of pus that forms under the skin of the breast , usually as the result of a bacterial infection . The website advice stresses it 's important to be 'breast aware ' so you can identify any problems in your breasts and get them checked out as soon as possible . This means being familiar with your breasts and what is normal for them , and examining them regularly for any changes . If you are 50 years or over , it 's also important to attend breast cancer screening appointments every three years . But do n't wait until your next screening appointment if you notice any problems in your breast . You also should see your GP if you notice any other changes to one or both of your breasts , such as : . * an area of thickened tissue . * nipple discharge , which may contain blood . * a change in the size or shape of your breasts . * dimpling on the skin of your breasts . * a rash on or around your nipples . * a change in your nipple 's appearance – for example , becoming sunken into your breast . * persistent pain in your breasts or armpits . * a lump or swelling in your armpits . Source : NHS Choices .
eve Thorpe , however , saw her GP the day after seeing the lump in left lung . ' It was n't big , but it was substantial - like when you have a spot ' , she said . Was diagnosed with cancer two days later after scans revealed two lumps . Underwent mastectomy , reconstruction and chemo and is now cancer - free .