Breast Cancer Awareness Week always brings out the ‘Wear it Pink’, bunting, balloons and cakes. This year for me felt different: I discovered a lump that caused me some concern.
Instead of procrastinating in my usual style, I made an appointment; to my surprise, I was given a face to face appointment on the same day.
After an examination I was referred to the Breast Clinic. On the one hand it was reassuring to know that it wasn’t my imagination, on the other it caused me serious concern what if it’s cancer?
The appointment was at 10am. I arrived to a packed waiting room. Women of all different shapes and sizes waiting to find out what part of the journey they were on.
After a 30 minute wait, I was called, ‘go around the corner, you’ll need a mammogram before you see the doctor.’ The nurse returned giving us hope that the queue was moving. Only to announce the machines broken go back to the waiting room. I thought, ‘oh no! I’ll have to return!’
Eventually, I was seen by the doctor, she gave lots of reassurances that the lumps were not of concern but then her face changed: she found something. She took out a marker pen and circled where she felt something. Again, ‘I’m not worried, I’ll send you for a scan.’ Too many things to worry about despite reassurances.
I left the hospital still with the spectre of cancer hovering above me.
McKen's Masterclass Resources 