Hi. To introduce myself I am Anne and started being a member almost 5 years ago. Now I'm coming up to the anniversary of being diagnosed with breast cancer needing an immediate lumpectomy on the right breast. I was totally shocked yet kept quite calm. My daughter was more concerned than me. It hits families possibly more than the patient. One op over in huge heat at the hospital. They kept me in overnight after a delay in the list. I was struck hemiplegic on waking. The anaesthetist came refusing to believe that the general anaesthetic had caused my issue. I did recover over the next few hours. Another op was required 2 months later. They'd missed a bit. I ended up with 3 weeks radiotherapy just before Christmas and 4 days before finishing my husband had a huge stroke. That's why I say families react more to the stress.... But I kept calm by playing Christian worship songs wherever I went... Including the radiotherapy tables daily. It was Christmas so they let me share carols! 

Over the next few years I have not over worried about the condition but the breast has hurt ever since. Has anyone of you felt the same? It's not always aching but most days at some point. I check the breasts .  I do the annual mammogram and I'm clear apparently. Great. So I get on with life . I lost my job through redundancy at the start of COVID. I was an academic. I still am but having to search for odd jobs with different colleges or individuals. My husband was totally invalided by 3 strokes in all and I'm his carer. Some days are tough. Most are positive. I trust this year's mammogram will be clear but there's always a bit of a "what if...?" Feeling .