![\"Birmingham](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_Charli-Spoerer-1.jpg\")
Birmingham cancer survivor Charli Spoerer is taking part in Cancer Research UK\u2019s 10k Shine Night Walk on Friday, September 5(Image: Cancer Research)<\/p>\nMum-of-four Charli Spoerer was shocked to find a lump the ‘size of a Malteser’ growing behind her nippleBirmingham cancer survivor Charli Spoerer is taking part in Cancer Research UK\u2019s 10k Shine Night Walk on Friday, September 5(Image: Cancer Research)<\/p>\n
A Birmingham mum says she’s lucky to be alive after a routine health appointment led to a a shock breast cancer diagnosis.<\/p>\n
Mum-of-four Charli Spoerer mentioned a ‘slight puckering’ on her skin around her breast during an annual hormone check – which she had dismissed as nothing serious.<\/p>\n
But, following an urgent referral, Charli was shocked to find out she had a lump the size of a Malteser growing behind her right nipple, surrounded by a 5cm layer of pre-cancerous cells.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/strong>Police hunt driver after Birmingham hit-and-run crash leaves cyclist in intensive care<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “I just thought the changes were hormonal,” said the Erdington<\/a> teaching assistant.<\/p>\n “It never occurred to me it was anything serious. God knows how long I might have waited for it to spread before making a doctor\u2019s appointment – so I feel very lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n She was initially told last September she would need surgery to remove the lump followed by radiotherapy.<\/p>\n But tests results after surgery in October meant she had a tough decision to make.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter my lumpectomy they told me it hadn\u2019t spread to my lymph nodes,” she said.<\/p>\n “But they\u2019d discovered the tumour was surrounded by 5cm of pre-cancerous cells. The tumour was 1.9cm so I imagined it like a Malteser sitting inside a tennis ball.<\/p>\n “I had two options, either they could remove the pre-cancerous cells, or give me a mastectomy.<\/p>\n “Although the outer cells weren\u2019t cancerous, they told me there was a high chance they could become cancer, so it felt like a no brainer to have the whole breast removed.<\/p>\n “The way I looked at it, my breasts had served their purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n Charli had the mastectomy in January and is now cancer free.<\/p>\n To celebrate, she will be attending Birmingham<\/a> \u2019s Shine Night Walk<\/a> in aid of Cancer Research UK on September 5.<\/p>\n She will be taking part in the walk with her partner Ian, friends and her four children, aged 16, 18, 19 and 22.<\/p>\n Charli is encouraging anyone who can to join to head along and light up city landmarks in an inspirational 10k procession of light.<\/p>\n Starting in Centenary Square at 7:20pm, she will join hundreds of participants winding their way through Birmingham in a neon-glowing parade of light.<\/p>\n