Gail’s story

Good afternoon Gail. Is there anything that you would like to share about your experience with cancer or cancer screening that you think others should hear? Hello, my name's Gail Clark. I lost my mum to breast cancer 20 years ago this year, so things may have changed, I don't know in the protocol. Um, but mm.

Had breast cancer when she was 71, and passed when she was 73. Um, in the meantime, I have a sister who's a little bit younger than me, um, and she, Has lots of lumps, um, and cysts in her breasts, um which obviously she goes and gets checked out, and that's on a, that's a regular thing probably every year for her. Um, I have the 3 year routine breast screening, uh, which apparently stops at 70.

Um, which means that the last one I had in December of last year would in theory be my next to my last one when I spoke to the radiographer. Uh, but apparently you can. Request them after the age of 70.

When Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer, we did ask at the time about the BRCA gene and could myself and my sister be tested for that. But we were told no because we'd only had one blood close relative. Can I just ask Gail, how did you know about the BRCA gene? It was actually on posters in the breast screening area um at Rotherham General Hospital.

Otherwise we wouldn't have known about that. No one ever mentioned it. Um, the consultant didn't mention it when we were given the news about Mum's breast cancer.

Um, there was a breast nurse specialist in the room at the time as well. She didn't mention anything. Even though we had got concerns.

Um, subsequently. I've lost two aunties on my mum's side of the family and a cousin all to breast cancer. But as far as I'm aware, I can't, we can't get the BRCA gene testing because they're not blood relatives like as in my mum, um.

Whether things have changed or maybe they should because it does pave a way to better treatment as far as I know. Um, I'm going back 20 years now, but mm had radiotherapy. Um, but it didn't, obviously didn't sadly work for mm, um.

And mum then got secondaries. Um, and how do you feel, Gail, when it's time to go for your breast screening? I get very anxious and very nervous, um. I have cried when I've been having the screening, not because of the pressure or pain or anything, or having the test done, but just the sheer anxiety that I face when I go in there.

Um, and then The 2 weeks or sometimes longer that you wait for the results. I'm so Anxious, it's such an anxious time for me, um, because of mm and I saw how she was and what she went through. Um, I don't quite fully understand why there's a 2 to 3 weeks or whatever waiting period for the results.

Because the results are there straight away. And I understand that they have to be checked, but it's still a long time to leave people waiting. So in your opinion, would it make it better if, if the results from the screening came through sooner? Yeah, yeah, and I'm sure a lot of people will feel the same.

Um, the waiting, like with anything that you, any results or tests that you're waiting for, it's a very anxious time, um, for people. Thank you for that, Gail, thank you..