Late Diagnosis

I really want to tell you my story so far. If it helps just one other person then I 'm happy. In May of 2006 when I was living in Lincolnshire England I visited my GP with a tiny pea sized lump which had appeared on what was already a mass in my left breast. I have suffered for many years with benign lumps appearing in that breast and was very careful and thorough about self examination. I had twice undergone medical examinations, scans and biopsies and ultimately removal of these benign lumps whilst living in Nottinghamshire, also I suffered much pain and tenderness in that breast. I visited my GP in Spilsby Linc's and he was very thorough in his examination and immediately sent fpr an appointment for me at a Breast Clinic in one of the hospitals. The only quick appointment was at the Grantham Hospital Breast Clinic which I gratefully accepted. I was very worried as we were planning a move to France and I needed to be sure that everything was going to be alright. I attended the clinic on the appointed day and was given the usual forms to fill out I did mention that my sister was suffering from Ovarian Cancer as this also worried me and I had lost my father and his two sisters to cancer. I was seen by the surgeon who happened to be a locum, he was very kind and gentle, I was given a mammogram and scan. I was then told that they wanted to compare the results of that day with my previous mammograms and also the surgeon would want do a biopsy if the lump was still palpable; so I was to attend clinic again in two weeks time. Two weeks later I attended clinic and was seen by the same surgeon who invited another doctor, a female into the room. She was introduced to me as the Radiologist. The Surgeon again examined me and the lump was still there and palpable; he asked the radiologist to scan me again and she was not at all happy; her manner was very brusque and dismissive of both me and the surgeon. The surgeon stated that he would like to perform a biopsy to which the radiologist was adament that in her opinion this was not necessary. They began to argue over me and I really could not believe what was happening. Well, the radiologist won the argument and I did not have a biopsy but was told that should I be concerned later I could have an open appointment for the following six months. On leaving the hospital I felt elated that I had a clean bill of health but at the same time confused as to why I had not been given a biopsy. I thought that nothing could be wrong as no doctor would surely let a patient leave without this preceedure being carried out if there was even a suspicion of malignancy; so I settled myself down to attending my son's wedding and looking forward to my new life in France. December of 2006 we moved to France, yes I still had the lump and it had got slightly larger but I reassured myself that all was well because the surgeon had said so. In the meantime I had a house to renovate and a new life to kick start. My husband and I worked hard, our first few months were difficult as, firstly his mother died and renovations were heavy going. I was continually tired, more tired that I had ever been but I enjoyed it. All the time the lump was slowly growing, only a tiny bit but by august my husband was getting very concerned. My sister lost her fight against cancer in early September of that year and on visiting our GP here in France my husband insisted that the lump was examined as he was certain that something was wrong. I protested that the Surgeon in England had said everything was fine and that it was OK but our GP thought otherwise and was very strict about it. I was sent straight away to have mammography and scans then on to the hospital for a biopsy which turned out to be and extended biopsy, very large iindeed. Then we got the phone call to say that I had indeed got Lobular Breast Cancer and that the lump which was 6cm when I visited the hospital was now nearly 8 cm. I have no need to tell you all what I felt, horror, shock, fear, anger, dreadful anger. Then I was angry with myself for trusting the doctors so completely; everything rolled into one. Very quickly I was on the treatment treadmill and boy was the treatment superb that I received here in France. Everything was done and done quickly, no waiting for results, it was hospital, scan, result in hand, there and then, they were wonderful. I started on Chemo immediately, after six months of that, ugh, on to operation. My cancer had invaded my lymph nodes and I had a radical mastectomy with complete clearance of lymph nodes. My surgeon was wonderful. My cancer had become very aggressive and was a stage lll. Following the operation I commenced Radiotherapy and now I am taking the drug Arimidex and starting to feel that I have a future again. I am telling this story so that anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation please, please ask for a second opinion, don't be fobbed off; it is your life at stake. Lobular Breast Cancer is known to be difficult to detect. It does not often show up on Mammography or Ultrasound scanning, it is only really detected by tissue sampling and M.R.I. scanning, please please insist on having all the tests available to you, it is your life and life is so very precious. I cannot thank everyon on this site enough for their help and support during this time. Not only was I devastated but I was in another country, I could not speak the language and was far away from home and family. Thank you to you all, for everything. My husband has been such a rock, our marriage is stronger than it's ever been and oh how I love him and thank him for his care of me. By the way he has become agreat cook. Thank you for listening to me, much love to everyone, live, love laugh and be happy. Emma. ps. Yes I have complained to Grantham Hospital and have received letters of apology and an assurance that they will use the experience gained from my case in their dealing with other patients in the future, I hope so.