A woman claims doctors repeatedly told her she was ‘too young’ to get breast cancer – until a shock diagnosis at the age of 26 forced her to have a mastectomy.
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 the GP the next day, she was told her bleeding nipple was ‘just hormones’.
The medical professional also told Ms Bailey that she ‘did not meet the criteria’ to be referred and that her symptoms were likely a ‘hormone imbalance’.
However, a few days later Mrs Bailey found a small, hard lump under the same nipple and returned to the GP, but even after further investigation she was still told there was ‘no cause for concern’.
After she was referred to a breast clinic, the manager was told she probably had a cyst or a blocked milk duct, which would go away on its own.
But as a precaution, a biopsy revealed that Mrs Bailey had precancerous cells stuck in her milk ducts and she was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) – 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.
Ms Bailey said she saw the mastectomy as a ‘life or death decision’ – and immediately dismissed any concerns about self-image after her diagnosis
Ms Bailey opted to have a single mastectomy on her left breast when doctors discovered even more precancerous cells in her breasts – and she was immediately given an implant.
Now Ms Bailey is waiting for final test results to see if she has the ‘all clear’ – and is urging other women to urge doctors to make referrals if they spot anything worrying.
She said: ‘Since I was diagnosed I haven’t had any feelings about it anymore. I mentally checked it out a little bit. When you hear that word “cancer” you immediately think of death and I won’t have any hair anymore.
‘Originally the plan was to do a lumpectomy and depending on the grade of the cancer would determine if I needed further treatment.
‘But after they found more precancerous cells, I told my consultant that it would make more sense for me to do a mastectomy, and she recommended that too.
“Because with two lumpectomies in my natural breast, I wouldn’t be left with any shape.”
Doctors also told Ms Bailey that she ‘did not meet the criteria’ to be referred and that her symptoms were likely a ‘hormone imbalance’.
Ms Bailey opted to have a single mastectomy on her left breast when doctors discovered even more precancerous cells in her breasts – and she was immediately implanted
Mrs Bailey found a small, hard lump under the same nipple and returned to the GP – but even after further testing she was still told there was ‘no cause for concern’
Ms Bailey (pictured after having the mastectomy) is waiting for final test results to see if she has the ‘all clear’ – and urges other women to urge doctors to refer if they discover anything worrying
Ms Bailey said she saw the mastectomy as a ‘life or death decision’ – and immediately dismissed any concerns about self-image following her diagnosis.
She added: ‘I have had a single mastectomy on my left breast and my nipple was also permanently removed. There was a chance that there were cancer cells in my nipple.
‘I saw it as a life or death decision. I got an implant right away, so I still have breasts. I’d rather not have a b***** and have a life.
‘It really reassured me because everything has been taken out and I know they haven’t missed anything.
‘When I was diagnosed, my outlook on life changed. Things like your body image become so small.”
Ms Bailey is still waiting for her test results to determine if she is ‘cancer free’, but wants her diagnosis to inform others that cancer can affect anyone at any age.
‘For me, the GP and nurses followed the National Health Service criteria. But you can’t classify someone’s health based on his or her age. Anyone can get cancer,” Ms Bailey said.
Ms Bailey said she saw the mastectomy as a ‘life or death decision’ – and immediately dismissed any concerns about self-image after her diagnosis
Ms Bailey is still waiting for her test results to determine if she is ‘cancer free’ – but wants her diagnosis to inform others that cancer can affect anyone at any age
Ms Bailey says you ‘can’t categorize someone’s health based on their age’
‘I kept being told I was too young. We need to change the mentality that you are too young to have cancer because anyone can have it.
‘I got the feeling that it was nothing. If there is something unusual in your body, you have every right to go to the doctor and get a referral.
‘If people don’t take you seriously, it increases stress. I’m lucky that I actually had symptoms and that it was caught so early.
‘I never thought I’d have one breast at the age of 26, but I’m proof it can happen to anyone.’