"Margate Hospital Breast Unit"

I was referred by my GP to the breast unit in April, 2016. The consultant surgeon could not detect anything abnormal but sent me for screening by mammogram. I was given an appointment at the clinic for the following week. 3 weeks after the mammogram I received a telephone call to attend the hospital gain that week for an ultrasound and a biopsy.. 3 weeks after this I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Surgery was scheduled for the very end of June,2016 to remove the diseased lump. In the meantime I attended Ashford hospital for an MRI. 36 hours before the scheduled operation I was asked to attend the hospital to meet with the breast nurse. At this meeting the breast nurse called in the consultant and I was told that the cancer was more extensive than they originally thought and they wanted to do a mastectomy. I asked if I could take hormone therapy to shrink the cancer and was told no. I asked if I could have an immediate reconstruction and again was told no. The surgeon did however agree to do a biopsy of the new area discovered on MRI.

The results came back negative . Although I felt traumatised by the diagnosis I was able I research the latest surgery and treatment trends in the UK.i discovered that several of the London Hospital trusts offered patients immediate reconstruction and use plastic surgery techniques to minimise deformity . I went to my GP and argued my rights to be referred to another hospital because the local hospital was unable to offer the surgery I sought. Up to 80% of women having mastectomies at Guys have immediate reconstructions and in many cases the skin and the nipple can be saved too. I believe it is unethical and immoral that Margate Hospital do not impower women by telling them about all the treatment options available to them. I have had surgery at Guys which was done using oncoplastic surgery techniques. If I had of had the surgery in Margate I would of been very disfigured. The staff at Margate hospital are brilliant but the failing administration and systems in place did make me feel distressed. The system is not joined up like at Guys which causes undue stress. When you have a biopsy or MRI or any other test at Guys you are given an appointment there and then to come back for the results. My follow up appointments have always been within 7 days often only 48 hours. Margate hospital needs an immediate administrative overhaul.

If your local hospital cannot provide the care you need you can go to another hospital anywhere you want. You can also ask your gp to refer you for a second opinion..