Vicky Strange, a hospital cancer care co-ordinator, discovered a lump in her breast on the eve of a four-day holiday. She immediately made a GP appointment for the following week and was swiftly referred for a mammogram at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, where she works. Thanks to a cancellation, she was seen within days.
Swift Diagnosis and Treatment
During the mammogram, doctors suspected cancer and performed biopsies. Two weeks later, Vicky was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent further tests. Just before Christmas, she had a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery at Lincoln County Hospital. Reflecting on her experience, she said: 'We are so lucky to have the NHS.'
Exceptional Care Despite Challenges
Vicky credited the medical team for their extraordinary efforts. 'The amazing team managed to squeeze me in at Lincoln as there were no times available at Pilgrim hospital. My surgeons and everyone in the team were so amazing. I didn't get any special treatment for working in the NHS, it is simply what this team does for all their patients. They always go the extra mile, and, in my mind, they are all superheroes,' she said.
Additional Testing and Second Surgery
Her histology results were sent to the US for further analysis due to no family history or genetic indicators of breast cancer. This helped assess recurrence risk and guide treatment. Although she did not require chemotherapy or radiotherapy, further tests revealed residual cancer, necessitating a second surgery in February.
Return to Work and Advocacy
Remarkably, Vicky returned to work in April, supported by her fiancé, two daughters, and colleagues from the Macmillan Cancer Care team. She said: 'I am so grateful to be alive. Please don't think I am simply being dramatic, but I know how time is so important and any delay can have a massive impact.' Prior to her diagnosis, she helped establish the UK's first Kidney Cancer Support Group in the East Midlands and the Lincolnshire Prostate Cancer Support Group.
A Message to Others
Vicky urges everyone not to delay seeking medical advice. 'Nobody wants to have cancer, but I honestly believe I now have a better understanding and an insight into what our patients are going through. I now know what it is like to be waiting for that phone call. Nervous because you need to know the results, but then also worried in case it is bad news. All I can say is, please don't ever delay making an appointment to get checked out. We are so lucky to have our NHS. It might not be perfect, but I can honestly say the care provided by my amazing and talented colleagues was second to none. They are absolutely brilliant.' She continues to require physiotherapy for arm mobility, calling it 'a small price to pay for being alive.'
