I’m Jane , a retired GP( of 30 years) , living in East Yorkshire with my husband and 2 Labradors. I have 2 daughters who are also doctors.

I was ready for retirement in 2015 and have filled my time with new hobbies, socialising ( especially with “ the girls”) and travelling. In March 2019, whilst on a river boat on the Mekong in Cambodia, I discovered a breast lump. To me ( with all my experience) it felt like “ lumpy breast tissue” , probably hormonal due to the menopause. So I was shocked and felt stupid on my return to be told at the breast clinic that I had a 2 cm Lobular Breast Cancer. Mastectomy and axillary node clearance quickly followed. With my husband’s support I decided against reconstruction.

My results showed a 9 cm tumour with 2 nodes involved, ER positive and HER2 negative. I enrolled on the OPTIMA trial and was told I would not benefit from chemotherapy. I had 3 weeks of radiotherapy , 3 years of bisphosphonates (to help strengthen my bones) and continue on Anastrazole for 10 years (to keep my oestrogen levels low).

I came across LBCUK whilst searching for research data on Lobular Breast Cancer, expecting to find lots of information but instead realising it tends to come under a single heading of breast cancer but mainly ductal. Clearly there is a gap that LBCUK is trying to fill. I am delighted to have been made a Trustee and hope to use my medical and personal experience to help increase knowledge and understanding within the profession.