Mum-of-three Tracy Baron has thanked nurses and doctors at Nottingham City Hospital after their speedy response when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Tracy, 44, of Keyworth, received the diagnosis a week before Christmas after going to the doctors following shoulder and chest pain - which she initially brushed off as a result of "sleeping funny".
The community care worker, who said her "whole life came crumbling down" after receiving the news, chose to have a mastectomy to get rid of the two lumps in her left breast. In February, she was given confirmation that the cancer hadn't spread.
Tracy, who has to take Tamoxifen for the next five years to reduce the risk of the cancer returning, said: "Christmas was particularly hard and I had to put on a brave face for the kids.
"Since then I have learned to chill out more and don't worry about the house work as much. It is always at the back of my mind that it could return but I think it is natural to think that.
"I am just so glad I went to the doctors when I did, it is a bit like a miracle. I couldn't believe how lucky I was for it to be treated so quickly."
Tracy is now looking to take the opportunity to thank doctors and nurses at The Nottingham Breast Institute for their support throughout the treatment process.
She added: "I really appreciate all they have done for me. They helped me understand every step of the process and went at my pace. I just want to say a big thank you."
She is also urging anyone who experiences similar pains to get it checked out immediately by their GP - just to be on the safe side.
"If it wasn't for them the cancer wouldn't have been picked up and the situation could have been a lot worse," she added.
Lisa Whisker, consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust,
said: "We'd like to thank Tracy for her kind words and are delighted she is continuing to make a good recovery. The team at NUH and the Nottingham Breast Institute all work hard to ensure our patients receive the best possible care and support through what is a very difficult time in their lives."
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