What happened to GP Clare Whitney when she found a breast lump?

Clare Whitney found a lump in her breast, was initially told it was not concerning, but returned 18 months later when she felt something was wrong, leading to a breast cancer diagnosis.

Why is listening to your body important for breast cancer detection?

Listening to your body is crucial because initial assessments can sometimes miss changes. Persistent feelings of something being wrong should prompt further investigation, as illustrated by Clare Whitney's experience.

How did Clare Whitney's breast cancer diagnosis change her life?

Clare Whitney underwent surgery and radiotherapy. She now works as a salaried GP with better work-life balance and uses her experience to empathize more deeply with her patients.

Home / Health / GP's own breast cancer battle: Listen to your body!

GP's own breast cancer battle: Listen to your body!

5 Dec, 2025

•

Summary

GP initially dismissed lump, returned 18 months later.
Cancer found in both breasts after second hospital visit.
Doctor now urges others to trust their instincts.

GP's own breast cancer battle: Listen to your body!

A GP, Clare Whitney, from Dumfriesshire, Scotland, urges others to "listen to your body" after her own breast cancer diagnosis. She initially felt a small lump in her left breast in the summer of 2022 but was told it was "nothing of concern".

Eighteen months later, experiencing a persistent feeling that "something was wrong," she returned to the hospital. An MRI scan then revealed cancerous lumps in both breasts, leading to her diagnosis in January 2024. She underwent a double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery in February 2024, followed by radiotherapy.

Whitney's personal experience has deepened her empathy for patients. She now works as a salaried GP with fixed hours, improving her work-life balance, and advocates for trusting one's intuition regarding health changes.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.