Yes, I found one of those lumps you don't want to find at the top of my left breast. Deep down I wanted to ignore it, but didn't, as I had always told myself 'if I ever find a lump, I will get it checked straight away' and not ignore it like my mum had with hers. My mum's lump was around the collar bone and a secondary for lung cancer, which sadly took her from me. I decided I would front it out and get it checked out, after all I was convinced it would be 'nothing'. I went to my GP and was referred through the 'cancer service' route to my local hospital. Still routine I told myself, nothing to worry about. I turned up at the hospital for my appointment, alone, which in hind sight, was not a good idea, as unbeknown to myself not only was I given a mammogram, I had an ultrasound of my breast and biopsies taken. The biopsy was the biggest shock that day, as I totally had not expected this. I went home and for the first time, I had to face the possibility I had cancer! To say this made me feel sick was an understatement. A week after my tests, I had to go and get my results, this time I made sure I had someone with me. We were called onto a room and a female doctor and female nurse entered the room together. As soon as I saw them, I knew what was coming. The doctor ran through the tests I'd had and then broke the news ever so gently, it was cancer!! I didn't scream, shout, or make a noise, the information that followed was a blur!! There was apparently talk about operations, chemotherapy, but I didn't take it in. After the doctor left the room, we were left with the nurse, who was a macmillan nurse. She went through everything with us again and we discussed what I had been told, she was amazing, she helped me make sense of it all. That night I returned home, mulled over my options, well in my mind, it was no contest, this cancer had to go. I had a further consultation with the dr and surgery was arranged. Removal of the lump, lymph nodes under left arm, as cancer cells were present and a refuction to left breast only at this time. It was explained I could have had both reduced, but it increased the infection level, which would put my next treatment back. My next treatment being chemotherapy. The date of my operation arrived, I had my lymph nodes removed, lump removed and breast reduced, this was literally three days ago and I am not experiencing any pain at all. It is very early days and I still have a long road of chemotherapy and radiotherapy ahead of me, but I am determined to beat this.
