Help Me Get the Breast MRI I Desperately Need

Hi, my name is Anna, and I’m reaching out with a heavy heart. This is not something I ever imagined doing.

For nearly three years, I’ve been stuck in a frightening and exhausting cycle of breast health investigations. It began in 2022 with blood-stained nipple discharge. Since then, I’ve experienced worsening symptoms, increasing pain, abnormal cell findings, and confirmed lesions in my breast tissue, yet I’m still without clear answers.

So why hasn’t this moved forward?

Because the most crucial test I need — a breast MRI — has been attempted three times through the NHS, and each time it has failed.

Not because I was afraid. Not because I refused. But because the equipment simply doesn’t fit my body.

Breast MRIs require a specific set-up involving coils and pillows to position the body. These configurations unfortunately do not accommodate larger-bodied patients. I’ve had other MRIs without any issue, but the breast-specific imaging equipment has proven inaccessible.

What we do know:

I’ve already had two B3 lesions removed from my left breast. Surrounding tissue has shown LCIS (lobular carcinoma in situ) and ALH (atypical lobular hyperplasia), both of which are known indicators of increased cancer risk.

I continue to experience abnormal discharge and symptoms in both breasts. Recent pathology suggests there is still something present, but traditional imaging hasn’t located it. I’m living in constant fear that something serious is being missed.

One consultant described me as "a ticking time bomb." That’s exactly how it feels — living every day with uncertainty, stuck in limbo, and emotionally worn out.

There is a solution

I’ve identified a private clinic that has the type of MRI machine that can accommodate me. It uses a wider bore scanner with an adaptable coil and pillow set-up that allows patients like me to undergo breast imaging comfortably and safely.

But because I’m not insured for private healthcare and this scan falls outside NHS capacity, I’m unable to access it without funding the cost myself — something I currently cannot afford.

How you can help

I’m asking for your support to raise £1,100 to cover the cost of this private MRI scan.

Your donation will allow me to:

Complete the imaging my NHS team urgently needs

Detect any hidden growths that previous scans may have missed

Access clear answers and a diagnostic plan

Alleviate the constant emotional and physical toll this has taken on my life

This scan could make all the difference in helping me move forward, both medically and emotionally.

If we raise more than needed

Should this fundraiser exceed the cost of the scan or if circumstances change and the funds are no longer required, any remaining amount will be donated to a charitable cause supporting others facing diagnostic or access barriers in healthcare.

I have tried everything I can through formal channels-writing to medical directors, exploring alternative NHS options, putting in a complaint. But I’m still waiting, still stuck, and still without the imaging that could finally provide answers.

If you’re able to donate, no matter how small, you would be helping me access a scan that could change — and potentially save — my life.

I am now turning to this community with hope, asking for your help to finally move toward peace of mind and a clearer future.

Thank you for reading, supporting, and sharing. Every contribution, no matter the size, is deeply appreciated.

With gratitude,

Anna