Co Down mum-of-three on how a vital breast cancer screening service saved her life

A Co Down mum-of-three has opened up on how she owes her life to Action Cancer’s life-saving breast cancer screening service.

Pauline McCauley’s breast cancer was detected following a visit to Action Cancer House in Belfast, aged 48. Since the age of 40, Pauline, from Bryansford near Newcastle, had been attending Action Cancer for regular mammograms with clear results.

It was following Pauline’s fourth mammogram in May 2023 that she received a letter saying that something had been detected and further investigation was needed.

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Pauline, now 50, attended the Breast Clinic at the Ulster Independent Clinic for follow up. The surgeon said that he could not feel anything on physical examination but the Action Cancer mammogram had shown a cause for concern on the right breast. Pauline then had another mammogram, an ultrasound and several biopsies.

The surgeon called Pauline back in to say that he didn’t have all the results available but was 95% certain that it was cancer, but that he had to await the biopsy results in a few days to confirm it.

“I tried not to worry too much but was keen to find out quickly if it was something or nothing. I was desperately holding on to the 5% chance that it wasn’t cancer but the surgeon had indicated that I would need surgery either way,” she explained.

The surgeon phoned Pauline a few days later and confirmed a cancer diagnosis in the right breast as she recalled: “I felt really shocked but thankful that I didn’t have to wait any longer for answers. He then confirmed that the surgery would take place the following week so I was glad things were moving quickly to get it out of my body. I was thinking by the time people are hearing about this, the cancer will be gone.”

Within the next week and with the support of her husband, Graham, Pauline sat down with each of her three children - Aidan, 23, 21-year-old Kate and Niall 17, and broke the news. “The kids took it all very differently. I found it hard to tell them but found it harder to tell my parents.

“You feel a certain guilt because you know they love you and you hate putting them through it too. As a parent yourself you can only imagine what it is like for your parents looking on.”

Pauline McCauley speaking to Belfast Live about how her breast cancer was detected, aged 48
Pauline McCauley speaking to Belfast Live about how her breast cancer was detected, aged 48

Pauline’s lumpectomy surgery took place on 29th June, the day after her 49th birthday. During this surgery one lymph node was removed under the right arm for testing. Pauline had a day procedure and then recovered at home.

A week later she got the results confirming that her breast cancer was small and contained at 2cm. A number of days later Pauline was called back to the hospital to meet the surgeon, where she received the shocking news that there were cancerous cells present in the lymph node that had been taken out.

It was this discovery that changed Pauline’s treatment options. The surgeon told her that she was always going to need radiotherapy and hormone therapy afterwards but now chemotherapy was brought into the mix: “The first mention of chemo was scary - it was my choice if I opted for it or not. I felt very torn and didn’t know how to decide.

“The decision had been put back to me so it was very hard to make my mind up. In a way, when a doctor tells you what’s happening, then the decision is made for you. But they were respectful of my opinion, what I wanted and what my thoughts on the matter were. After much deliberation I made the decision to go ahead with the chemo, I wanted to throw everything at the cancer,” Pauline added.

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Pauline underwent six rounds of chemotherapy, followed by nine sessions of radiotherapy: “Despite all the difficulty I faced, I never regretted my decision to opt for the chemotherapy. I didn’t want to have any regrets and wanted to do everything I could to stop the cancer coming back in the future.”

Pauline says she started her radiotherapy on 12th December with the view to it finishing by 22nd December: “It was tiring travelling up and down to Belfast every day but it was okay, I managed. I moisturised 5-6 times a day as a preventative measure to avoid the burning of my skin, and I was really pleased when that worked.

“When I finished my treatment, I felt relief that it was over. I was just so fed up of being exhausted and sick. I’m thankful that during the festive season I could be at home with my family and not constantly running to medical appointments. It felt like finishing your GCSE or A-Level exams at school, you experienced relief that it was over, but you are still anxious.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer type among females in Northern Ireland accounting for 30% of all cancer diagnoses among women. The latest statistics state that 1,490 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 312 die from the disease every year.

Pauline McCauley's breast cancer was detected by Action Cancer's screening service
Pauline McCauley's breast cancer was detected by Action Cancer's screening service

Pauline also opened up about attending counselling with Action Cancer in Newry earlier this year: “For me, this came at the right time. You are busy going from appointment to appointment and your schedule is dictated to you, but then when you finish your treatment it all goes silent.

“I was hesitant about going to counselling as I had never done anything like that before. I didn’t know how I was going to feel, I didn’t know what I was going to say. But then I found speaking to the Counsellor Joan really helped me to process what I’d been through. It was good to talk to a stranger as well, it was easier to open up and be honest.”

Pauline is now taking Tamoxifen, a Hormone Therapy for 10 years and says she's finding this challenging as it induced the menopause: “Without my screening at Action Cancer, I may not be here or, at best, by the time I would feel a lump I’d be stage 3 or 4, rather than stage 2. It’s only by building up those series of images that the medical professionals can see a change in your breast tissue..”

Pauline bravely shared her story to mark Action Cancer unveiling its Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign taking place during October, which is supported by Gordons Chemists and local online car insurance company its4women.

She is also amongst a cohort of new Ambassadors for the breast screening service and as one of the women who had their breast cancer detected by the charity.

Breast screening is for well women who have no signs or symptoms and is the most effective tool for picking up cancers at an early and treatable stage. Action Cancer offers screening to women aged 40-49 and 70+ and encourages women aged 50-70 to attend for routine screening when called by the NHS.

Pauline added: “I believe Action Cancer saved my life and I am sharing my story to encourage other women to book their appointment. I encourage women to start going for regular mammograms from the age of 40. Make it a priority, it’s more important than getting your hair or nails done.

”I’ve gone with groups of friends, I’ve gone with my mum who was in the over 70 age bracket - make it into an event. I’ve encouraged friends and women at the gym and anyone I come across to go for their screening.”

Donna McKernan, Advanced Practice Radiographer with Action Cancer, speaking to Belfast Live
Donna McKernan, Advanced Practice Radiographer with Action Cancer, speaking to Belfast Live

Screening takes place at Action Cancer House in South Belfast and on board the charity’s Big Bus, supported by SuperValu and Centra. This free service is not available anywhere else in the UK or Ireland. The charity detects six cancers for every 1,000 screenings, with the majority of women receiving reassurance.

Donna McKernan, Advanced Practice Radiographer at Action Cancer, added: “Our clinic is unique in that it is the only one in the UK and Ireland to use Tomosynthesis (3D) breast imaging during the screening process. This technology has the ability to detect very small cancers that are often invisible because they are hidden in the breast tissue.

“The goal of our hard-working X-ray team is to always make sure that every client gets the best possible care. The staff at Action Cancer are both experienced and caring, driven by the belief that they are genuinely making a difference.

“We offer a straightforward online/phone booking process and a comfortable screening space for clients to visit. We have now opened up breast screening appointments in October for ladies to book. Early detection saves lives, book your mammogram today. Evening and weekend appointments are also on offer.”

Women aged 40-49 and 70+ can book an appointment online at www.actioncancer.org where you'll also find details of upcoming Big Bus visits. or by calling 028 9080 3344.

Video by Belfast Live videographer Harry Bateman.

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