Rebecca Craggs found a lump after having a boob job (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy NoticeI’d always been blessed with rather large breasts but after 2 babies and having lost a bit of weight, by the time I was 50 they were no more! I toyed with the idea of a breast augmentation for two years but thought I was just being silly or having a midlife crisis. However, two years later I bit the bullet and went for it! At the end of October 2021, I had my boob job! It was everything I could have wished for. My surgeon said I should have a mammogram within 12 months before my breast augmentation, but mine was in July 2020 and it was clear, so I was happy with that.
Rebecca discovered she had a lump in her breast after getting a boob job
(Image: Getty Images)
My recovery was great, but two weeks after the op, I noticed a lump, like a broad bean, very close to the surface on my right breast. The implants must have pushed it to the surface. I called my GP immediately. That was the day that changed my life. It was a whirlwind. I was sent from consultation to scan, to test, back to mammogram, then biopsy and finally back to see the consultant in the space of an hour. I could tell from their faces that they knew, even though they couldn’t say because they needed the biopsy result. I broke down and when they didn’t reassure me, I knew too! They told me I had to stop HRT, which I did (I had only been on it for 5 months and didn’t realise what relief it was giving me for my perimenopausal symptoms). The biopsy results came back and I had breast cancer. The lumpectomy and recovery were easy. What I wasn’t expecting was the impact that coming off HRT would have on my life. I went from a happy-go-lucky lady, always smiling, to an anxious, unhappy, restless shell of my former self. I could deal with the physical menopausal symptoms, but the mental ones were something else. I decided I couldn’t live like this. I discontinued Tamoxifen and started taking HRT again. It’s not a decision I took lightly, and I did loads of research and spoke to my oncologist. Of course, the risk is that my breast cancer could return – whether I started taking HRT again or not. For me, the benefits outweigh the risks. I know it’s not right for everyone. Although my oncologist and breast surgeon don’t agree with my decision, they understand it. For me, it’s all about quality of life. I’m happy now and life is good – it could have so easily went another way!”
Women should regularly check their breasts for lumps and bumps
(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
KNOW THE SYMPTOMS “While many women know that a lump can be a possible symptom of breast cancer, there are other signs of the disease to look for,” advises Manveet Basra, associate director of public health, inclusion and awareness at Breast Cancer Now. “These include nipple discharge, dimpling or puckering of the skin of the breast or changes in size or shape of the breast. Changes in the colour of the breast may also appear differently on various skin tones. Most breast changes won’t be cancer, but it’s important to contact a GP as soon as possible if you notice any changes that are new or unusual for you. The sooner breast cancer is found, the more successful treatment is likely to be.” PROTECT YOURSELF There are several lifestyle changes people can make to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer, Sally says. These include limiting the amount of alcohol you drink, keeping to a healthy weight, and being physically active on a regular basis. “It doesn’t guarantee that you won’t develop breast cancer, but leading a healthy lifestyle does give you a better chance.” KNOW THE RISKS Sally warns: “Getting older and being female are the most significant risks for developing breast cancer. And while most breast cancers aren’t inherited, a small number of people have an increased risk of developing breast cancer because they have a significant family history. But you can take steps to lower your chances of developing the disease.” Not smoking, eating fruit and vegetables and keeping physically active all play their part. CHECK REGULARLY We all know it – but do we all do it? And often enough? Only 36% of women aged 18-35 check their boobs monthly, according to Coppafeel. “It’s vital that women attend their breast screening appointments when invited and regularly check their breasts to get to know their normal,” said Manveet. GIVE YOURSELF SOME TLC Checking your breasts is as simple as TLC: Touch, Look, Check. “There’s no special technique and it only takes a few minutes. Everyone will have their own way of touching and looking for changes – it could be when you shower or moisturise. Whenever you check, it’s important to remember to check the whole breast area, up to your armpits and collarbone for any changes,” advises Sally. And remember, monthly cycles play a part in how your breasts feel.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnReal LifeHealth
