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Breast Cancer - 3.5 years on

ThreeLittleWords
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Hi everyone. I'm newish to the board so thought I would introduce myself - and I suppose my cancer, too.

On Christmas Eve 2015, I found out that I had breast cancer. It wasn't an official diagnosis; I had to wait until the new year for that. My revelation was more unofficial. "It's definitely not a cyst," they told me at the clinic and I went home in tears, convinced it could terminal and I was about to get the worst possible news.

It was the happiest day of my life when I (finally) return to meet the consultant and found out that my cancer was - in fact - treatable. Chemo, radio, surgery. At that moment, it all sounded like bliss compared to the death sentence I'd given myself.

What followed were some of the most difficult months I've ever faced. I won't lie about that. But at the same time, it was a huge life changer for me in other more positive ways.

Three and a half years on, I'm thankful to be cancer free and living the life that, for a while, I never thought I'd have. 

Now that I'm on the 'other side', I would love to help support others who and going through a similar experience and offer some word of encouragement and hope along the way. 

I found it really helpful to write down my experiences in a diary (now uploaded into a blog at threelittlewords.co.uk). 

Always happy to answer any questions or chat. Vicki x

  • Offline

    Hi Vicki

    I don’t have breast cancer but I just wanted to say what a lovely idea to want to help others! 

    I have cervical cancer, currently no evidence of disease, and was really excited to see an opportunity to volunteer on a cervical cancer helpline. I was so disappointed to find out that you had to be out of treatment for a year. I finished treatment on Christmas Eve, but I feel I would have a lot to offer. Guess I’ll have to wait. I wish that I had known where to go for support when I was waiting to be diagnosed, and beyond. I think it’s really valuable to offer to help those who are going to go through what you have already gone through. That’s so helpful. x

  • Offline in reply to Minska

    Hi Minska,

    Thank you for taking the time to reply. Congratulations on being nearly 6 months out of treatment; what a great Christmas present to have.

    It's really fab that you're so keen to jump in and help others too. I suppose they like to have given people time to work through their own feelings after treatment before asking them to support other women, but it's a lovely thing that you'll be able to do as we go into the next new year. And in the meantime, I'm sure you've been able to offer something really valuable on boards such as this x

  • Offline in reply to ThreeLittleWords

    Hi Vicki

    I’ve read your blog and really enjoyed it-I think we have a very similar outlook in many ways and I could really identify with a lot of how you felt about things and the reactions you had. I never wanted to lose my sense of humour either, and I don’t think I did, thankfully. 

    Definitely I’ll try to do the volunteer stuff once I reach my year mark..I’ve changed a great deal through all this cancer stuff, I feel a different person-a nicer version of the person I was and I hope I can help other people when they’re in that frightening phase of initial diagnosis and treatment. 

    I’m sure your blog can help other women...thanks for making me laugh, think and be grateful that there is another woman thinking very much the same as me! x

  • Offline in reply to Minska

    Hi Minska,

    Thank you so much for your kind words. It's great to hear that you recognise something of yourself in my own outlook. I think humour and positivity are the best way of tackling things like the Big C. 

    I did try to keep as much doom and gloom out of my blog and my life as possible. Dwelling on the bad just makes things feel 10 x worse and I had so much I could be grateful for instead.

    It's fantastic that soon you'll be able to carry on that positive attitude to other women who need a boost as they come to terms with the initial bad news. You'll be great! x

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