An NHS doctor has spoken out about her cancer diagnosis to raise awareness about some of the major signs to look out for.
At the age of 33 years old, 'young, healthy' and with 'no family history of breast cancer,' Dr Rekha Gupta was diagnosed with 'an aggressive form of breast cancer' and told her life expectancy 'could be six months to one year'.
Thankfully, Dr Gupta has now been in remission for around 29 years, but she's opening up about her experience to offer advice to others.
In a blog post to the NHS' website, Dr Gupta explains she 'had none of the typical risk factors' associated with breast cancer, yet ended up being diagnosed with an 'aggressive form' of the disease.
The doctor reveals it was at a family planning appointment - opposed to her having booked an appointment with her GP - where she brought up a symptom she'd been experiencing.
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The 'routine question about any existing health problems,' led her to mention 'a small lump on one side of [her] breast which was very painful'.
She notes: "I didn't think much of it."
However, the doctor was 'quick to act and urgently referred [her] for further investigation,' where she was given another appointment, examined and had a biopsy taken from her breast.
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"Just five days later, I heard the words no one ever wants to hear. It was an overwhelming shock, and my emotions were all over the place," she recalls.
Dr Gupta underwent a mastectomy to remove her breast alongside 'several rounds' of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and at the time of writing the blog was 'in remission for almost 29 years'.
She's now publicly speaking about her diagnosis in a bid to raise important awareness, Dr Gupta reflecting: "Although pain isn’t a common symptom of breast cancer, I realise now that I should have booked an appointment to see my own GP when I found the lump in my breast."
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Dr Gupta urges people to 'take up the offer' of a breast screening service .
Her blog post resolves: "I know first-hand that age isn’t a bar to developing breast cancer, so this isn’t just something to think about when we’re older.
"From today, please get to know your own body, by regularly self-checking for lumps, changes or anything unusual. Check yourself after every period, or on a regular basis if you don’t have periods.
"If you notice a lump, a change in size or shape or nipple discharge, it’s important to contact your GP surgery and get checked.
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"If something doesn’t feel right, you shouldn’t feel embarrassed or hesitant about speaking up. I’m older and wiser, with more experience having worked in general practice for almost 20 years.
"I am fortunate that my cancer was picked up at an early stage. Getting diagnosed early means you can get treatment straight away. And the earlier it’s spotted, the more likely we can go on to live a normal healthy life."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.
Poppy Bilderbeck