Delayed Mammogram Leads to Early Breast Cancer Detection for Cork Woman

A Cork woman’s story highlights the importance of regular breast cancer screenings, even amidst disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic. Anna Hickey, a 55-year-old mother of two from Ballinspittle, discovered she had early-stage breast cancer after a routine mammogram that was delayed due to the pandemic.

The Importance of Routine Screenings

Hickey’s routine over-50 breast scan was postponed, and when she finally underwent the screening in August 2023, a concerning anomaly was detected. Further investigation, including a third mammogram, an ultrasound, and a biopsy, led to a diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), an early form of breast cancer.

“This would not have been picked up if I’d had my mammogram on the original date, and then by the time I went for another one, it would have been a very different outcome,” Hickey stated, emphasizing the potential impact of delays in screening. She initially found the diagnosis shocking, stating, “When they told me initially, I said that they must have made a mistake, it wasn’t possible that I had cancer as I didn’t have any symptoms.”

Symptoms and Detection

Hickey’s surgeon confirmed that a physical exam would not have detected the cancer, underscoring the value of mammography in early detection. She urges anyone experiencing signs of breast cancer to seek medical attention immediately.

According to the Irish Cancer Society, potential symptoms of breast cancer include:

• A lump or thickening in your breast or armpit
• A change in size or shape of your breast, such as one breast becoming larger than the other
• A change in the skin of your breast
• A change in your nipple

Although breast pain alone is rarely a symptom of breast cancer, the Irish Cancer Society advises consulting a doctor if you experience any breast changes. Irish Cancer Society

Daffodil Day and Cancer Statistics

Hickey shared her story on Daffodil Day, an annual fundraising campaign for the Irish Cancer Society, to raise awareness about the importance of self-checks, and mammograms. Approximately 44,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in Ireland. Western People

Access to Mammograms

Hickey emphasized that mammograms are accessible to individuals of all ages with a valid reason for screening.