The C Word

Did you see it?  Have you read it?  Have you stumbled on the blog?  No?  GO GO GO now! It's a must.

http://alrighttit.blogspot.co.uk

http://www.amazon.co.uk/C-Word-Lisa-Lynch/dp/1784750476/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430659736&sr=8-1&keywords=the+c+word

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b05tr05b/ad/the-c-word

I stumbled across Lisa Lynch's blog when I was googling 'lump in right breast 30 year old'. I know, right? Google you ask? What else is a girl to do!

When I was 18 I had my right nipple pierced.  I thought it was quite cool, it took about 2 years to heal and to be honest it never really did.  It caused me nothing but trouble and I eventually removed it when I was about 21.  Since then, I've had nothing but trouble with it really; I still have a 'hole', it sometimes weeps and bleeds and not necessarily out of the holes on the sides (sorry to be graphic!). I did mention it to the Drs a few times and they gave me a swab kit thing to take a swab of it when it flares up.  Typically it's not always playing up and I can never time it right with a visit to the Drs of course.

Well umpteenth appointment booked after the swab had gone in and low and behold - the Drs lost the swab and therefore could conclude nothing!  So to say I'm well aware of my right boob and it's strange nipple is an under statement!

One day whilst poking and prodding my nipple in the shower, my hand brushed a lump. Hard like a pea on the underside of my right boob. Well, time stood still. I know I'm supposed to check, I'm know I'm supposed to do it often, but you kinda think don't be silly, I'd know if there was something wrong, or Mr B would - should I really have to do all this groping?  I know, the answer is YES.

I jumped out of the shower and did more prodding and poking, it was definitely a lump, I definitely wasn't making it up and it was definitely still there.  It took me a few hours to pluck up the courage to tell Mr B and get him to have a grope and I must admit, my heart in my mouth - I was sure it would be nothing and he wouldn't be able to feel it. (N.B I am a hypercondriacht most of the time) I was wrong.

So to t'internet I turned and somehow stumbled on Lisa's blog.  Now I'm not one for reading back pages of a book first, so I started at the very beginning.  A few posts in and I was convinced Google probably wasn't the way forward and I ought to actually book an appt with the Drs.  So, I braved it, booked an appointment and told my mum. She's had a few lumps (we're a lumpy lot apparently!) and was quite a pro, very calm and told me she was sure it was nothing.

Whilst waiting for the appointment, I carried on a few posts a night reading Lisa's blog, getting to know her story, feeling like I was getting to know Lisa and found out about the charity Coppafeel! Founded by another young lady with breast cancer.  No matter how scared I was of the appointment, they both convinced me through their writing that this was what I should be doing.

So... The day arrived and I went by myself convinced they would feel nothing, until the Dr kinda shouted like a eureka moment - oooh I've got it! Yes def a lump, we'll get you referred straight away. They will see you within 10 days, they will explain all about the appointment and you will get the results there and then. Well Shit. That wasn't what I was expecting!

And so the panicking began, I carried on reading more of Lisa's blog and googling shit really began!

Now true to their word, they had me in in under 10 days, an appointment I needed to leave a few hours for and bring someone with me.

So Mr B and I hit the QA hospital, and took up waiting in the appropriate room.  This room is one in which women entered in 3 ways... nervous, jubliant or crying.  I later found out, after each test the ladies were returned to this room. And so the wait began....

Nurse number 1 found the lump, but was sure it was fine, but nevertheless sent me through to be scanned.  So next I got to strip off again in front of a new set of strangers, they had a good feel, nurse number 2 found the lump and it was then ultra sounded. Back to the waiting room. Back to nurse number 1 for the verdict or more tests.  

Thankfully, and I do thank my lucky stars and everything else I possibly can, that I got the good news that I am the proud owner of a fatty lump. A fatty lump that is now a sitting tenant, one that is going nowhere, but nonetheless one that is causing or meaning me no harm and one that is certainly not trying to see me off.

I am so thankful to Lisa and Coppafeel for making my mind up for me, for convincing me to tell people and to get it checked out. 

For me I'm so thankful that the appointment was just for peace of mind, and so pleased how it turned out.  But I am only too aware it could have been terribly different, that for others that day it was very different and that appointment can be the difference between life and death. We all know catching it early is important.

Which then brings me back to Alright Tit. For Lisa it wasn't good news, her blog is completely open about breast cancer, surgery and treatment and the fact it can happen to someone so young.  I got to the end of the blog, in floods of tears, having realised I have been reading the words of someone who is no longer here. Lisa died of cancer, she was 33.  An important story for us all.  It can happen to anyone.

Lisa published a book and started to orchestrate for it to be made into a one off documentary before her premature death, and a very powerful one at that.  Kris the founder of Coppafeel! features in the documentary and has made her own documentary about her story and her battle.  

Out of the four women mentioned in The C Word, Kris is the only one still here, the other three have sadly lost their battles. 

Coppafeel! is campaigning for everyone to check themselves, to make themselves aware, seek medical help where needed and to catch this awful disease early wherever possible and to bring it to our schools as part of education.

So for me? Well I'm lumpy.  But if I find another one, I'll be straight there for medical help.  It wasnt scary, the medical professionals made me feel at ease and comfortable and that's an important thing for everyone to know.  I will now be checking myself religiously, I promise!

Coppafeel! Are an amazing charity, pop along to their web page and support them and let's make people's futures brighter ❤️ 

http://coppafeel.org

Lisa's blog, book and documentary is a harrowing truthful read, an honest and brutal account of a young lady who battled cancer. It's insightful, informative, humorous at times and downright sad.  But it's definitely worth a read.

So the moral of the story... Go grope yourself, have a good feel, make yourself familiar with your body and seek help if needed.

Awareness is key ♥️

Thanks for listening, Sammy xx