"An incredible team of medical professionals"

In November 2019 I was diagnosed with DCIS, a very early form of breast cancer.  Over the coming months I was treated at Gartnavel General where I received what I can only describe as the most excellent of care.  At the time of my diagnosis I was 42 years old and had been getting screened for breast cancer for several years, having a history of the disease in my family.  Hence it came as little surprise to me when Mr Wilson informed me that the calcifications they had spotted on my mammogram were pre-cancerous change.  In telling me, he was clear and direct but also compassionate and reassuring and from that day I had the greatest of confidence in Mr Wilson and the exceptional team of people working with him.  Nurse Specialists Lynne and Diane supported me throughout my care and I knew that if I had any questions or concerns I could call them.   

Mr Wilson had explained that because my surgery was preventative and not urgent, there was time to plan things carefully and to consider which surgical options would be best for me.  While I wanted to ensure that the pre-cancerous cells were removed, I was also concerned about the cosmetic outcome.  Mr Wilson arranged for me to meet with plastic surgeon Mr Scott who works in the Canniesburn Unit at the Royal Infirmary.  Both surgeons took time to explain to me the pros and cons of each course of action available to me.  I was extremely anxious about making the wrong decision but they listened to my endless questions with great patience and answered them honestly and with great clarity.   

I was operated on at both Gartnavel General and the Royal Infirmary and I have nothing but praise for every single person I encountered during my time there – from Caroline at the Gartnavel’s surgical admissions unit to the anaesthetists and the wonderful ward staff who cared for me after my surgeries. I cannot thank them enough.  Special praise of course is reserved for the Nurse Specialists Lynne and Diane who guided me through the whole journey and the exceptional surgeons who operated on me, Mr Wilson and Mr Scott.  To them, they were just doing their job.  But to me, they were enabling me to move forward with my life relatively unscathed by the challenges of the preceding months.   

The Covid-19 pandemic was beginning to affect the NHS in the UK just as I completed my surgery. My radiotherapy treatment took place at the Beatson when cases were at their peak.  I was fortunate to be offered the chance to condense my 3 weeks course of treatment into 1 week thus minimising my hospital visits.  It all went very smoothly and apart from the masks being worn by staff and patients and the social distancing in waiting rooms etc, I could almost have forgotten that the NHS was in the midst of a crisis.  I was made to feel that every necessary precaution had been taken and that those of us attending for treatment were absolutely safe.  

I was extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend early screening and as a result my DCIS was diagnosed before it had spread.  But I feel especially lucky to have been in the care of such an incredible team of medical professionals – and for that I will be eternally grateful.