Breast Cancer Symptoms
- British journalist Victoria Derbyshire, best known for her time with BBC, has opened up about living with breast cancer.
- There are many symptoms of breast cancer, but for Derbyshire, now 53, it was an inverted nipple that prompted her to search the internet.
- If you experience symptoms similar to Derbyshire, it is important to be just as proactive as she was: schedule an appointment with your doctor immediately
The 53-year-old British journalist, best known for her work with BBC, recently opened up about living with cancer and the “overwhelming joy” she has just being alive. She went from thinking she was “going to die” to feeling thankful for the opportunity to help others.
Read More“I think I realized when I had my diagnosis, the more you talk about it, the more information you get out to people and that's a good thing because there will always be women who need to know about breast cancer,” she added. “I didn't know anything really about the symptoms of breast cancer until I was diagnosed myself. I'm almost ashamed to say that.”
Victoria Derbyshire's Breast Cancer Symptom
There are many symptoms of breast cancer, but for Derbyshire, it was an inverted nipple that led her down an internet rabbit hole.
"It was on a dark morning in 2015 that I Googled 'inverted nipple' as I was making a cup of tea, having spotted that my right breast looked different the night before," she previously told British publication The Telegraph.
"At the time, I didn't think it was anything to worry about, but as soon as I saw the words 'breast cancer,' I knew that's what I had," she explained. "Trying to stay calm, I emailed Mark (her now husband), who was still asleep, asking him to make a GP appointment for me that afternoon, then I went to work as though everything was normal."
During her appearance on The Waiting Room, Derbyshire admitted she felt she “was going to die” when she was first diagnosed, but now the experience has given her a new outlook on life.
Breast Cancer Symptoms
If you experience symptoms similar to Victoria Derbyshire, it is important to be just as proactive as she was: schedule an appointment with your doctor right away.
But first, it is important to understand the symptoms of breast cancer:
- A new breast lump
- New swelling in one breast
- Changes in the nipple (such as puckering)
- Redness or flaking in the breast or nipple
- Discharge (including blood) from the nipple
- Pain in the breast
Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a breast oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, says that if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, do not delay a doctor's visit or screening. However, she says she has seen many patients who ignore their symptoms because they are scared.
"Very often, we will see patients with breast masses that have been ignored for years because they're terrified, or maybe they're taking care of so many other people in their life that they don't have the space to take care of themselves," Dr. Comen tells SurvivorNet.
However, it’s normal to be scared. "I welcome the fear because once we know that they're afraid, then we can help tease out what they are really afraid of," she adds.
But do not let that fear delay a screening if you feel you have breast cancer symptoms. Do as Victoria Derbyshire and schedule a doctor's appointment as soon as possible.
Getting to Know Your Breasts with Self-Exams
Contributing: Sydney Schaefer
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