The social housing manager was then diagnosed with stage two breast cancer, which made her “whole life in 60 seconds” flash before her eyes.
Rosie, of Hemel Hempstead, Herts., said: “I didn’t really believe it was something as serious as that.
“Even on the day of the scan in the waiting room, I treated it as if it was a routine smear test.
“But I’ll never forget when they said it wasn’t looking good and I burst into tears – my whole life in 60 seconds flashed before me.
“Everything hit me.
“But my mom was in the waiting room and I had to give my mom that news and that hit me – her face was a picture and time stood still.
“I had to tell my children as I couldn’t keep this from them so it was having to re-deliver that news to them.”
Rosie had six months of chemotherapy, a single mastectomy and reconstruction and radiotherapy and still has physiotherapy.
She’s now been given the all-clear in April this year, but may need more surgery in the future.
Rosie said: “I literally collapsed on the floor.
“It’s like a race that you are running but you don’t know where the finish line is but then you just reach it.
“I’m so pleased that my struggle is not in vain.”
Rebecca was diagnosed with breast cancer after experiencing the same pulling sensation and finding a lump.
The mom-of-one then had a double mastectomy and 18 weeks of chemotherapy and was later declared cancer-free.

She is now encouraging other people who have symptoms to get checked out as she knows how “scary” the process can be.
Rebecca said: “Both Rosie and I were diagnosed purely through a symptom and we are lucky to have that because if not, we wouldn’t have known.
“In terms of someone who has got a lump, I think it can be really scary.
“When I found out I had breast cancer, I thought I wasn’t going to live and that I would lose my hair because I didn’t know much about the process.
“But the reality is, if you catch breast cancer early then the chances of survival are great.
“It’s nothing to be afraid of and the longer you leave it, means there is less chance of survival.”
Rebecca said she she “burst into tears” when she found out about how she has impacted Rosie’s life.
She said: “It was a bit of a shock as you never expect to hear how it’s impacted someone’s life.
“I think I burst into tears.
“It’s amazing – what if Rosie wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t heard about my story?
“It’s just an incredible story.”
Nikki Barraclough, chief executive of Prevent Breast Cancer said: “It’s been a privilege to watch Rebecca and Rosie connect with each other and see the real-life impact that sharing stories about breast cancer can have.
“I’m a huge advocate for talking about this disease, making sure that every woman knows the signs and symptoms and can advocate for themselves to seek help when they need it.
“I’m so grateful to our inspirational ambassador Rebecca for speaking so openly about her own experience of breast cancer.
“It’s thanks to her and others like her that we can reach women like Rosie, and potentially save a life.”
Produced in association with SWNS Talker