Hi All,
So today is the day a year ago I went to the Breast Clinic with a cyst and went home with cancer!
I had my first mammo, which was an experience in itself. I had a scan and a few biopsies which I’m not going to lie the last one was very deep and really hurt!
The Dr told me straight away he didn’t like the look of it at all, it was large and he thought it was Breast Cancer.
I remember asking the nurse “Can he really tell just by examination and looking at the mammo”, she went on to say he was very good at his job, so yes!
He spoke to me about the ‘tumour’, I was very calm and looking back I realise it was shock! But he say, “Do you understand what I’m telling you”, I replied “Yes, you’re saying you think I have Breast Cancer”.
Two agonising weeks later I was back with a type and a grade, words tumbled out of his mouth I didn’t really take it all in.
I was Hormone positive, HER2 negative, which the nurse said, if there’s a good type to have, this is it.
Lymph nodes were thought to be clear. But sent for fine needle biopsy which were inconclusive.
Five days later I had a left side mastectomy.
Sentinel lymph nodes examined were found to have cancer cells, so back in hospital for another operation of node clearance 3 weeks later.
Just when I thought, it wasn’t that bad after all, the tests started to see if the cancer had spread anywhere else, if I thought the first wait for appointments was bad, the wait for these results was excruciating.
Anyway fast forward it’s now a year on, treatment was EC and Docetaxel then radiotherapy also anti hormone tablets.
As far as Drs are concerned no more treatment is necessary for this, seeing Oncologist in a few weeks and Breast surgeon, I havent had an appointment for a mammo yet so I guess I’ll worry about that when I get one But life is good, I still have issues from treatment I will have to live with, but the emphasis is on LIVE.
Sure, it’s been the most harrowing time of my life, affecting everyone around me, especially my hubby who suffered from my chemo like a sympathetic pregnancy! My children especially my younger two who are 16 and 13 now. GCSE year for one, not the best time!
Anyone starting this, believe in yourself, you can do it, it’s not always easy, but nothing worth doing usually is.
Love Tina x x
