Breast Cancer Awareness Month brings people together in October to support everyone affected by breast cancer.

Our brave client Laura has shared her experience of being diagnosed at the age of 36 and wanted to share words of support to anyone sharing her journey.

Screening for breast cancer starts from the age of 50, although the risk of developing the disease is much higher if you have a family history of cancer. If you have any symptoms of breast cancer, however, it is vital you advise your GP. These can include:

• A new lump or thickening in your breast or armpit
• Changes in the position of the nipple
• A change in the size, shape or feel of your breast
• Skin changes in the breast – such as puckering, dimpling, a rash or redness
• Fluid leaking from the nipple

Laura first noticed a lump in her breast and after seeking advice from her GP, she was referred to the breast clinic. Scans were carried out and the breast clinic advised these were reassuring. Around six months later Laura noted dimpling to the outside of her breast and also had pain around the nipple. She sought advice from the GP again and Laura asked to be referred back to the breast clinic. She had a family history of cancer and remained concerned given the changes. Following an examination and an ultrasound scan, Laura was again reassured. In the summer that followed, Laura noticed a further lump in her armpit and tethering to the skin of the breast. The GP arranged a further referral to the breast clinic where further imaging and a biopsy was carried out. Around twelve months since first noticing changes, Laura was diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer.

Although she had a huge amount of support from family and wonderful friends, Laura felt as though she was suffocating in loneliness following her diagnosis. The first line of treatment was a mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

“I remember the day of my surgery, my phone was overflowing with messages of support and well wishes but no one could tell me they understood, there was no one to guide me through what I would face on the other side, not medically of course my cancer team where very helpful in that sense, but emotionally and of course that wasn't their fault but I think looking back I wasn't mentally prepared for my surgery day and honestly it is something a year on, that I am still learning to process. 

Whilst I was waiting to go down to theatre I remember taking to Instagram to search breast cancer hashtags desperately trying to find a person, a community, anyone who could tell me they understood”

Laura found support from two groups she came across, Hollie’s Dolly’s and Sam’s Diamonds, where she could connect to those having a similar experience. She explained:

“I have to say their pages for a long time gave me a place to feel heard even when I didn't even make a post. Oddly, breast cancer is still very much approached as a disease in older women by the NHS and that can feel very difficult so it was uplifting to be able to dip in and out of a group of women my own age, women who shared they same emotional understanding of the physical response your body has to a mastectomy and chemotherapy”

The treatment journey can be difficult to navigate and can feel overwhelming. Laura would encourage anyone affected by this to not be afraid to ask questions, to find strength to hold on to what you believe is best for you and your mental well-being. Throughout the treatment process, different emotions and reminders can be brought up and asking questions about upcoming appointments can help. Laura described how she attended an appointment for a prosthetic fitting, which took place in the same suite at the hospital where she had been given her diagnosis just a couple of months previously. Laura explained: “I was grossly unprepared for how I would feel returning there and had I just asked where exactly in the hospital the appointment would take place I could have avoid the situation”.

Following treatment, Laura told us how she has found it difficult to navigate the post-treatment changes to her body and in particular her hair, although this has started to grow back, as this was a big part of who she was. After a mastectomy, new underwear and prosthetics may be offered by the NHS and may also feel daunting. Laura has found there are many high street and independent retailers that provide post surgery underwear and prosthetics too, which are more aesthetically pleasing than those which will be offered to you at your NHS appointment. “You can be measured and fitted just as before. You also don’t have to pay VAT on post surgery underwear too so treat yourself to all of the colour ways!”

Within our specialist clinical negligence team at JMW we often see the impact of delays in diagnosis can have. Laura’s diagnosis came over twelve months and after two consultations with the breast clinic. She would urge anyone with concerns to be persistent and to shout until you are heard: “Please don't ever be made to feel like a nuisance or that you are wrong. Early diagnosis really does make the most monumental difference to your immediate treatment and the prolonged effects and limit that cancer can then hold over your future”.

Laura’s diagnosis and treatment has had a huge impact on her and her young family. We hope that by helping her to share her experience this may help any others affected by breast cancer and Laura’s words of support may reassure you to know that you are not alone.

“There will be moments when you will feel like you are suffocating, when you think your positivity has met its match but strength is something so amazing and you are stronger than cancer. You will come to learn that happiness and sadness do not exist independently of each other, it is entirely possible to experience them both simultaneously and honestly that is a lot but it is also ok”.