Tracey Fox was diagnosed in 2021 following her second mammogram, despite having no symptoms. She is sharing her experience to emphasise the critical importance of attending screening appointments, even when feeling perfectly healthy.
"I didn’t suspect anything," Tracey said. "They found it on the mammogram and told me two weeks later." Following her diagnosis, Tracey underwent two lumpectomies on her right breast and had two lymph nodes removed. Her treatment also included chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and a course of injections.
"Attending breast screening may very well have saved my life. It meant my cancer was caught early," she stated. "If I didn’t come along for my screening I would have had no idea." Tracey’s simple message to others is: “Get your mammogram done. It saves lives.”
Last week, the breast screening team at Northampton General Hospital wore pink scrubs to raise awareness and are keen to encourage more people to attend their breast screening appointments. Louise Ward, Breast Screening Programme Manager, commented: “Tracey’s experience is a powerful reminder that breast screening saves lives. Screening can detect breast cancer before you notice symptoms, when treatment is more likely to be successful.”
Ward added: “We know some people feel nervous about having a mammogram. Our all-female team of mammographers are here to answer your questions and support you throughout your appointment.” NHS breast screening is offered every three years to GP-registered women aged between 50 and 70. For more information, visit the NHS website.
