I just received a letter asking me to go in on the eighteenth of August. And I thought, “You know, how nice of them.” I was over age and hadn’t expected it, and I’d go because it was sensible. And I went and I hadn’t any idea that something might be amiss. And on September 5th I had a letter recalling me and asking me to go in and have a biopsy, a needle biopsy. Alarm bells had begun to go rather badly, I think, and they had difficulty in pinpointing…. Anyway, I had the needle biopsy and I went back actually a couple of days afterwards, having been told that it might have to be a core biopsy, which I think is one of the most uncomfortable and nasty things I’ve ever had done, because they hadn’t in fact just taken one bit. I think they took six and it was horrid.

On the 12th September I was called back to see [consultant], who’s the top man, and he said the result was inconclusive but they were concerned, and he sort of suddenly said to me, “Well, it may mean an operation” and I went into a sort of thinking, “Help.” And they hadn’t discovered anything, and this was all a bit much.

 

And the result was inconclusive still, and I was then booked in for wide excision, which happened on October 1st. I did go into hospital that night but the wire was put in the next morning. I had to be taken from the general hospital back to the [specialist hospital] because they hadn’t the machinery for this at the general, and then, having had that done, back to the general, and I was in and done terribly quickly, and out the next day. And it was actually remarkably pain free and good, because it was only a tiny little bit, I think, removed.

What about the radiotherapy? What was that like?

 

I think I was lucky in fact, because it’s actually easier to get into the local town and the whole thing it was sort of an hour from the house and back again. The only thing difficult was parking [laughs]. But yes, I think I found it, after the initial couple of times, it was awfully easy, and the staff were highly efficient and charming and good. And I think I got quite tired, and, no, it was all, having thought of it as a terrible ordeal, I think, basically, it was moderately easy. And I didn’t burn, unlike a friend of mine who’s just had it, who sounds desperately sore and miserable. And I think I’ve been remarkably fortunate.

The DCIS, on being told, for me personally - and, okay, I had wonderful help and advice from a friend, an expert - I didn’t go on the internet or anything. I didn’t ask for a second opinion. I didn’t, which I could have, I suppose, under BUPA, gone off to London or what have you. I decided to stick totally with the NHS team in [local town] and they were absolutely brilliant, basically.

 

And what would have been your concern about going on the internet for information?

 

That I’d have been bamboozled by the different things different people were saying and, you know, that the sort of probably multiple choices etcetera…

 

Yes, so you’d rather really just be guided by a doctor you trust about what to do.

 

Yes, and our GP in fact, because I’d had the mammogram and I hadn’t gone to him saying, “I think I have a problem”, he actually wasn’t involved at all, bar the one time, and it wasn’t him, it was one of the lady doctors in the practice. I did get desperately uptight and worried about things. I think it was in between biopsy and the wide excision I got, and I did get more than a bit concerned at that point. And a delightful person, and you know, it was all quite good in the end [laughs].

 

What did they do for you? Did they prescribe anything?

 

Well talk. No, no.

 

Just talked to you.

 

No, no. I was asked if I wanted some sleeping pills and I said, “No.” I hate taking pills [laughs].

 

So it was just someone to talk to be reassured?

 

Just someone, yes, yes.