I'm 47 years old. I have three children aged 24, 22 and 14. The youngest two still live at home. I also live with my partner of ten years Mark, who moved in with us around a year ago.
In January 2016 I was successful in gaining a promotion, and a company car. I'd shied away from applying for the promotion for several years but felt like it was now the right time. During 2016 I had spent my time applying myself to getting my branch working as I wanted it, having had no effective manager for several years. I made some instant improvements, and then worked on some long term goals. Outside of work I spent a fair amount of time and money learning to drive so that I could get my hands on my company car! I passed my driving test in July 2016. I was an extremely busy individual.
This was my year!
In August 2016, my sister (a full ten years older than me) who is currently living in Spain, called to tell me that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I was shocked, as in female relatives, we have a history of kidney related illnesses. Our father died in 2009 from stomach cancer, which we related to his many years of smoking. Nobody else in the family has had cancer. Although I have always checked my breasts religiously, I upped my efforts when I realised that my sister had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I wondered if I should be concerned about myself, but soon decided that my risk wasn't changed because of this news.
At the end of October 2016, when my period was due, I felt a strange sensation in my right breast, and when I felt my breast it seemed as if it was a muscle hardened into a cramp! Confused, I massaged it away until it felt slightly looser. (I have no idea what that sensation was). I made a mental note to keep checking this, and get an appointment with my GP if necessary.
Shortly afterwards on 8th November, I was away from home on a training course for work. With time on my hands in the hotel, I had a long bath, got myself ready for bed and dried my hair. I put on an oversized t shirt and had a last look in the mirror. I noticed that my nipples were not equal, through the fabric of the t shirt, and that one was pointing slightly downwards. I quickly took off the t shirt to look more closely, and saw that the outer underside of my breast (where the cramp like hardening had been) had a dimpled texture much like orange peel or cellulite. I briefly considered that it was cellulite as I am slightly overweight, but dismissed the thought almost immediately. I knew it was something I had to have checked as soon as possible. I floated through the training course the next day only half aware of the subject matter and got home home in a daze that night. The next morning I requested a GP appointment and was given a same day appointment.
Here begins the rollercoaster!
