For many women, breast lumps don’t always signal breast cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic breast lumps can be caused by scars, fibroadenomas (benign fibrous growths), lipomas (benign fatty growths), cysts, or overgrowth of ducts.
The Initial Discovery and Lack of Communication
When breast cancer survivor Najaah Murray first discovered a small lump in her breast, she initially wasn’t concerned.
“I felt it and I was kind of like oh okay that wasn’t there yesterday…but I wasn’t too concerned about it because I have very lumpy breasts,” Murray shares. “I’ve had a lump removed before back in like 2000 and so I was like okay it’s just another one of those things.”
At the time, Murray was approaching her 40th birthday so she decided to be proactive and schedule an appointment with her OB/GYN to see what her recommendation was.
Within weeks, the lump had grown significantly, prompting her doctor to order a mammogram and biopsy as a precaution.
While awaiting the results, Murray received a shocking phone call informing her that she had stage IIIB triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form that disproportionately impacts Black women. Murray also faced a lack of clear communication from the medical team who weren’t taking her diagnosis seriously and addressing it with urgency, which left her feeling scared and unheard.
“It was very concerning, it was scary, and it felt like I wasn’t being taken seriously,” Murray recalls adding that a week after her diagnosis she still wasn’t able to see an oncologist. Fortunately, her journey took a turn for the better when she reached out to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she finally felt her diagnosis was taken seriously and that her voice was heard.
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“I contacted them via e-mail form and then someone called me right away and by the next day, I was in the oncologist’s office. So the reason I’m always like MD Anderson is so wonderful is because they were the hospital that I felt took my diagnosis seriously,” Murray shares.
Finding Connection in the Journey
At MD Anderson, Murray connected with Dr. Ajit Bisen, her oncologist, who would not only guide her through her medical treatment but also become a source of emotional support. Dr. Bisen’s youth, positivity, and the fact that he genuinely listened to her made her feel comfortable and understood like she was communicating with her brother.
“He knew that I’m young, he knew that I’m capable, and I’m not just gonna take this diagnosis and lay down with it,” Murray remarks. “We had a conversation like ‘Hey I run a business. I’m not gonna stop my business because of this. What’s the easiest way for me to