Like some of your other contributors I went for a routine mammogram just after my 60th birthday. No symptoms. But I was called back for biopsy and Ductal Carcinoma was diagnosed. My initial reaction was shock, like anyone else, as there was no previous history that I knew of in the family.
My husband wondered why I had been so long behind the swing doors at the Bolton hospital and was surprised when I told him on the way out that I was told I must have a mastectomy. The X-ray I had seen showed lots of white squiggles and blobs all over the dome of my right breast but just a dense black outline on the 'well' one. It was obviously not a good sight!
Within a fortnight I was operated on and after Christmas had 3 weeks' radio-therapy. 4mm of invasive cancer were found, but what if I had waited or not turned up for the original mammogram?
I can honestly say that I was not afraid during this period, lots of people, family and friends, supported me and I knew I was in good hands, both here and Above.
After a fall in France the following year, I went to the local doctor and, when she offered a tetanus jab, I asked for it in my left arm, explaining what had happened. She wistfully said that the free mammogram system for women in England was a real life-saver and wished it were available there.I think things have changed over there since 2003.
Thank you to cancer researchers, surgeons and breast nurses for your great support. I can still go to see my Helen at Bolton if I am worried and she is fantastic!
I also offer this in memory of the bravest woman I know, Anne Kilgarriff.
Rochdale, United Kingdom