So it begins - although I didn't know it at the time!

April 2010, I find a lump. It is in my left breast, very high up. In fact were it any higher it would be on my collar bone!

I keep an eye on it. It seems to get bigger and smaller.

May 2010. It's still there and even my husband can feel it!

June 24th 2010 I see my doctor. She cannot find any lump at all until I point it out to her. She says that were it any higher it wouldn't even count as a breast lump. She asks if it gets bigger when I "fiddle" with it - it does. She says it is almost certainly a cyst. As an almost throw away line, an after thought she asks how old I am. I am 47. Well she says, they're going to change the age limits for breast screening to 47 soon so I may as well go.

Northwick Park Hospital 'phones about an appointment for Thursday 8th July. I am out of town that day so it is rearranged for the following Thursday.

At this point I have no clue as to the storm which is about to break.