This a long post, (sorry!) but is intended to reassure anyone who is recalled after a routine mammogram.
On my birthday in June I received a letter recalling me after a recent routine mammogram - not great timing! I now understand the saying “my blood ran coldâ€. I spent a worrying week until my recall appointment, with everyone reassuring me that there was probably nothing to worry about. However I do get health anxiety so it was a trying time. I went to a wonderful breast clinic for my appointment, where they did further mammograms, ultrasound and manual exams, followed by a biopsy. It turns out they had found small areas of calcification - which can indicate that cells are starting to change. If that had happened, they would recommend surgery as a day patient to remove the dodgy cells. Everything was fully explained in a calm and friendly way. A week later I phoned for the results of the biopsy. It was confirmed that the cells had changed, and they had arranged an appointment for me to see a surgeon that afternoon. No hanging around! It was only after seeing the surgeon, when I was talking to the breast care nurse that she handed me a leaflet about “Ductal Cell Carcinomaâ€. I had not realised until that point that it was a cancer. However, it seems that this is a non-invasive cancer, which does not spread - BUT it can change to invasive breast cancer, so they advise removing the cells.
Just over 2 weeks later I presented myself at the day unit at the hospital for the surgery - absolutely terrified as I had never had a general anaesthetic before. However it all went very smoothly, and I was extremely pleased to wake up after the procedure! I was home by 4pm, and can honestly say I have had absolutely no pain. The scar is about 3 inches long, but as it was stitched on the inside and glued on the outside, is so neat and I'm sure will be barely visible in time. At the follow-up appointment I was extremely relieved to hear they got a clear margin around the cells, and no invasive cancer was found. I was off work for a week but 3 weeks on now feel completely back to normal. They have recommended some radiotherapy as this will make it much less likely that the cancer will return.
The reason for this long and rambling post is to encourage everyone to go to mammogram appointments. They are horrible and uncomfortable, but this would never have been detected so early otherwise as there was no “lump†to feel. If it hadn't been found so early, it might have been a different outcome. Although it has not been my best summer, I am extremely relieved that it was caught when it was, and could be dealt with so quickly.
The NHS gets a lot of knocks, but I cannot complain at all about the treatment I received, and I was so impressed at how quickly everything happened. There are also some fantastic women working in breast clinics, who go out of their way to reassure you, and make sure you have all the information you need.
