Alexandra Jones was just 21-years-old when it began.
She'd heard of breast cancer, but she didn't really know about it.
At first she didn't recognise her symptoms, neither did her family, friends - even a GP.
For two years she carried on as normal, until eventually, after moving to Ancoats and changing doctor, she was finally diagnosed.
There are certain warning signs that people automatically associate with breast cancer - which is the biggest killer of women aged 35-49.
A lump in the breast or armpit being the main one.
But Alex's symptoms were lesser known.
She had nipple discharge, something which is usually seen in pregnant or breastfeeding women.
"When she first noticed it I was living in Spain", Alex's mum Chris said.
"I remember her phoning me and asking me if it was normal to have nipple discharge.
"She said she thought she had a lump as well, and I told her she really needed to get it checked out.
"She wasn't aware of what it meant, neither was I."
Alex was seen by a doctor and was eventually referred for more tests but her symptoms were put down to a blocked milk duct.
She carried on as normal - despite still having the discharge, which eventually turned bloody.
"It went on for a few years and she got really fed up with it," Chris added.
"I told her to go back to see someone but Alex was a stubborn young woman, and thought if the doctor said it was okay then it was.
"She was 21 when it started, it wasn't until she moved to Ancoats and mentioned it to her new doctor that it was finally picked up."
Alex - who had more recently began suffering with pains under her arms - was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer in December 2013.
She was just 23-years-old.
Alex underwent several months of intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as a mastectomy, finally completing her treatment in summer 2014.
But in Christmas that year, she started getting pains in her hips, legs and back, and several months later was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in her bones.
Alex passed away in November 2016 .
Right up until the moment she died, Alex was determined to help educate others about how to spot the signs of breast cancer, working closely with charity CoppaFeel! as a ‘Boobette’.
Now Chris is hoping Alex's story will continue to help raise awareness, as part of BreastFest Manchester.
"CoppaFeel! has made huge strides in making people aware of breast cancer, but there is still more work to be done, " she added.
"People need to know their bodies and what isn't normal for them.
"They also need to know that yes, you can get breast cancer if you're just a young woman."
BreastFest is a month-long campaign taking place in Manchester this October, consisting of a series of events that aim to make Manchester the most breast cancer savvy city in the UK.
It is a joint campaign by Margo Cornish - the woman behind some of the region's biggest fundraisers - and prevention research charity Prevent Breast Cancer, based at The Nightingale Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital.
Chris said: "Alex would 100% be supporting BreastFest.
"She knew nothing about breast cancer until this happened.
"Unless it touches you, you don't tend to know about it.
"It's the same with all illnesses and this is something that needs to change."
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