Ultra Sound Department V's DIY Breastlight

My six month oncology appointment has finally arrived and I have been booked in for a ultra sound. After the lovely registrar read my notes and listened to me getting straight to the point. Point one being my right breast is a very naughty breast. Point two last night I found a pea size lump on the left side. The registrar checked both my imposter and my right breast out. And decided he wanted me to have an ultra sound as a precautionary measure. The pea size lump he said may well possibly be a lymph node, but just in case he wanted it confirmed. As for my naughty right breast he said he wants the same thing done to find out if the pain is down to the return of my cyst, which to me makes sense. He found my breast to be very lumpy especially round the lumpectomy scar.

In conversation whilst the registrar was preparing the slip of paper to be taken to the ultra sound department, I said I bet you have never met a bubbly patient like me. He explained it was nice to have a patient who was staying calm. My reply was hey no good fretting over spilt milk. Besides it is better I get straight to the point, so you can sort it out.

On returning home and checking various articles I read something about a breastlight. With cancer comes the nagging question, are they missing something? And there are many scrupulous companies who have latched onto this anxiety. To some they think they are doing breast cancer patients a service to ease their anxiety created by fear, but I always question their ultimate aim and that is to part people from their money.

I had heard about the breast light before and how women are being encouraged to try it out. And I must admit spending £84.99 is tempting just to see what my remaining breast looks like under a red light. Yet another part of me is saying what is the point, after all if this new gadget was reliable why haven’t GP’s been issues them as well as hospitals. Maybe it is because its value is selling it to vulnerable women rather than keeping it as a medical implement strictly used in clinics.

What is the breast light?

The Breastlight advertises itself as a new health and wellbeing product for women. It can be used as a tool to help women notice any changes in their breasts over a period of time.
Apparently with the Breastlight you get a new view of your breasts. The Breastlight shines a harmless red light through the breast tissue so that you can see some of the details inside. That way you can get to know what’s normal for you, spot any changes and hopefully ease anxiety and build confidence.

The fact that UK Boots chemist is selling the Breastlight only backs it as a reliable tool against the fight against breast cancer, but again it is all about pound signs.

But I want to do my own evaluation/ research and if anyone reads this blog and has used the Breastlight please leave a response. I know at the end of the day there would be women just as curious as I about this gadget and how it truly fairs in breast cancer land.