The breast surgeon who had breast cancer: ‘I used to say, “Don’t Google it.” First thing I did? Google it’

Dr Liz O’Riordan: ‘I looked at the screen and knew instantly it was a cancer.’ Photograph: Fabio De Paola/The Guardian

When I was 18 I watched a friend’s dad operate while I was on work experience at a hospital. The minute I walked into that theatre and saw this bowel being lifted up, I thought, “This is amazing. I have to do this.”

As a breast surgeon, I loved the artistry behind the surgery, and the way you develop such a close relationship with your patients. But I never checked my breasts regularly. I thought, “I’m a breast surgeon – I’m not going to get breast cancer.” Completely ridiculous.