The Breast Unit is based at The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow and St Margarets Hospital in Epping. We continue to raise money so that we can improve our understanding and help find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat different kind of breast cancer.Our charity programmes help support our patients during and after treatment.Please support our amazing runners who are running The Royal Parks Half Marathon to help raise funds for The Breast Unit.Thank you in advance for your kind donations.

Sarah's story

Make sure you check your breasts! A term we see everywhere nowadays, but how many of us actually do this? I can guarantee not many of us do.

At the beginning of August 2019, Sarah was taking a shower and found a lump in her left breast. In a state of shock, she waited a couple of days, checking again to see if it would reduce or go away, but it didn't.

Sarah was seen as soon as possible by her friend and colleague, Ashraf Patel, the clinical lead for breast surgery at the Breast Unit and had a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsies.

On 14th August 2019 it was confirmed that the lump was breast cancer, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.

If Sarah hadn't checked her breasts, the lump would not have been found right away, as she is below the age to qualify for a routine mammogram.

After further tests, MRI scan, CT scan and biopsies the decision was made that Sarah would have to have a mastectomy and DIEP flap reconstruction.

In the meantime, while waiting for a date for the mastectomy, Sarah had to undergo an operation to test her sentinel lymph nodes. This would be the first place cancer would spread to, so it was vital to find out the results. The results came back which confirmed the cancer had not spread to them - this was the best news we could have hoped for at this point in time.

In less than two months from the diagnosis - on 8th October 2019, Sarah had her left breast removed, the breast reconstructed using the tissue from her tummy and her right breast reduced, her chemo started November 2019 and finished in February 2020.  

Anyone who knows Sarah, knows that she is the most resilient and strong-willed person and to see her go through this diagnosis absolutely broke her family and her friends.

But Sarah did not break. Sarah had been able to find another kind of strength, to take positives from the most life changing news and be the biggest inspiration to everyone around her.

The NHS have been absolutely phenomenal throughout the last couple of months, with special thanks to Dr Ashraf Patel MBE, the breast nurses and support staff at the Breast Unit in Epping, Ashraf is well known not just for his amazing medical/surgical skills but the endless fundraising and awareness him and his team dedicate their time to.

The sentinel node biopsy was carried out at Princess Alexandra Hospital as well as MRI scan and various blood tests, the care, support and professionalism in all the various areas was second to none. Sarah has worked in the NHS for over 20 years but the care and dedication she has received as a patient reflects how wonderful our NHS service is for everyone.

The major surgery was carried out at Broomfield Hospital, the various consultants and theatre staff were amazing and a very special thank you to all the staff in Stock Ward as the post-operative care was exemplary.