Teacher's Breast Cancer Found at Stage One in Screening Despite No Symptoms
Ilze Ščeglova, a 56-year-old preschool teacher in Latvia, was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer through screening in late August 2026, though she had no symptoms. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Latvia, yet many still put off check-ups.
A 56-year-old preschool teacher in Latvia, Ilze Ščeglova, was found to have stage one breast cancer in late August 2026 during a screening, a check-up meant to detect disease before symptoms appear. Breast cancer is the most common oncological illness among women in Latvia, but many women still postpone examinations, hoping that nothing bad will happen to them.
No symptoms
Ilze says she felt nothing at all, and she could not have found the tumour by touch herself. She received the diagnosis calmly, because she was told right away that the tumour was very small and caught at the very beginning. She describes the experience as getting off with a slight scare.
Surgery and further treatment
On the day of the interview Ilze had already undergone surgery. Her arm hurts and she feels weak, but her breast was not removed, since the illness was found in time. Radiation therapy is likely to follow, while it is still unclear whether she will need chemotherapy.
Return to work
Ilze believes a cancer diagnosis always divides life into "before" and "after", yet she calls herself an optimist and expects little to change in her life. A group of three-year-olds is waiting for her at the kindergarten. She plans to return once her arm regains movement, and she may need to see a physiotherapist, since the job involves a lot of moving and helping the children.
