I have been overwhelmed
by the success and response to the Breathless Breastless Project. Since June we
have put on four exhibitions and attracted over 500+ visitors. Social media
followers continue to rise slowly and feedback has been nothing but supportive
for our quest to share the real journeys of a breast cancer diagnosis. Our last
exhibition finished in September but I continue to follow up leads for
potential events for 2015. I have been liaising with a local charity who
expressed an interest in hosting our exhibition at one of the Scottish museums
next spring. I am very excited about this opportunity. Find out about future
events on the website www.breathlessbreastlessproject.org
I was disturbed by the news last night of NHS Grampians failings at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Woodend hospital. BBC said “Three reports into health care in the north-east of Scotland have highlighted "extremely serious" issues and "make stark reading" for NHS Grampian.” The main key points can be read here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-30293512
I did actually file a
letter of complaint following my own care raising various points about the
departments and people who dealt with my case. I was rather shocked at my
annual check up to be greeted by one of the nurses I had complained about! I
have also never seen my own consultant at my two annual check-ups and have been
checked over by a junior doctor. The annual check-up consists of a few
questions, raising my arms above my head and a feel of my breast as I lay on my
back. My original tumour could never be felt when I lay on my back and could
not be seen by raising my arm. Lobular breast cancer is notorious for not
showing up on mammograms, I was told my mammogram “showed no change” and that I
had dense breast tissue. Not the reassurance that one would like to receive!
Following changes in
bowel habits and under rib pain at the start of the year I consulted my GP who
made a referral to hospital. I saw the doctor within a couple of weeks and she
made an “Urgent” referral for colonoscopy and endoscopy, finally someone
interested to look at why I may also have been anaemic. I chased up the
appointment twice, being told by my GP that there was an acute shortage of
consultants and serious backlogs with patients waiting for surgery etc. He
spoke about elderly patients being sent to Glasgow, three hours away, for hip
replacements! The procedures were finally carried out over six months later. I
am happy to say that nothing untoward was found apart from a hiatus hernia and was
told that I should be referred back to the hospital doctor for follow up. Of
course I have heard nothing and I doubt there will ever be a follow up. The
doctor did say that they took bowel changes seriously and would monitor me. We
all clearly need to be proactive in our own care but unfortunately I think this
gets us labelled as anything from aggressive & argumentative to paranoid
and a hypochondriac!
I have taken on a role
as a Team B Aware volunteer for Breast Cancer Care Scotland. I am trained and available
to go out into the community to give a short 15 mins presentation on breast
awareness and how to be breast aware. Do you know what changes to look for in
your breasts and how and when to check? Do you regularly check your breasts?
Early detection is key to survival and we hope as a team to reach as many
people as possible in Scotland, from all walks of life and over all age groups.
You can find out more about Team B Aware and book a presentation here http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/b-aware
Christmas is almost
upon us and I look back over 2014 grateful for all that I have done and all
that I have achieved. I have met some fantastic people through the Project,
inspirational artists and like-minded cancer survivors who have enabled each
other to express themselves in a way that has helped them to move forward and
to let go of some of their fears regaining an optimistic future. The Project
has given family and friends a deeper understanding of what a cancer diagnosis
means and has shown the impact a diagnosis has on lives, both immediately and
long term. Sharing and communication with one another is key to healing.
My thanks go to everyone who has supported The Breathless Breastless Project in 2014. To all the people who have given generously of their time and to those who chose to support us financially. We have exciting plans for 2015, if you know of a venue that would like to host the exhibition, if you would like to take part in any way or wish to sponsor us please do get in touch!
Meantime, very merry
Christmas wishes and happiness & good health for the New Year.
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