Hi I'm Melanie, and I've been recently diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in my brain, liver and spine. I was first diagnosed with DCIS in jan 2019 and went through a gruelling year of treatment, discovering i had the BRCA 2 mutation and culminating in a double mastectomy, DIEP flap reconstruction and removal of my ovaries. Then lockdown hit so there was homeschooling of 3 children, not being able to travel to see my family (saw my Dad for the first time in 18 months last weekend). And now irreversible, aggressive cancer in my body again. It sucks.
My 7 year old has called the brain tumour The Skull Crawler after the hideous monsters in the last King Kong movie.
I've had 5 blasts of whole brain radiotherapy, and I'm on a chemo and hormone therapy protocol.
My hair is falling out in clumps which is the most irritating thing at the moment and i'm pretty wiped out.
However, I have chosen to LOVE this cancer. I know that sounds barmy but I'm looking at these lesions in my body as delinquent cells that need to be reminded that they may have shown up for a reason, to wake me up to LIFE, JOY and RADIANCE and thanks very much, I've got the message, they can STAND DOWN.
I'm under no illusions about the long term prognosis. I'm 46 years old and in the short term I'd love to get to 50 coz my sea swimming friends throw the BEST 50th birthday parties ever. But hey, maybe I'll get more, I'd LOVE to get more.
I'm choosing JOY and BEAUTY and PEACE.
Other stuff about me, I live in Northern Ireland, I'm married to a spectacularly awesome man, mum to 3 brilliant kids and lovely border collie. I have a community library on my garden wall. And I paint mermaids.
Nice to meet you all.
Best
Miz Melly
I just want to say a big hello and I think you sound and look like an incredibly strong, caring, beautiful person…..I am ashamed to say I’m sitting here today wallowing in self pity and feeling so ‘why me ‘ ( had mastectomy last week, waiting on results from sentinel nodes )……I will try to adopt even a tiny bit of your attitude towards this thing and look for the positives in each day 
sometimes a wake up call is needed to appreciate the things we let slip by without a thought.
If anyone can beat The Skull Crawler I think it’s you!
Sending you lots of good wishes xx
