morning all
Olivia Newton-John has sadly died
BUT I don't believe for one second she 'battled breast cancer for 30 years' which is one of the headlines this morning.
She was diagnosed in 1992 and then diagnosed with recurrence and spread in 2013, that's a 20 year gap where we should presume she got on with her life.
I was diagnosed in 2015 but at that appointment it was clear the breast lesion was there in 2012. I underwent surgery and chemo, then Herceptin.
Then I was invited for a annual mammogram, apparently this year was the last one.
I was expected to 'get over it' and 'get on with my life', which hasn't been particularly easy but I know it's the right thing to do. My stats were pretty poor without treatment but if I could get to five years post treatment they improved a lot. Obviously I'm still here. I do think about recurrence, it's hard not to and trying to work out which symptoms are simply age related wear and tear and something more sinister is tricky. Mentally I might be fighting the cancer demon but I can't show that to my family, especially my daughter, who still freaks out if I cough.
When a friend was diagnosed nearly 30 years ago, her treatment was a bit different, she had surgery, chemo, radio and then tamoxifen for 5 years and the minute that treatment stopped the cancer came back and spread to her bones, she then had many different treatments to keep her going and eventually died in 2011, this could be considered a 17 year 'battle' because she was always undergoing some kind of treatment for cancer. And naively at the time that is how I saw it but it's not how she saw it, she never let it get in the way of building up a plant business or travelling to nice places, sometimes combining business and leisure trips to find plants.
I guess it would be useful to change the narrative around cancers, especially the curable ones.
If Macmillan and the other charities could educate the press that might help. Although less dramatic headlines won't help sales.
Anyway, we're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time.
hugs to all
Carolyn
xx
I read this post with interest as my mum had similar diagnosis to Olivia but died in 2008. I am also in active treatment from primary (full works) and hope to live a normal active life when it's over. I also found Julia's account of her cancer irritating. She has given 'advice' about diet which contradicts medical professionals such as Liz O'Riordan...I know where I'd rather get my advice from!
I also watched a news summary on the BBC yesterday stating that cancer treatment was at an all time low. For the record I was diagnosed last September and cannot fault the process. Its been well organised and delivered within timescales. I should have had a mammogram earlier but it was delayed because of covid. I don't blame anyone for that I'm just grateful for screening.
The MMS looks to stir up fear in the most vulnerable of people!!!!
Back to positives I've just had two days holiday in the lake district....just what the Doctor ordered
