A mum has issued a warning following a cancer diagnosis after being told there was "nothing to worry about".
Karli Durrant, from Salford, was told she had cancer at the age of 32. She received her diagnosis during locking down after she "had a feeling" that something wasn't right.
Over the following months she underwent numerous operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The mum-of-one is now urging others to seek a second opinion if they feel that something is wrong.
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As the Manchester Evening News reports, doctors discovered a lump on Kari's breast after she went to the GP in February 2021.
She said: “I went to my GP and he said he wasn’t concerned. At the time, I was in the best possible health I could have been in.
“Because of the lockdown, I was exercising every day and keeping really fit. My doctor told me I was in great health, I was young, I had no family history of cancer and the lump was mobile so he wasn’t worried, but would still refer me for a screening just to be sure.”
Karli, now 34, works in child services and admitted that her anxiety went through the roof when she told there would be a six-week wait for an appointment on the NHS. She booked herself in with a private doctor to get some clarity.
She explained: “The doctor who examined me there said they weren’t concerned either, but said I could have a scan if I didn’t want to wait for my NHS appointment,” she explained.
“Just to rule it out, I decided to have the scan and pay the money to find out.
“As soon as they scanned the lump, I could see on their faces there and then it was breast cancer. He went from being joyous to sternly asking me ‘how long have you had this?’”
She was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer and it was discovered the disease had spread to three of her lymph nodes.
Three months after visiting the GP, Karli had underwent an operation at Royal Bolton Hospital and was having chemotherapy.
Describing the procedure, Karli said: "The surgery was fine. It was more the active treatment afterwards that is really hard on you. I wouldn’t wish that on even my worst enemy.”
Karli says she is "so, so thankful" towards her GP, who, despite not expecting a cancer diagnosis, referred Karli for screening as he should.
“I have no ill thoughts towards my GP,” she explains.
“He’s been great. When I went back after my treatment, I remember him saying he was very surprised regarding my diagnosis as he just didn’t think it would be what it was.
“He followed protocol and referred me anyway even though he didn’t think it was anything to be worried about. Both him and the private doctor helped save my life.”
Karli's family rallied together while she was still undergoing treatment in September 2021. Together they raised money for Maggie’s, a cancer charity that helped her and her family during her hospital visits.
Since her diagnosis, Karli has taken on more challenges to raise money and explained how 'life changing' the experience had been. While she wished she had never had cancer, she admits it's made her more adventurous.
In August last year, Karli took on the Yorkshire Three Peaks in aid of the charity and two weeks later, she climbed Mount Snowdon for the Christie.
“Being outdoors has really helped with my recovery,” Karli explained. “It’s helped me both physically and mentally.”
Inspired by those experiences, Karli is next going to climb the French Alps as part of a five-day trek for breast cancer charity Coppafeel in September.
She is among 120 people chosen to take part in the expedition, which will also include celebrities like Giovanna Fletcher. She has pledged to raise at least £2,750 for the charity through a fundraiser and a series of events.
“I don’t think I've actually realised the extent of what I've signed up for,” she laughs. "I think once I’ve raised the money, I’ll start stressing about actually doing it!
“Luckily for me, I examined myself every month because of charities like Coppafeel. I think it’s really an important charity and there needs to be more awareness about it."
Offering advice to anyone in a similar position, Karli said: “Go to your doctor immediately. If they aren’t concerned, ask for a second opinion or go private if you can. I feel like that really did save my life.
“I think if it spreads to four or more lymph nodes, it is classed as stage three. For all I know, if I'd left it and waited for my NHS appointment, it could have spread further.
“It’s so important to check yourself, both women and men, and contact your doctor immediately if you have any concerns.
"Before I was diagnosed, I was a bit of a scaredy cat and I never did anything adventurous,” she said. “But now when there’s anything scary or difficult, I say to myself ‘look at what you’ve been through, you’ve literally faced your own mortality’.
“Now I just don’t think I have any fear. As much as I don’t wish to have had cancer, it has brought lots of positives into my life. It really has been life-changing.”
You can donate to Karli's fundraiser in aid of Coppafeel here.
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