Are you worried about going for your breast screening? Hear from Kaur about the importance of breast screening as a woman from the South Asian community.
Kaur's experience
My diagnosis was breast cancer Stage 1. It came as a shock. I had no symptoms whatsoever, perfectly healthy, and it was just one of those routine screening appointments.
The reception staff were great and the radiographer was very pleasant. It was my second mammogram so I knew what to expect.
And the actual taking of the shot is seconds - it doesn’t take very long at all.
I was very blasé about the whole thing
But depending on where you’re at, what NHS you’re in and the machine they’re using, it can be a little bit uncomfortable. I laughed and said: “These machines aren’t designed for women 5ft and under. I should have come in my heels.”
I was very blasé about the whole thing, and I was there for no more than 5 minutes.
Just over 2 weeks later, I received a letter saying they wanted me to come back for further testing. I do remember in my original letter it did say they typically call back 4 women out of every 100.
Once I got my biopsy results, there was a bit of a delay. When I went back to the hospital and the consultants asked if I knew why I was there, I said, “I’m here for my biopsy results”.
And they just turned round and looked at me and said, “Yes, that’s right. It is cancer.”
Breast cancer is not talked about in our community
I think we don’t prioritise our health. Maybe we’re a little bit blasé and we think, “Well, there’s nothing wrong with me, so why should I waste my time going to these appointments? It happens to other people; it doesn’t happen to Indians.
Or [we think] “what if I go and they find something? How would I deal with it? Who will I go to? I won’t be able to talk about it. And oh my God, it’ll show bad karma. It means I’ve done bad deeds in my last life and now I’m being punished for them.”
I think these obstacles - these thoughts - stop people from attending these appointments.
And because cancer is not talked about in our community, we’re not exchanging information, we’re not putting up support groups. It’s all just brushed under the carpet - even when people are diagnosed. And sadly, more often than not, they’re diagnosed at a later stage.
Dare I say, people think it’s just a death sentence [but] it doesn’t have to be.”
There's nothing to fear - do make that appointment
All the staff that I came across in my journey were female. The original radiographer, those that did the biopsies, those that did the scans, they were all female. The first males that I came across were my surgical team.
Breast screening is important because as [with] screening for cervical cancer or bowel cancer, we know cancer is on the rise and it’s important to be self-aware.
I would say to anyone there’s nothing to fear - if you’ve received that letter then do make that appointment.
And if you’re apprehensive and you don’t want to go by yourself, take your husband, take your daughter, sister, mother, friend – whoever it might be. But rest assured, these professionals do this day in, day out, and they’re very experienced. They will make you feel comfortable.
And yes, it’s a little uncomfortable whilst your breast tissue is squeezed, but it’s only for a minute or so and you’ll be thankful later on that you did.
If nothing else, it will give you that [knowledge] that fear is allayed – that you’ve had a check and you’re all okay and you’re good to go.
And if they find something, God forbid, [then it’s more likely to be] the early stages and the prognosis will be good and they can do something about it.