“I have received two breast cancer diagnoses during my life. Initially, I just found a lump in one of my breasts. Interestingly, I wouldn’t have found the lump with a bra on, as the way the bra pulled up over my boob brought it to my attention. There was a seam digging in, making me wonder what the strange feeling could be. Without a bra on, I couldn’t really feel anything, but I still didn’t ignore it and felt concerned enough to book a medical appointment.

At 42 years old, I wasn’t expecting to have cancer, but I still knew that I needed to go to the GP. I wondered if the lump might go away, so I didn’t book an appointment straight away. I thought perhaps the lump was something to do with my hormones or menstrual cycle. Randomly, I remember being at a Billy Joel concert for my birthday, and I couldn’t stop thinking about possibly having cancer.

My first diagnosis was 27 years ago, and I was put on a two-week waiting list for a mammogram after I had initially seen the doctor. That time I had to wait felt horrific. There were about five weeks between discovering the lump and being diagnosed with cancer. I was diagnosed on the 4th June, and my breast was removed on the 23rd July. When discussing my treatment, I didn’t see the first doctor who had told me I had cancer as they were on holiday. I saw a consultant I can only describe as horrible. He was pompous and had an awful bedside manner. I was a wreck at this time and I didn't feel supported at all. I thought I was going to die, leaving my children, husband and elderly parents. I later wrote to this doctor and told him that he didn’t treat me well. But it shouldn’t matter who you see — they should tell you all the details you want to know.

The doctor never told me anything, and it didn’t help me process what was happening. I was so concerned about the cancer being in my body; the longer it was in there, the more likely it was to spread. I wish the doctors would understand you have these thoughts running through your mind at all times. When I asked, ‘How long have I got left?’ I got told, ‘We can’t answer that.’

My second diagnosis came in 2021. One day I was sitting on the bed with no bra on and I felt a wet patch on the other side. My remaining boob was leaking brown, gunky stuff. I was beside myself with worry. It was a two-week wait to see the doctor, which was classed as a fast referral. I can’t remember seeing a GP, but I went to the hospital to see a consultant. She looked at my boob and sent me for an ultrasound. She didn’t seem worried and while she was a lovely woman, but she didn’t do me a service on that day. I then felt dismissed by the radiography staff, as they didn’t scan the whole boob—I believe the consultant told them it was nothing to worry about. The radiographer only scanned around the nipple, which, in my opinion, was not a large enough area. They told me it was blocked ducts, and no further investigation was requested.

About four weeks after this appointment, I found two lumps. As I’d had a clear mammogram a few months prior, I was worried I wouldn’t be taken seriously. So, I decided to book a doctor’s appointment to discuss a knee problem. I saw a locum GP, mentioned the lumps, and she referred me to the hospital straight away. I felt let down that the consultant hadn’t investigated my leaky breast three months before. The locum GP was on the ball and really listened—I think because I’d had cancer before.

Neither of my diagnoses came via routine screening. The only other symptom I experienced during my second diagnosis was hot flushes, which I’m unsure were linked to cancer.

Some of the nurses assumed that I understood the process of being diagnosed and treated for breast cancer, even though my initial diagnosis was 27 years ago. My brain was mush, and I needed all of the information at that time. This will help those who are less well-informed about such medical issues.

Cancer is not as taboo to talk about as it used to be. My generation is much more aware than my mother’s generation, and this will only continue to improve. Older people don’t seem as aware, and there’s a genuine fear of the outcomes. In my community, ladies go for their mammograms, but they are often reluctant to go to the doctor unless pushed—perhaps due to living busy lives or putting other people first.”