Ruth’s breast cancer story – Patient stories at GenesisCare

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I noticed a small raised bump on my left nipple and kept looking at it for a few days. At first, I wondered if it was even worth calling my GP because I truly didn’t think anything was wrong. I almost cancelled the appointment, but I decided to make the call anyway. I felt completely shocked when the word cancer was first mentioned.

The team at GenesisCare was incredibly reassuring, kind, and understanding of how overwhelming that moment was. I underwent breast-conserving surgery, also known as a lumpectomy, and fortunately, the surgeon was able to remove the cancer through an incision around the side of my nipple.

After surgery, radiotherapy was recommended. My oncologist suggested a week-long course consisting of five treatments over five days and introduced deep inhalation breath-holding techniques to help protect my lungs, liver, and heart from the radiotherapy beams. The radiotherapy process turned out to be far less frightening than I had imagined.

Everything was carefully planned to ensure my treatment was personalized for my specific type of cancer. Thanks to early diagnosis, the entire treatment process was completed within a month. I followed all the exercises provided and felt surprisingly well by the time treatment ended.

Throughout my recovery, breast nurses regularly checked in on me, creating a strong sense of care and support. It truly felt like being surrounded by a family environment, which was incredibly comforting during such a difficult time.

I would encourage anyone who notices something unusual or abnormal in their breast to speak with their GP as soon as possible. Early diagnosis makes a huge difference, and in my case, the outcome has been truly amazing.