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Symptom-free woman from Surrey diagnosed with breast cancer urges others to get screened
A woman from Surrey who had no symptoms has urged others not to put off their mammogram, as she admits “screening saved my life”.
As the NHS launches its first ever breast screening campaign, Jill, from Betchworth in Surrey, shares her story in a bid to encourage others to get screened.
Jill, aged 68, was diagnosed with breast cancer after doctors found calcification on one of her breasts following a routine mammogram in 2018.
She lived in Dorking at the time she was diagnosed and had always made sure she attended her breast screenings since turning 50, as her mother had a benign lump on her breast when she was in her early twenties.
The grandmother and mother of four said:
After my mammogram I was called back within two weeks for further investigations.
They could see calcification on my Xray, so I then had to have a biopsy. The results from the biopsy showed Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) stage three which required an operation to remove all the cancerous cells.
I then underwent a second operation to remove the remaining cells. This was followed by 21 sessions of radiotherapy.
Jill was originally under the care of The Jarvis Centre in Guildford before being transferred to Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust where she had her day surgeries to remove the cancerous cells. Her radiotherapy was carried out at East Surrey Hospital. Jill described all three treatment centres as “excellent, really professional and very reassuring.”
National figures released by the NHS show more than four in ten women (46.3%) invited for a breast screening for the first time don’t act on their invitation.
In a message to others, Jill said:
Please don’t put it off. I was told if mine hadn’t have been picked up so early by the mammogram it would have kept growing for years and could have been discovered too late to be able to ensure a full recovery.
Jill was given all clear in April 2023 and wants to share her story to help other families.
I am lucky enough to have four children with young children of their own, so I kept a brave face on for them but with great service from the NHS and family support I got through it.