In 2021, 41-year-old Edel Curran from Letterkenny thought she felt a lump in her breast “I have larger breasts and in some ways I dismissed it in my mind, however months later I was lying down on my right side and my hand fell to that exact same area, and I felt the lump again. I knew I couldn’t ignore it this time. 

“I went to my GP, they examined me as I lay on my side, as this was the easiest way for me to point out the lump to them. After feeling the lump this way, my GP referred me on for a triple assessment at the breast clinic.” 

“The following couple of weeks I was a mess and I was convinced I had cancer. I work as a nurse and I couldn’t help but cry during some of my shifts. It was really difficult for me.”

“When I went to the breast clinic for my exam, the consultant examined me. However I wasn’t on my side like before, instead I was lying on my back or sitting straight up.

“It seemed like the consultant couldn’t feel the lump and I began to feel very self-conscious. I was so shocked but I didn’t feel able to speak up about only feeling the lump when on my side. He said there was dense tissue on the side of my breast, and these were normal breast changes as I age. I wanted to ask more questions, but I felt too uncomfortable. 

“I didn't have a triple assessment, only a manual exam and a mammogram which showed nothing abnormal. My mother had breast cancer in her early 50’s but no risk assessment was performed.

“I left feeling extremely angry. I spoke with my GP, who told me to go back but I dreaded the idea of going through the same thing again. As a result, I obsessively checked my breast every day to remind myself I wasn't imagining it. I also noticed I was getting increasingly tired, clumsy and sometimes forgetful. 

“I spoke with a colleague who encouraged me to get another referral to the breast clinic. So I ended up getting booked in with a different consultant.”

“I went back to my second appointment, nervous but determined. I said I wanted to get a second opinion. I insisted on laying on my side during this appointment, the consultant said it wasn’t the usual way to do the examination, but they would do it. 

“Immediately after examining me, he said ‘I see what you are talking about.’ He agreed it was not as palpable while sitting up. He also conducted a risk assessment and my risk was 24% so regardless of the test findings, I would be getting yearly mammograms. 

“The new mammogram showed a 20mmx20mm mass very close to my chest wall but only on the side view, there was nothing on the lateral view. Following further tests and scans, I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma which is Oestrogen Receptive and HER2+. Thankfully it hasn’t spread to my lymph nodes.”

“I have now started my chemotherapy treatment, which hasn’t been an easy road, I have had some bad reactions. Once I am through that I will be booked in for surgery and radiation.

Reflecting on her experience, Edel says “If you don't feel right, or have any doubts at all, get checked out again. It’s so important.”