Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
a GP who diagnosed breast cancer After returning to hospital she felt “something was wrong” and urged others to “listen to your body”.
Throughout her career, 45-year-old Claire Whitney dumfriesshire, scotlandHave seen many patients who were diagnosed with or suspected to have breast cancer.
But in the summer of 2022, the single mother of two young children, ages seven and 10, felt a “very small lump” in her left breast.
She was initially told there was “nothing to worry about”, but after feeling “something was wrong”, 18 months later, Claire returned to hospital. Revealed by MRI scan cancerous lumps in both of her breasts, and in January 2024 she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Claire had a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery on the same day in February 2024, followed by a five-day course of radiotherapy.
Having gone through her own diagnosis and treatment, Claire feels her experience has allowed her to be more in tune with her patients’ emotions – and her first patient upon returning to work was a woman with a breast lump.
“It is always difficult to be objective about yourself as a health professional,” said Claire.
“But I knew I could feel a difference, I knew I didn’t want to ignore it and I just listened to my gut.
“There is a reason for how we feel, and I would just encourage people to listen to it, to listen to their bodies.
“For example, even if you’ve been told the lump is fine but it has changed, get it checked and checked again.”
Claire said she knew at the age of 13 that she wanted to work in the medical field.
After completing her A-levels, she went to a clinical medical school for three years manchesterWhere “surprisingly”, in light of her subsequent diagnosis, she worked on a breast unit.
“This was the first place where I came in contact with patients and it inspired me a lot,” she said.
“My part-time job there was assisting in theatres, doing things like breast reconstruction surgeries.
“I was really keen to become a surgeon, but I chose to become a GP because it gives you the opportunity to do everything from paediatrics to palliative care at the same time.”
Claire said she qualified as a GP in 2010 and since then, she has seen many patients who have had or suspected breast cancer.
“Your GP is the first person you go to if you notice any lumps or changes,” he said.
Before her diagnosis, Claire said she had been working “long hours” at her GP practice in Dumfriesshire.
He took on the role of a GP partner – a self-employed GP who worked closely with others GPSNurses and health care workers are responsible for running their own practices.
“I think it was having a huge impact on my work-life balance,” Claire said.
“I knew I wanted to make some changes and right then I was diagnosed with cancer.”
In the summer of 2022, Claire said she felt a “very small lump” in her left breast, and she initially thought about leaving it in and monitoring it, adding, “Breast lumps go away”.
Two months later, Claire said she went to see her GP, who “immediately” referred her to hospital, but said “nothing of concern” was found at the time.
Claire said she went back to hospital 18 months later when she felt “something was wrong”.
“I was feeling very tired, something was not right,” she said.
Her doctors found the lump to appear “more suspicious” and after performing a biopsy in January 2024, Claire said “pre-malignant changes” were detected.
Subsequent MRI scans revealed more lumps – two in her left breast and one in her right – and on January 23, 2024, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
She said, “My children were my immediate priority, I’ve always been a very practical person and I’m a single parent, so I threw myself into organizing everything.”
“The overthinking and anxiety started happening about six months into treatment – at the time you’re going through it, you just keep going through it.”
Claire said she was advised that her treatment would be a course of radiotherapy followed by a double mastectomy, adding that “there was really no other option”.
She had surgery in Edinburgh, as well as reconstruction of both breasts using implants, on the same day – 28 February 2024.
Claire said that her knowledge in health care was “incredibly helpful in many ways”, as she knew “what would happen” and what her “estimated recovery time” would be.
He said that “nothing could prepare (him)” for radiotherapy, however, he received a five-day course in April 2024.
“They warned me that I would feel tired, but after about three weeks, it felt like someone had put pressure on me. The tiredness was unprecedented,” she said.
Claire said it took a few months for her to recover and she will now have annual appointments with the breast surgical team.
Main symptoms of breast cancer in women
NHS
Symptoms of breast cancer in women may include:
- a lump or swelling in your breast, chest, or armpit
- Changes in the skin of your breast, such as dimples (may look like an orange peel) or redness (may be hard to see on black or brown skin)
- Changes in the size or shape of one or both breasts
- Discharge from the nipple (if you are not pregnant or breastfeeding), which may contain blood
- Changes in the shape or appearance of your nipple, such as it turning inward (inverted nipple) or having a rash (may look like eczema)
- Pain in your breast or armpit that doesn’t go away – Breast pain that comes and goes is not usually a symptom of breast cancer
Her diagnosis prompted “huge changes” to her lifestyle, she said, and Claire now works as a salaried GP in a separate practice, where she has fixed hours and works four days a week.
“Now, I don’t have the responsibility of running the practice and everything that goes with it, and now I’m always there to pick up my kids from school,” she said.
Her experience with breast cancer has given her “a greater understanding” of her patients’ emotions, such as stress and uncertainty.
He said his first patient upon returning to work was a woman who had a lump in her breast.
“I have diagnosed breast cancer cases since my diagnosis, and I am supporting other women who are going through treatment,” she said.
“I was already thinking about how I would handle it but professionalism sets in and you get into your routine.”
In August last year, Claire attended the Breast Cancer Now conference glasgowWhere she heard from a dietitian about how lifestyle changes can help in breast cancer recovery.
There, she was introduced to the Eat Well, Live Well program – a joint venture between Percy Health, the UK’s leading virtual cancer clinic, and Field Doctor, which provides ready meals designed by dietitians.
Claire has made many changes to her diet and lifestyle with the program.
“I’ve always enjoyed my food, I enjoy cooking and I think I’ve really missed doing that with a combination of working and looking after my kids,” Claire said.
“For me, my meals used to be a matter of taking something out of the freezer, lunch was a supermarket sandwich and breakfast was something out of a packet.
“The knowledge the program gave me has made a big difference to my diet, and I now have a really healthy variety.”
For more information about the Eat Well, Live Well program, visit: fielddoctor.co.uk/range/breast-cancer.