I have encountered a few obstacles to maintaining a healthy weight for many years, probably since the birth of our second child, and certainly since hitting the menopause. Firstly, I love food and although I enjoy a healthy, mainly pescatarian diet, I’m a grazer-snacker and I have a sweet tooth. Secondly, to me walking is to get from A to B if I can’t use mechanical means, or to take in a pleasant view, not for exercise. Thirdly, I’m a night owl and don’t get enough sleep. Finally, I have had a desk job for over 20 years.
I didn’t like being overweight and I knew it was not good for my health. So, over the years I joined a gym, attended aerobics classes or did exercise routines at home, played badminton, etc. I even tried the “Couch to 5K” running programme on a few occasions but gave up after a few weeks. As much as I longed to run, it was hard and I suffered from shin splints. I ended up being a yo-yo dieter, usually to get into shape for special occasions such as weddings or holidays, and to prepare for our annual ski trip. Each time I would put the weight back on, usually with interest. This was the pattern of my life for some 30 years.
When we got back from a trip to Norway in June 2022, I decided I had to do something to get myself into shape permanently. No more yo-yoing. I was in a full time, sedentary job, and I was not exercising on a regular basis. And I still snacked and ate for comfort when I felt a bit stressed or upset. I started learning to say “no” when the goodies, usually cakes, chocolates, biscuits, doughnuts, etc, were passed around at work, and I tried to be more disciplined at home, too. I watched my calorie intake, snacked less, especially late at night, went to bed earlier, and started exercising regularly by doing aerobic and walking sessions at home in the evenings after work.
It was after one of these sessions on 29 June that I found the lump in my right breast. The June heatwave was over but it was still a very warm evening. I sat down to rest after exercising. I was hot and sweaty and changed out of my top and bra to cool off. I must have run my hand over my breast, perhaps to wipe off some sweat, or maybe I had an itch. I don’t know exactly how I found it, but there it was. I was not in the habit of “checking” myself on a regular or thorough basis but I did it occasionally, including visual checks. Having large, naturally lumpy breasts made it difficult to feel for anything. But I did always attend for my routine mammograms, the last one being in January 2020, which was normal.
I don’t recall panicking or not being able to sleep that night. But I knew not to ignore the lump and I was on the phone to my surgery first thing the next morning to try to get an appointment. Hubby and I were both working from home that day and I didn’t even feel the need to tell him immediately, perhaps thinking that it would not be anything to worry about. There were no GP appointments left for the day so, as instructed on the surgery’s recorded message, I called NHS 111 as I felt I should see or speak to a doctor that same day. They agreed and said they would arrange for my surgery to call me. My GP called me at 2.15pm and, after I'd described my symptoms, she asked me to come and see her at 5.15 that afternoon.
I then told hubby about finding the lump and the appointment with the GP. I was still calm and went to the appointment on my own. After examining me and feeling the lump for herself, my GP said she would put me on the fast track 2WW pathway - to be seen at a breast clinic within two weeks.
While I was there, I took the opportunity to ask her to check a mole on my arm. It had been there for many, many years, and I had previously had it checked by a dermatologist in 2012 and he had not been concerned about it. But over the past few months I had been more conscious of it and thought that it felt more raised. I was aware of the backlog for appointments and referrals following COVID-19, and work was really busy, so I had put off arranging to have it checked. My GP had a look at the mole, compared it to my notes from 2012 (still pretty much the same), took some photos, and said she would refer me to a dermatologist to have it checked, again on the 2WW pathway. Still feeling quite calm.
To be continued…
