Like so many of you, I'd spent copious amounts of time and money over the years having regular mammograms and ultrasounds that proved to be futile. Early 2015 I was diagnosed with a 12cm lobular carcinoma that had also invaded my axillary nodes. I had been to the doctors a few months prior with some concerns only to be told that it was too soon to do another mammogram but another ultrasound was organised. Again I was told no further action was required....how wrong were they!!!. Eventually I spoke to another GP at the clinic and I was referred to a Breast Specialist immediately. My scenario; mastectomy and full axillary node clearance, 6 months chemo, 7 weeks radiotherapy followed by removal of ovaries (so I didn't have to have monthly injections) plus letrozole for the long haul.
In the midst of all this, I stumbled upon some peer-reviewed journal articles from the US that stated that women with dense breast tissue are at increased risk of developing breast cancer!!! At no stage did any of the health professionals I'd been dealing with made me aware of this. Yes, I knew that my breasts were dense, but I had faith in and trusted my GP in that everything that could be done was being done. I had been extremely fit and healthy, no family history, however I was in my
early fifties.
Again, after the fact, I was told by a cancer radiotherapist that mammography is virtually useless in detecting tumours in dense breasts!!!
I, along with all of you should have been made aware of this information so as to make informed choices. To say that I am extremely angry and disappointed is an understatement. My annual check-ups now also include an MRI (which I pay full amount for)....which helped to confirm the original diagnosis. Had I known this diagnostic tool was available, I certainly would have requested it.
