Sophie Jackson discovered the lump in her right breast in September last year She was told that the tumor was probably caused by her hormonal cycle and to wait The nurse pushed for a referral and was diagnosed with cancer in November
An NHS oncology nurse was diagnosed with aggressive cancer after her doctor wrongly dismissed a lump in her breast as “nothing”, she claims. Sophie Jackson, 26, from Bournemouth, Dorset, found the lump in her right breast in September last year and immediately went to her doctor to have it checked. But she was told that the lump was probably caused by her menstrual cycle and that she should wait four weeks to see if anything had changed. Given her experience in cancer wards, the nurse was not convinced and pushed for a referral to a breast cancer clinic. She eventually saw a specialist at Poole Hospital and was given the devastating news that it was cancer in November. Having seen countless breast cancer patients in the past, she knew she had a scary road ahead of her. Over the past 10 months, he has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy, 10 rounds of radiotherapy and surgery to remove the tumour. She is now cancer free and has returned to work at Dorset University Hospitals, where she feels she has a “unique understanding” of what patients are going through. An NHS oncology nurse was diagnosed with aggressive stage two cancer after her doctor mistakenly dismissed a lump in her breast as ‘nothing’, claims Sophie Jackson, 26, from Dorset, discovered the mass in her right breast in September last year and immediately went to her doctor to have it checked Her hair started falling out as a result of chemotherapy, including her eyebrows and eyelashes. Pictured: Her first chemotherapy treatment But she was told the tumor was likely to return in the next two years because she had a particularly aggressive form of invasive ductal carcinoma. She is also robbed of her chance to become a mother because the doctors gave her a chemically induced menopause. To prevent the cancer from coming back, she gets regular injections to lower the estrogen levels in her body. High amounts of the female sex hormone can increase the risk of developing breast tumors, especially when they are ER positive, as in Ms. Jackson’s case. She is now spreading the message to women to get their breasts checked, adding that she might have died if she hadn’t rejected her GP’s advice and got a referral herself. Around 56,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year, making it the most common form of the disease in the country. It is the second most common cancer in the US, with 288,000 diagnoses annually — 30 percent of all women’s cancers. The disease occurs mainly in middle-aged and older women, with a few under the age of 45. A family history of breast cancer, being overweight, and taking hormone replacement therapy or certain types of pills can increase your risk of the disease. After 10 months, she is not cancer-free and is back at work, where she feels she has a “unique understanding” of what patients go through. In February, she decided to shave her head after her second round of treatment, opting to wear wigs and scarves Almost nine out of 10 women with breast cancer survive for five or more years after their diagnosis “I cried my eyes out and first asked if I was going to die and second if I was going to lose all my hair,” Jackson said. “Apart from the lump, I had no other symptoms. It felt completely random and the diagnosis was such a shock. “I felt disappointed. Doctors initially thought it was nothing purely based on age. “I feel frustrated by the guidance out there with ‘stereotype’ pieces to look for such as being hard or not moving, as mine met all the criteria to be what they label as ‘nothing’. “If I had left it for four weeks as the GP suggested, it might have spread in that time and I would be looking at an incurable diagnosis.” In addition to the frustration, Ms. Jackson found it difficult to already know how the process would work. He said: “When I was diagnosed it was extremely overwhelming – usually you’re drip-fed information about the patient as it’s too much to take in straight away. “I didn’t have that luxury and instead immediately realized I was facing surgery, chemotherapy, hair loss and infertility at such a young age. “I think my job helped in some ways as I didn’t have the expected anxieties about chemotherapy. “I knew what was going to happen, I knew the drugs and I knew and trusted the people who were giving them to me, which saved a lot of worry.” Jackson first went to her doctor in September and went to a breast cancer specialist in late October. She was diagnosed on November 4 and underwent a lumpectomy – when a tumor and healthy breast tissue were removed – on November 30. Doctors remove some of the healthy tissue to make sure the tumor doesn’t grow back. She has been undergoing fertility treatment to preserve her eggs since December 5. Drugs used in chemotherapy can lower estrogen levels, preventing the release of eggs into the uterus and causing periods to stop. Sophie has been told her cancer is likely to return within the next two years but now wants to help raise awareness of the devastating disease, I cried my eyes out and firstly asked if I was going to die and secondly if I was going to lose everything. my hair,” says Ms. Jackson This makes pregnancy impossible and can be temporary or permanent. Even if periods return, menopause may come earlier, shortening the window to have a child. Removing the eggs before this can help with successful pregnancy after IVF treatment. Jackson began her first round of chemotherapy on January 19, and radiation treatment began in June. Her hair began to fall out as a result of the chemotherapy, including her eyebrows and eyelashes. In February, she decided to shave her head after her second round of treatment, opting to wear wigs and headscarves instead. He said: “It was really strange to receive chemotherapy drugs that I had given other patients before, like an out-of-body experience. “I was also in disbelief seeing my name on the chemo bag and checking my details when it was usually me on the other side. “It was distressing as being unwell meant I couldn’t work for a while, which made me anxious — especially seeing my colleagues continue to work and look after me.” During her treatment, Jackson had to stop working and now says that since she returned on July 21, her perspective on work has changed. He said: “I feel different about the job, I have a lot more empathy for patients now and I feel like I have a unique understanding. “Although I also have struggles as I am also a cancer patient and will be for a long time. “The typical understaffed NHS, being overworked and not taking breaks leaves me drained and exhausted. “Sometimes it’s hard to process patient care and support cancer patients when it means hitting the ground running, when in reality I probably need the support myself.” Although working on a cancer ward sometimes gives Ms Jackson periods of “constant fear”, she says returning to work has been a good distraction. Mrs Jackson has been told her cancer is likely to return, but now she wants to help raise awareness of the devastating disease – and the importance of supporting your own health. She added: “I just want to spread awareness that cancer can affect you at a young age, even with no family history, no genetics, no risk factors other than being on the pill. “Early detection saved my life, so it’s so important to get checked every month and push to get things checked. “You never waste anyone’s time.”
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, affecting more than two MILLION women a year
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Every year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases and the disease kills 11,500 women. In the US it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated? What is breast cancer? Breast cancer develops from a cancer cell that grows in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts. When breast cancer has spread to the surrounding breast tissue, it is called “invasive” breast cancer. Some people are diagnosed with “carcinoma in situ,” where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobe. Most cases develop in women over 50, but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men although this is rare. Staging means how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body. Cancer cells are classified from low, meaning slow growing, to high, meaning fast growing. High-grade cancers are more likely to come back after their first treatment. What causes breast cancer? A cancerous tumor starts from an abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or changes certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and it multiplies ‘out of control’. Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are certain risk factors that can increase the chance of developing breast cancer, such as genetics. What are the symptoms of breast cancer? The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most breast lumps are not cancerous and are fluid-filled cysts, which are benign. The first place breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this happens, you will experience swelling or a lump in the armpit. How is breast cancer diagnosed?
Initial assessment: Doctor examines breasts and armpits….
title: “Nhs Oncology Nurse Diagnosed With Cancer After Doctor Dismissed Breast Lump As Probably Nothing Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-23” author: “Janet Larose”
Sophie Jackson discovered the lump in her right breast in September last year She was told that the tumor was probably caused by her hormonal cycle and to wait The nurse pushed for a referral and was diagnosed with cancer in November
An NHS oncology nurse was diagnosed with aggressive cancer after her doctor wrongly dismissed a lump in her breast as “nothing”, she claims. Sophie Jackson, 26, from Bournemouth, Dorset, found the lump in her right breast in September last year and immediately went to her doctor to have it checked. But she was told that the lump was probably caused by her menstrual cycle and that she should wait four weeks to see if anything had changed. Given her experience in cancer wards, the nurse was not convinced and pushed for a referral to a breast cancer clinic. She eventually saw a specialist at Poole Hospital and was given the devastating news that it was cancer in November. Having seen countless breast cancer patients in the past, she knew she had a scary road ahead of her. Over the past 10 months, he has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy, 10 rounds of radiotherapy and surgery to remove the tumour. She is now cancer free and has returned to work at Dorset University Hospitals, where she feels she has a “unique understanding” of what patients are going through. An NHS oncology nurse was diagnosed with aggressive stage two cancer after her doctor mistakenly dismissed a lump in her breast as ‘nothing’, claims Sophie Jackson, 26, from Dorset, discovered the mass in her right breast in September last year and immediately went to her doctor to have it checked Her hair started falling out as a result of chemotherapy, including her eyebrows and eyelashes. Pictured: Her first chemotherapy treatment But she was told the tumor was likely to return in the next two years because she had a particularly aggressive form of invasive ductal carcinoma. She is also robbed of her chance to become a mother because the doctors gave her a chemically induced menopause. To prevent the cancer from coming back, she gets regular injections to lower the estrogen levels in her body. High amounts of the female sex hormone can increase the risk of developing breast tumors, especially when they are ER positive, as in Ms. Jackson’s case. She is now spreading the message to women to get their breasts checked, adding that she might have died if she hadn’t rejected her GP’s advice and got a referral herself. Around 56,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year, making it the most common form of the disease in the country. It is the second most common cancer in the US, with 288,000 diagnoses annually — 30 percent of all women’s cancers. The disease occurs mainly in middle-aged and older women, with a few under the age of 45. A family history of breast cancer, being overweight, and taking hormone replacement therapy or certain types of pills can increase your risk of the disease. After 10 months, she is not cancer-free and is back at work, where she feels she has a “unique understanding” of what patients go through. In February, she decided to shave her head after her second round of treatment, opting to wear wigs and scarves Almost nine out of 10 women with breast cancer survive for five or more years after their diagnosis “I cried my eyes out and first asked if I was going to die and second if I was going to lose all my hair,” Jackson said. “Apart from the lump, I had no other symptoms. It felt completely random and the diagnosis was such a shock. “I felt disappointed. Doctors initially thought it was nothing purely based on age. “I feel frustrated by the guidance out there with ‘stereotype’ pieces to look for such as being hard or not moving, as mine met all the criteria to be what they label as ‘nothing’. “If I had left it for four weeks as the GP suggested, it might have spread in that time and I would be looking at an incurable diagnosis.” In addition to the frustration, Ms. Jackson found it difficult to already know how the process would work. He said: “When I was diagnosed it was extremely overwhelming – usually you’re drip-fed information about the patient as it’s too much to take in straight away. “I didn’t have that luxury and instead immediately realized I was facing surgery, chemotherapy, hair loss and infertility at such a young age. “I think my job helped in some ways as I didn’t have the expected anxieties about chemotherapy. “I knew what was going to happen, I knew the drugs and I knew and trusted the people who were giving them to me, which saved a lot of worry.” Jackson first went to her doctor in September and went to a breast cancer specialist in late October. She was diagnosed on November 4 and underwent a lumpectomy – when a tumor and healthy breast tissue were removed – on November 30. Doctors remove some of the healthy tissue to make sure the tumor doesn’t grow back. She has been undergoing fertility treatment to preserve her eggs since December 5. Drugs used in chemotherapy can lower estrogen levels, preventing the release of eggs into the uterus and causing periods to stop. Sophie has been told her cancer is likely to return within the next two years but now wants to help raise awareness of the devastating disease, I cried my eyes out and firstly asked if I was going to die and secondly if I was going to lose everything. my hair,” says Ms. Jackson This makes pregnancy impossible and can be temporary or permanent. Even if periods return, menopause may come earlier, shortening the window to have a child. Removing the eggs before this can help with successful pregnancy after IVF treatment. Jackson began her first round of chemotherapy on January 19, and radiation treatment began in June. Her hair began to fall out as a result of the chemotherapy, including her eyebrows and eyelashes. In February, she decided to shave her head after her second round of treatment, opting to wear wigs and headscarves instead. He said: “It was really strange to receive chemotherapy drugs that I had given other patients before, like an out-of-body experience. “I was also in disbelief seeing my name on the chemo bag and checking my details when it was usually me on the other side. “It was distressing as being unwell meant I couldn’t work for a while, which made me anxious — especially seeing my colleagues continue to work and look after me.” During her treatment, Jackson had to stop working and now says that since she returned on July 21, her perspective on work has changed. He said: “I feel different about the job, I have a lot more empathy for patients now and I feel like I have a unique understanding. “Although I also have struggles as I am also a cancer patient and will be for a long time. “The typical understaffed NHS, being overworked and not taking breaks leaves me drained and exhausted. “Sometimes it’s hard to process patient care and support cancer patients when it means hitting the ground running, when in reality I probably need the support myself.” Although working on a cancer ward sometimes gives Ms Jackson periods of “constant fear”, she says returning to work has been a good distraction. Mrs Jackson has been told her cancer is likely to return, but now she wants to help raise awareness of the devastating disease – and the importance of supporting your own health. She added: “I just want to spread awareness that cancer can affect you at a young age, even with no family history, no genetics, no risk factors other than being on the pill. “Early detection saved my life, so it’s so important to get checked every month and push to get things checked. “You never waste anyone’s time.”
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, affecting more than two MILLION women a year
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Every year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases and the disease kills 11,500 women. In the US it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated? What is breast cancer? Breast cancer develops from a cancer cell that grows in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts. When breast cancer has spread to the surrounding breast tissue, it is called “invasive” breast cancer. Some people are diagnosed with “carcinoma in situ,” where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobe. Most cases develop in women over 50, but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men although this is rare. Staging means how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body. Cancer cells are classified from low, meaning slow growing, to high, meaning fast growing. High-grade cancers are more likely to come back after their first treatment. What causes breast cancer? A cancerous tumor starts from an abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or changes certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and it multiplies ‘out of control’. Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are certain risk factors that can increase the chance of developing breast cancer, such as genetics. What are the symptoms of breast cancer? The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most breast lumps are not cancerous and are fluid-filled cysts, which are benign. The first place breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this happens, you will experience swelling or a lump in the armpit. How is breast cancer diagnosed?
Initial assessment: Doctor examines breasts and armpits….
title: “Nhs Oncology Nurse Diagnosed With Cancer After Doctor Dismissed Breast Lump As Probably Nothing Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-08” author: “Scott Adamson”
Sophie Jackson discovered the lump in her right breast in September last year She was told that the tumor was probably caused by her hormonal cycle and to wait The nurse pushed for a referral and was diagnosed with cancer in November
An NHS oncology nurse was diagnosed with aggressive cancer after her doctor wrongly dismissed a lump in her breast as “nothing”, she claims. Sophie Jackson, 26, from Bournemouth, Dorset, found the lump in her right breast in September last year and immediately went to her doctor to have it checked. But she was told that the lump was probably caused by her menstrual cycle and that she should wait four weeks to see if anything had changed. Given her experience in cancer wards, the nurse was not convinced and pushed for a referral to a breast cancer clinic. She eventually saw a specialist at Poole Hospital and was given the devastating news that it was cancer in November. Having seen countless breast cancer patients in the past, she knew she had a scary road ahead of her. Over the past 10 months, he has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy, 10 rounds of radiotherapy and surgery to remove the tumour. She is now cancer free and has returned to work at Dorset University Hospitals, where she feels she has a “unique understanding” of what patients are going through. An NHS oncology nurse was diagnosed with aggressive stage two cancer after her doctor mistakenly dismissed a lump in her breast as ‘nothing’, claims Sophie Jackson, 26, from Dorset, discovered the mass in her right breast in September last year and immediately went to her doctor to have it checked Her hair started falling out as a result of chemotherapy, including her eyebrows and eyelashes. Pictured: Her first chemotherapy treatment But she was told the tumor was likely to return in the next two years because she had a particularly aggressive form of invasive ductal carcinoma. She is also robbed of her chance to become a mother because the doctors gave her a chemically induced menopause. To prevent the cancer from coming back, she gets regular injections to lower the estrogen levels in her body. High amounts of the female sex hormone can increase the risk of developing breast tumors, especially when they are ER positive, as in Ms. Jackson’s case. She is now spreading the message to women to get their breasts checked, adding that she might have died if she hadn’t rejected her GP’s advice and got a referral herself. Around 56,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year, making it the most common form of the disease in the country. It is the second most common cancer in the US, with 288,000 diagnoses annually — 30 percent of all women’s cancers. The disease occurs mainly in middle-aged and older women, with a few under the age of 45. A family history of breast cancer, being overweight, and taking hormone replacement therapy or certain types of pills can increase your risk of the disease. After 10 months, she is not cancer-free and is back at work, where she feels she has a “unique understanding” of what patients go through. In February, she decided to shave her head after her second round of treatment, opting to wear wigs and scarves Almost nine out of 10 women with breast cancer survive for five or more years after their diagnosis “I cried my eyes out and first asked if I was going to die and second if I was going to lose all my hair,” Jackson said. “Apart from the lump, I had no other symptoms. It felt completely random and the diagnosis was such a shock. “I felt disappointed. Doctors initially thought it was nothing purely based on age. “I feel frustrated by the guidance out there with ‘stereotype’ pieces to look for such as being hard or not moving, as mine met all the criteria to be what they label as ‘nothing’. “If I had left it for four weeks as the GP suggested, it might have spread in that time and I would be looking at an incurable diagnosis.” In addition to the frustration, Ms. Jackson found it difficult to already know how the process would work. He said: “When I was diagnosed it was extremely overwhelming – usually you’re drip-fed information about the patient as it’s too much to take in straight away. “I didn’t have that luxury and instead immediately realized I was facing surgery, chemotherapy, hair loss and infertility at such a young age. “I think my job helped in some ways as I didn’t have the expected anxieties about chemotherapy. “I knew what was going to happen, I knew the drugs and I knew and trusted the people who were giving them to me, which saved a lot of worry.” Jackson first went to her doctor in September and went to a breast cancer specialist in late October. She was diagnosed on November 4 and underwent a lumpectomy – when a tumor and healthy breast tissue were removed – on November 30. Doctors remove some of the healthy tissue to make sure the tumor doesn’t grow back. She has been undergoing fertility treatment to preserve her eggs since December 5. Drugs used in chemotherapy can lower estrogen levels, preventing the release of eggs into the uterus and causing periods to stop. Sophie has been told her cancer is likely to return within the next two years but now wants to help raise awareness of the devastating disease, I cried my eyes out and firstly asked if I was going to die and secondly if I was going to lose everything. my hair,” says Ms. Jackson This makes pregnancy impossible and can be temporary or permanent. Even if periods return, menopause may come earlier, shortening the window to have a child. Removing the eggs before this can help with successful pregnancy after IVF treatment. Jackson began her first round of chemotherapy on January 19, and radiation treatment began in June. Her hair began to fall out as a result of the chemotherapy, including her eyebrows and eyelashes. In February, she decided to shave her head after her second round of treatment, opting to wear wigs and headscarves instead. He said: “It was really strange to receive chemotherapy drugs that I had given other patients before, like an out-of-body experience. “I was also in disbelief seeing my name on the chemo bag and checking my details when it was usually me on the other side. “It was distressing as being unwell meant I couldn’t work for a while, which made me anxious — especially seeing my colleagues continue to work and look after me.” During her treatment, Jackson had to stop working and now says that since she returned on July 21, her perspective on work has changed. He said: “I feel different about the job, I have a lot more empathy for patients now and I feel like I have a unique understanding. “Although I also have struggles as I am also a cancer patient and will be for a long time. “The typical understaffed NHS, being overworked and not taking breaks leaves me drained and exhausted. “Sometimes it’s hard to process patient care and support cancer patients when it means hitting the ground running, when in reality I probably need the support myself.” Although working on a cancer ward sometimes gives Ms Jackson periods of “constant fear”, she says returning to work has been a good distraction. Mrs Jackson has been told her cancer is likely to return, but now she wants to help raise awareness of the devastating disease – and the importance of supporting your own health. She added: “I just want to spread awareness that cancer can affect you at a young age, even with no family history, no genetics, no risk factors other than being on the pill. “Early detection saved my life, so it’s so important to get checked every month and push to get things checked. “You never waste anyone’s time.”
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, affecting more than two MILLION women a year
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Every year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases and the disease kills 11,500 women. In the US it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated? What is breast cancer? Breast cancer develops from a cancer cell that grows in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts. When breast cancer has spread to the surrounding breast tissue, it is called “invasive” breast cancer. Some people are diagnosed with “carcinoma in situ,” where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobe. Most cases develop in women over 50, but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men although this is rare. Staging means how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body. Cancer cells are classified from low, meaning slow growing, to high, meaning fast growing. High-grade cancers are more likely to come back after their first treatment. What causes breast cancer? A cancerous tumor starts from an abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or changes certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and it multiplies ‘out of control’. Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are certain risk factors that can increase the chance of developing breast cancer, such as genetics. What are the symptoms of breast cancer? The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most breast lumps are not cancerous and are fluid-filled cysts, which are benign. The first place breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this happens, you will experience swelling or a lump in the armpit. How is breast cancer diagnosed?
Initial assessment: Doctor examines breasts and armpits….
title: “Nhs Oncology Nurse Diagnosed With Cancer After Doctor Dismissed Breast Lump As Probably Nothing Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-11” author: “Joanne Converse”
Sophie Jackson discovered the lump in her right breast in September last year She was told that the tumor was probably caused by her hormonal cycle and to wait The nurse pushed for a referral and was diagnosed with cancer in November
An NHS oncology nurse was diagnosed with aggressive cancer after her doctor wrongly dismissed a lump in her breast as “nothing”, she claims. Sophie Jackson, 26, from Bournemouth, Dorset, found the lump in her right breast in September last year and immediately went to her doctor to have it checked. But she was told that the lump was probably caused by her menstrual cycle and that she should wait four weeks to see if anything had changed. Given her experience in cancer wards, the nurse was not convinced and pushed for a referral to a breast cancer clinic. She eventually saw a specialist at Poole Hospital and was given the devastating news that it was cancer in November. Having seen countless breast cancer patients in the past, she knew she had a scary road ahead of her. Over the past 10 months, he has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy, 10 rounds of radiotherapy and surgery to remove the tumour. She is now cancer free and has returned to work at Dorset University Hospitals, where she feels she has a “unique understanding” of what patients are going through. An NHS oncology nurse was diagnosed with aggressive stage two cancer after her doctor mistakenly dismissed a lump in her breast as ‘nothing’, claims Sophie Jackson, 26, from Dorset, discovered the mass in her right breast in September last year and immediately went to her doctor to have it checked Her hair started falling out as a result of chemotherapy, including her eyebrows and eyelashes. Pictured: Her first chemotherapy treatment But she was told the tumor was likely to return in the next two years because she had a particularly aggressive form of invasive ductal carcinoma. She is also robbed of her chance to become a mother because the doctors gave her a chemically induced menopause. To prevent the cancer from coming back, she gets regular injections to lower the estrogen levels in her body. High amounts of the female sex hormone can increase the risk of developing breast tumors, especially when they are ER positive, as in Ms. Jackson’s case. She is now spreading the message to women to get their breasts checked, adding that she might have died if she hadn’t rejected her GP’s advice and got a referral herself. Around 56,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year, making it the most common form of the disease in the country. It is the second most common cancer in the US, with 288,000 diagnoses annually — 30 percent of all women’s cancers. The disease occurs mainly in middle-aged and older women, with a few under the age of 45. A family history of breast cancer, being overweight, and taking hormone replacement therapy or certain types of pills can increase your risk of the disease. After 10 months, she is not cancer-free and is back at work, where she feels she has a “unique understanding” of what patients go through. In February, she decided to shave her head after her second round of treatment, opting to wear wigs and scarves Almost nine out of 10 women with breast cancer survive for five or more years after their diagnosis “I cried my eyes out and first asked if I was going to die and second if I was going to lose all my hair,” Jackson said. “Apart from the lump, I had no other symptoms. It felt completely random and the diagnosis was such a shock. “I felt disappointed. Doctors initially thought it was nothing purely based on age. “I feel frustrated by the guidance out there with ‘stereotype’ pieces to look for such as being hard or not moving, as mine met all the criteria to be what they label as ‘nothing’. “If I had left it for four weeks as the GP suggested, it might have spread in that time and I would be looking at an incurable diagnosis.” In addition to the frustration, Ms. Jackson found it difficult to already know how the process would work. He said: “When I was diagnosed it was extremely overwhelming – usually you’re drip-fed information about the patient as it’s too much to take in straight away. “I didn’t have that luxury and instead immediately realized I was facing surgery, chemotherapy, hair loss and infertility at such a young age. “I think my job helped in some ways as I didn’t have the expected anxieties about chemotherapy. “I knew what was going to happen, I knew the drugs and I knew and trusted the people who were giving them to me, which saved a lot of worry.” Jackson first went to her doctor in September and went to a breast cancer specialist in late October. She was diagnosed on November 4 and underwent a lumpectomy – when a tumor and healthy breast tissue were removed – on November 30. Doctors remove some of the healthy tissue to make sure the tumor doesn’t grow back. She has been undergoing fertility treatment to preserve her eggs since December 5. Drugs used in chemotherapy can lower estrogen levels, preventing the release of eggs into the uterus and causing periods to stop. Sophie has been told her cancer is likely to return within the next two years but now wants to help raise awareness of the devastating disease, I cried my eyes out and firstly asked if I was going to die and secondly if I was going to lose everything. my hair,” says Ms. Jackson This makes pregnancy impossible and can be temporary or permanent. Even if periods return, menopause may come earlier, shortening the window to have a child. Removing the eggs before this can help with successful pregnancy after IVF treatment. Jackson began her first round of chemotherapy on January 19, and radiation treatment began in June. Her hair began to fall out as a result of the chemotherapy, including her eyebrows and eyelashes. In February, she decided to shave her head after her second round of treatment, opting to wear wigs and headscarves instead. He said: “It was really strange to receive chemotherapy drugs that I had given other patients before, like an out-of-body experience. “I was also in disbelief seeing my name on the chemo bag and checking my details when it was usually me on the other side. “It was distressing as being unwell meant I couldn’t work for a while, which made me anxious — especially seeing my colleagues continue to work and look after me.” During her treatment, Jackson had to stop working and now says that since she returned on July 21, her perspective on work has changed. He said: “I feel different about the job, I have a lot more empathy for patients now and I feel like I have a unique understanding. “Although I also have struggles as I am also a cancer patient and will be for a long time. “The typical understaffed NHS, being overworked and not taking breaks leaves me drained and exhausted. “Sometimes it’s hard to process patient care and support cancer patients when it means hitting the ground running, when in reality I probably need the support myself.” Although working on a cancer ward sometimes gives Ms Jackson periods of “constant fear”, she says returning to work has been a good distraction. Mrs Jackson has been told her cancer is likely to return, but now she wants to help raise awareness of the devastating disease – and the importance of supporting your own health. She added: “I just want to spread awareness that cancer can affect you at a young age, even with no family history, no genetics, no risk factors other than being on the pill. “Early detection saved my life, so it’s so important to get checked every month and push to get things checked. “You never waste anyone’s time.”
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, affecting more than two MILLION women a year
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Every year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases and the disease kills 11,500 women. In the US it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated? What is breast cancer? Breast cancer develops from a cancer cell that grows in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts. When breast cancer has spread to the surrounding breast tissue, it is called “invasive” breast cancer. Some people are diagnosed with “carcinoma in situ,” where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobe. Most cases develop in women over 50, but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men although this is rare. Staging means how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body. Cancer cells are classified from low, meaning slow growing, to high, meaning fast growing. High-grade cancers are more likely to come back after their first treatment. What causes breast cancer? A cancerous tumor starts from an abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or changes certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and it multiplies ‘out of control’. Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are certain risk factors that can increase the chance of developing breast cancer, such as genetics. What are the symptoms of breast cancer? The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most breast lumps are not cancerous and are fluid-filled cysts, which are benign. The first place breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this happens, you will experience swelling or a lump in the armpit. How is breast cancer diagnosed?
Initial assessment: Doctor examines breasts and armpits….
