An Irish cancer survivor says Sarah Harding's battle with the disease compelled her to check out a suspicious lump on her breast.
The Irish Cancer Society is running its ‘Care for Your Pair’ campaign this year with the support of several former breast cancer patients. The movement aims to get people talking about the condition and access treatment as quickly as possible.
Leona Doyle first noticed a peculiar lump when breastfeeding her daughter. She initially thought it might be a swollen milk duct, but the news of singer Sarah Harding’s initial fears to get a diagnosis motivated her to get checked out.
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Leona said: “I remember reading how she had put off seeking medical attention when she found lumps, so I decided it would be best to get myself checked out by my GP. It was only after I had been referred on for a mammogram and a biopsy that I was diagnosed with stage 3 invasive ductal breast cancer.”
Other symptoms to be mindful of include infected boils around the breast, a flattened nipple, or swelling in the armpit or around the collarbone. Some women also experience puckering or dimpling of their skin.
Some patients say they had to push to have their suspicions taken seriously, particularly as screening became difficult to access during Covid. Bernie Sherry, another survivor involved with the campaign, received her breast cancer diagnosis immediately before the first lockdown in March 2020.
She is urging women to be kinder to themselves and to speak up if they feel something is amiss in their bodies, no matter how insignificant they feel the issue is. She believes people are typically too busy in their daily lives to reflect on their health and wellbeing.
Bernie said: “When I was growing up, there wasn’t the same emphasis on minding yourself. So I would say to trust your gut, if you notice anything unusual for you, get yourself checked out. You know your own body best.”
Other patients who were diagnosed at a similar time to Bernie feel that they might have ‘slipped through the cracks’ had it not been for private mammograms. Free breast cancer screening is currently only available to women aged over 50.
The HSE estimates that some women may receive their first invitation for a mammogram at the age of 53 due to Covid delays. Donations can be made to the ‘Care for Your Pair’ campaign thanks to a partnership with Centra.
The retailer is encouraging customers to donate €1 towards the campaign in certain stores around the country this weekend. Breast cancer affects around 6,500 women and 35 men every year in Ireland.
The funds provided to the ‘Care for Your Pair’ campaign will go towards services such as free counselling for patients and the Irish Cancer Society’s Support Line.
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