Rufus I have had cancer (which was successfully treated), so did my husband (but not soon enough, so his treatment was not successful)
Mine was first spotted from a routine mammogram check, I was recalled and further tests revealed a very small tumour. I had had no symptoms at all. When I reported for the tests, the waiting room was full of women of all ages on the same errand. Some were in tears, and one was almost hysterical. Some knew very little about it, but were convinced that they would die in agony very shortly. One had had to be almost shanghaid to the clinic to get her to attend at all.
My first reaction on getting the recall letter had been to search for more information than I had been given., so I knew that about one patient in ten is recalled, and that of those only about one in ten is actually diagnosed postive. The rest are there because of a bad quality image, a harmless cyst, or some other reason. I also knew how many patients are successfully treated, and roughly what my treatment options would be.
So I knew that the recall was not a death sentence. I was not terrified at the mere C word. I was not afraid even to take more tests, in case they proved positive. And when they were, I knew what questions to ask.
As a result of that I don't hesitate to pass on my experiences to anyone I can. The more we talk about cancer, the less it is an ogre waiting in the dark to pounce, and the more people will take up the tests and treatment that are available free on the NHS.