A RESPECTED and well-known language school boss has spoken of her horror at discovering she had breast cancer and then her joy at her subsequent recovery.

Pat Marchiori-White, former principal at Southbourne School of English and current secretary and treasurer of RELSA, is also full of praise for medical staff at the Royal Bournemouth and Poole Hospitals.

She is adamant that it was their outstanding skill and care that helped her come to terms with her ordeal and give her the chance of more life.

The 62-year-old was told that something had shown up on a routine scan, just before Christmas.

"I had no lumps and no pain," she said. "I always check my breasts and wasn't aware anything was wrong."

But using the latest ultrasound equipment, staff at the Ladybird unit at Poole confirmed that there was a 9mm growth on her left breast.

"It wasn't even a full centimetre," said Pat.

"It was when they gave me biopsy then and there that it hit me I had cancer. My first thought was for my two sons."

The news quite understandably put a dampener on the family's Christmas but Pat knew she would be having the operation to remove the growth within the next few weeks.

Tests showed that the cancer hadn't spread to lymph glands under her arm, but it was decided that these would also be removed as a precautionary measure.

January 14 was the day of the operation at the Royal Bournemouth.

"A wire was inserted into the growth, which didn't hurt - more of a discomfort really," said Pat. "I remember joking that it would take someone's eye out.

"The aim of the wire is to guide the surgeon. The next thing I remember is waking up, as simple as that. My breast was sore near the stitches but not real pain.

"I left hospital six days later."

She said that she only once became depressed about her condition during the ordeal.

"A lot of people hear the 'C' word and go to pieces. But if you get it, there's nothing you can do about it but fight back and get rid of it.

"I wasn't going to let it beat me."

She did experience fatigue following the operation and is undergoing regular radiotherapy treatment which will reduce the chances of the cancer reappearing to just four per cent.

"I'm not allowed to wear under-wired bras anymore and cannot shave under my left arm," said Pat.

"Spray deodorants are banned and injections in my left arm are forbidden.

"I'm also on special medication for the next five years to reduce oestrogen in my body which could feed cancer."

She says that she feels extremely lucky to have come through the ordeal in such a positive way.

"But they caught it early in me," said Pat. "Which is why it's so crucial for women to regularly check their breasts. And don't give up if you do find you have cancer.

"I'm now all healed and can still wear low-cut dresses if I wanted to. The scars don't show. There is life after cancer."

Each year the Royal Bournemouth cares for some 250 people with breast cancer.

Emma Hoyle, senior nurse of the surgical directorate, said: "We welcome Mrs Marchiori-White's comments regarding her care while with us at the Royal Bournemouth, and this reflects the hard work, dedication and commitment of all the staff involved.

"We endeavour to provide a high standard of care to all patients, and Mrs Marchiori-White's comments reinforce this and will be shared within the trust."

First published: April 5