“I was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2022. To put my diagnosis into context, my mother died from secondary breast cancer aged 43. When I was 40, I went to my GP to request a check in case my family history put me at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. At the time, under the guidelines of NICE (The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), I didn’t qualify for further testing; as my mother was an only child, testing due to family history could not be justified. However, my GP put me forward for a mammogram and ultrasound, and nothing was found. Due to the reasons above, I was not due to be brought back for another screening until I was at least 50, the age regular breast screening is recommended by the NHS.

Four years later when I was 44, I became aware of a slight thickening of the skin behind my nipple. It was not a lump as such, but the tissue felt denser and when I lifted my arm up the skin would pucker. I looked online to check if this was a symptom of breast cancer, but I couldn’t find anything. I did wonder if this might be a symptom of the perimenopause.

I went to my GP and I wasn't seen by my usual doctor on this occasion. The GP did an assessment and said that he couldn’t feel anything there. He told me it was nothing to worry about. I felt he was dismissive, especially in hindsight. I believe that what I felt those years ago must have been cancer, even though there’s no way to prove it. I felt I wasn’t taken seriously, but if I had been, then the cancer might not have spread. I feel angry about this. I understand that GPs get lots of people coming to them with worries, but maybe if I’d seen a different doctor who had taken my concerns more seriously, they might have found something sooner.

Four years later, things hadn’t got better. The tissue had gotten even thicker. I could feel a lump while lying on my front and I was conscious of it while hugging people. I went back to my GP and saw my regular doctor. He had a lot more empathy and was generally brilliant, taking my feedback and looking things up. He also listened to me, which is half the battle; while I appreciate that we are not the medical experts, we are the experts of our own bodies.

Things then moved quickly. I was referred to the hospital within a week. When I was seen I was sent upstairs straight away for a mammogram and an ultrasound. Things didn’t look good, and a biopsy was taken. While I was not told the results straightaway I knew I had cancer as the scan showed it in my lymph nodes. This process was efficient and once I was diagnosed a relatively quick plan of action for treatment was put in place. I was diagnosed with cancer on 21st October 2022 and I had my mastectomy at the beginning of December.

Breast cancer generally has no symptoms. In myself, I felt well, and I only went to the GP as I wanted to understand the physical changes to my body as they were not normal for me. As I had some family history of breast cancer, I think I should have been shown more concern and the first GP should have read my notes more thoroughly.

I would like to see doctors taking a more holistic view of cancer. They are always pushed for time and they don’t have capacity to read copious amounts of notes on a patient’s record. They look at you as how you’re presenting today in that room, not looking at your background to get a full picture. It's not a personal thing, it’s a systemic issue. I like to think my situation is rare, but generally, in our current healthcare system, our issues are not being viewed with our history considered.”