A woman claims doctors repeatedly told her she was “too young” to have breast cancer, until a diagnosis of shock forced her to undergo a mastectomy at age 26.
Courtney Bailey, who lives in Newcastle, was immediately concerned when she noticed a blood-stained drop of water on her left nipple after a shower in June.
But when she visited her GP the next day, she was told the nipple bleeding was “just hormones”.
The medical professional also told Ms Bailey that she “did not meet the criteria” for referral and that her symptoms were likely a “hormonal imbalance”.
However, a few days later, Ms Bailey found a small, hard lump under the same nipple and returned to the GP – but even after further tests she was still reportedly told there was “no cause for concern”. “.
After being referred to a breast clinic, the company manager was told she probably had a cyst or a blocked milk duct, which would go away on its own.
But a precautionary biopsy found that Ms Bailey had pre-cancerous cells trapped inside her milk ducts and she was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), an early breast cancer.
Courtney Bailey, who lives in Newcastle, was immediately concerned when she noticed a blood-stained drop of water on her left nipple after a shower in June.
Bailey said she viewed the mastectomy as a “life or death decision” and immediately dismissed any concerns about self-image following her diagnosis.
Ms Bailey opted to have a single mastectomy on her left breast when doctors discovered more pre-cancerous cells in her breast, and immediately fitted her with an implant.
Now Ms Bailey is waiting for final test results to see if “everything is fine” and is urging other women to pressure doctors to refer them if they spot anything worrying.
She said: ‘Since I was diagnosed, I haven’t felt any kind of problem about it. I sort of mentally checked it out. When you hear that word ‘cancer’, you instantly think of death and I’m going to lose my hair.
‘Originally the plan was to perform a lumpectomy and depending on the grade of the cancer it would be determined if further treatment was needed.
‘But after they found more precancerous cells, I told my specialist that it would make more sense for me to have a mastectomy and she recommended it too.
‘Because by having two lumpectomies done on my natural breast, I wouldn’t have any shape left.’
Doctors also told Ms Bailey she “did not meet the criteria” for referral and that her symptoms were likely a “hormonal imbalance”.
Ms Bailey opted to have a single mastectomy on her left breast when doctors discovered more pre-cancerous cells in her breast, and immediately fitted her with an implant.
Ms Bailey found a small, hard lump under the same nipple and returned to the GP, but even after further tests she was reportedly told there was “no cause for concern”.
Ms Bailey (pictured after undergoing the mastectomy) is waiting for final test results to see if it is “all clear” and is urging other women to lobby doctors for a referral if they spot anything worrying.
Bailey said she viewed the mastectomy as a “life or death decision” and immediately dismissed any concerns about self-image following her diagnosis.
She added: ‘I had a single mastectomy on my left breast and also had my nipple permanently removed. There could have been a chance that there were cancer cells trapped in my nipple.
“I saw it as a life or death decision. I had an implant put in right away, so I still have breasts. I would rather not have b***** and have a life.
“It really put my mind at ease because everything has been picked up and I know they haven’t missed anything.”
‘When I was diagnosed, my perspective on life changed. Things like your body image become so insignificant.
Ms Bailey is still waiting for the results of her tests to determine if she is “cancer free”, but wants her diagnosis to inform others that cancer can affect anyone of any age.
‘For me, the GP and nurses followed the criteria set by the NHS. But you cannot categorize a person’s health based on their age. “Anyone can get cancer,” said Ms. Bailey.
Bailey said she viewed the mastectomy as a “life or death decision” and immediately dismissed any concerns about self-image following her diagnosis.
Ms Bailey is still waiting for the results of her test to determine if she is “cancer free”, but wants her diagnosis to inform others that cancer can affect anyone of any age.
Bailey says “you can’t categorize someone’s health based on their age”
“They told me all the time that I was too young. We need to change this mentality that you are too young to get cancer because anyone can get it.
“They made me feel like I was nothing. Anything unusual in your body, it is your right to go to the doctor and get a referral.
‘When people don’t take you seriously, stress increases. I’m lucky to have had symptoms and to have been caught so early.
“I never thought that at the age of 26 I would have only one breast, but I am proof that it can happen to anyone.”