Don’t be scared, check yourself out. That’s the message from Jackie Braithwaite following her breast cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
The 58-year-old from Eppleby discovered a lump quite by chance in June, midway between her scheduled mammograms.
After plucking up the courage to take it to her GP, she received a swift diagnosis and has already had surgery to remove a grade two invasive lobular cancer.
“We need to get that message out to people to check themselves in the shower or whatever,” Jackie said. “If I hadn’t been ill in bed and rolled over and felt it by chance, I would never have known it was even there.
“Goodness knows what that would have led to. It probably would have waited until my next mammogram, and they don’t always detect lobular cancer.”
Medics were amazed by Jackie’s story.
Although this is second most prevalent form of breast cancer, it’s one of the hardest to spot. “They couldn’t believe how I found it, because usually it’s very deep.”
Like many people, Jackie hesitated to take the lump to her GP for fear of what might happen.
“The biggest fear is being told,” she said. “When I went for the results I was absolutely bricking it. Then the doctor told me, and it was like a brick had landed on my head and squashed me to the floor.
“I remember I screamed. I just got hold of [my husband] John, he cuddled me.”
Family and friends have been a huge support since the diagnosis. Finding the words to explain what was happening was hard, but the response was overwhelmingly supportive.
“My daughters Samantha and Rachel have been my rocks,” she said. “And it was the same with Johnny, my husband. He’s not always good with things like this but he’s been there all the way.
“He works on a farm and it’s his busiest time of the year, but he still finds time to come back and look after me.
“I can’t thank my close friend Gail Bailey enough, she’s been with me all through this journey.
“And it was like Interflora in here, the wonderful Eppleby girls showering me with gifts and cards.”
Although Jackie had a successful operation, and tests confirmed that the cancer has not spread, this is an ongoing story.
Results from a lab in the USA will determine whether chemotherapy is needed, otherwise it will be a course of radiotherapy and a five-year course of Letrozole tablets.
The treatment is gruelling, but there are many things to look forward to. A return to walking the Lake District, an upcoming 60th birthday celebration and seeing her six grandchildren, from Arthur aged eight months to Thomas aged 12, growing up.
And there’s a special celebration planned when Jackie gets the all clear.
“They’ve got everything out, which is great news, but it will always be on my mind until the day I ring that bell and I know I’m cancer-free,” she said. “Then I’m having the Eppleby girls round with a big bottle of Prosecco and I’m getting a cake done in the shape of a breast!”
