A Scots cancer survivor says her instinct to get her symptoms checked out early after a freak accident means she has lived to see her daughter’s wedding day.
Elaine Henderson, 62, from Carluke, was hillwalking when she was hit in the chest by a tree branch, leaving her with a lump and bruising. The physiotherapist initially thought it was a soft tissue injury but when it failed to settle after a fortnight she called her GP.
She was referred to the breast clinic for a biopsy, where her breast cancer diagnosis was confirmed within a week in May 2018.
Elaine said: “I was so blasé about the tests, I didn’t even take my husband with me.
“Hearing that news that I had cancer was absolutely devastating. I remember the consultant saying ‘we can treat this’ within a split second of confirming my diagnosis.”
Elaine had an operation to remove the lump that July and then radiotherapy, finishing her treatment in November.
“I remember my consultant saying at a check-up after my surgery that I didn’t have breast cancer anymore and radiotherapy would help reduce the chance of the cancer coming back. That was just fantastic to hear,” she said.
“I rarely lived in the moment before my diagnosis but now I stop and think about everything a bit more. I have changed my priorities as there’s still so much I want to do with my life.
“My daughter had just got engaged when I was diagnosed. Her wedding day was really special and quite poignant. Had I not followed up on something I knew wasn’t normal, I might not have been there. It doesn’t bear thinking about.
“If you notice any change, get it checked. And don’t just look for lumps, if you have anything that is unusual for you, contact your GP practice.
“Yes a cancer diagnosis is hard, but I just wish at that point I’d known what I’d be like today and how seamless the whole process was going to be.”
Elaine is now backing a new campaign on early diagnosis by the Scottish Government. The Be the Early Bird campaign aims to challenge the fear which can delay people from having possible cancer symptoms checked.
Particularly focused on people aged 40 and over, it urges everyone with persistent symptoms which are unusual for them not to hesitate in contacting their GP.
The campaign emphasises the benefits of finding cancer at an earlier stage when there are more treatment options available and a greater likelihood of living well after treatment.
To support timely access to diagnostic testing and cancer treatment for patients across NHS Scotland, the Scottish Government has invested £10 million in 2022/23.
Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services (RCDS) will be established in the coming weeks in NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Borders, supported by more than £600,000, providing a new referral route for patients with non-specific symptoms which could be cancer.
Three RCDSs are already in place in NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Dumfries and Galloway and NHS Fife.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “More people are surviving cancer than ever before in Scotland, but finding cancer at an earlier stage remains key.
“The Be the Early Bird campaign has been designed to highlight why an earlier diagnosis can lead to better outcomes, in terms of treatment options and quality of life after treatment, to motivate people to take action rather than put off getting possible cancer symptoms checked.
“If you’ve noticed something that is persistent and doesn’t feel normal for you, your GP practice wants to hear from you. They are there to help.”
People can find out more about possible cancer symptoms at getcheckedearly.org
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