The Difference

From the first time Brenda was diagnosed in 2016 until 2019, she tried her very best to continue with life as normal (pre 2016) In 2019, she received her appointment for her annual breast scan. She attended the appointment and she was informed they had found something suspicious on the scan imaging. We were both very worried and anxious during the 2 weeks we were waiting on the formal results. We finally attended her consultation and the consultant queried why we looked so worried. I asked him if this was a serious question. The consultant asked what we knew. Brenda reiterated what she had been advised during the scan, that something suspicious had been found. The consultant went on to state that there was no need to be overly concerned – the scan had picked up a small recurring primary breast cancer and reassured us that it was once again curable. I find it hard to express how relieved we were. The consultant did inform us that a full mastectomy would be required this time, but Brenda was just happy that it had been caught and that the doctors were confident it could be treated by carrying out a mastectomy. She was advised that some further tests would be done as a precaution, purely because her primary cancer had recurred so soon after her initial diagnosis in 2016. We were left in the hands of the breast care nurse to talk us through the procedure and she advised us that Brenda would receive her appointment for the survey in due course.

Prior to her mastectomy appointment, Brenda received an appointment for a full bone scan and ultrasound of her liver.

 Sometime later, we attended the mastectomy consultation with her appointed surgeon. It turned out to be the Dr that had diagnosed Brenda in 2016. We noticed immediately that there was no breast care nurse present, as there was usually one at all appointments. Brenda immediately felt that something was wrong. The doctor appeared awkward. He went on to say that sadly they would no longer be considering the mastectomy as the bone scan and ultra sound of her liver had confirmed her cancer had metastasized. However, he did say that if the treatment helped, he could revisit the possibility of the mastectomy at a later date.