Hi there
This is obviously a club that no one really wants to be a part of and you never know exists until the big C intrudes into your life. I am 43 with a 10 year old son and partner,I found a lump in my breast in June, after visiting the doctor I was referred to the breast clinic where they did a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy. It turned out to be 2 lumos very close together so had to have 6 samples taken. Unfortuantely they were unable to tell me either way at this appointment but the following week I returned and was dignosed with breast cancer. I suffer from anxiety and my main worry has always been getting cancer and it being too late for treatment !! I was a complete emotional wreck from the time I found the lump and on hearing those words 'you have cancer' was my worst nightmare coming true.
My consultant was very reassuring and said she thought that she could get the lumps without doing a masectomy and there was no sign from the ultrasound that it was in my lymph nodes, but she needed to do an MRI to make sure. This was done the following week and measurements if the lumps and space between confirmed to her that she could do a lumpectomy. I had the operation on 1st Aug after having radiation injected and threads being attached to the lumps prior they were removed along with 1cm of breast tissue and 4 lymph nodes. Recovery from the op was slower than I expected (but I am quite impatient generally) but results were all positive a week later. I was mid grade, stage 2, chemotherapy was only a 2.2 % benefit so not recommended by oncologist but I am about to start a 4 week daily radiation treatment. I am also on daily hormone tablets for 5-10 years and monthly hormone injections.
I feel like I have been on a roller coaster since June and been an emotional wreck, the consultant and nurses get the box of tissues ready now as i've normally used all of mine in just the waiting room !! They have all been wonderful and keep reassuring me I am not the worst patient they've ever had, but i'm sceptical about this !! If someone had told me 4 months ago what was about to happen i'd have been convinced at this point that I would be in a little padded cell all of my own .... But I am still here and breathing ....
