It took 13 months for me to be diagnosed with breast cancer
after I found the lump. My first ultrasound said 'benign cyst'.
Ultrasounds every 6 months was advised (only because I asked: 'should I be
checking it over time? and the GP said "only if you want piece of
mind" so at my 2nd ultrasound 6 months later the GP says it is still a
benign cyst, nothing to worry about. What I didn't know and a small fact
the GP failed to mention was that in that 'benign cyst' report at the very
bottom of the page the radiologist recommends that patient could go for FNA
(Fine needle aspiration) for peace of mind. I wouldn't even know what FNA meant
back then so when he said "naaaa all still just a cyst" I just
accepted it. He NEVER told me that the radiologist said I could have FNA
if I wanted to make double sure!!! If I had known an FNA was advised and what
that meant (a proper biopsy test with a needle) I would have said YES PLEASE
TEST THE LUMP CAUSE IT BUGS ME SO MUCH!. Alas, another 6 months later
(now 13 months down the track) all hell breaks loose, very aggressive invasive
ductal carcinoma, the cancer had spread to my nipple, skin, two smaller lumps
next to it and the main lump almost double in size now 3cm! The rest is
history!
I was 39 years old and had not known of any breast cancer history in my family
so GP was just not being aggressive in my testing and not concerned.
Turned out after investigation there were breast cancer on my dad's side of the
family many years ago. I did a genetic test and tested positive for BRCA2
My advice to anyone is NEVER ASSUME because you don't know of a cancer history
that you are ok and don’t need further tests or more investigation.
Listen to your body! If you are concerned asked for more tests! READ YOUR OWN
reports! don’t rely on a GP to just give you a result or skimp through it. Ask
questions. It pains me that they always hammer on in the media about
'early detection saves lives' when I detected my own cancer well in time for it
to be removed.
