My husband was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma twice. The first time in 2005 and the second 2012. He has just finished Stem Cell treatment and is coming up for a year from having it done. He now is disabled from the damage of the cancer and has got a condition called Para-neoplastic Syndrome which is all to do with the neurological side of it like a stroke. So for 8 years now I have been his carer.
Just before he went into Christie's Hospital to have the stem cell done I received my FIRST letter for a routine mammogram. As Elliot was then in hospital a friend offered to take me and be with me. So off we went and I had it done. The nurse asked me was there cancer in the family and I replied No. I wasn't duly surprised that a few days later a letter popped through my letter box to say I had been re-called. I ended up with 8 biopsies on my right breast and 5 biopsies under my arm for the lymph nodes. Results - yes I had breast cancer DCIS.
I did ask if they had the right patient as I was a carer for someone who had already gone through Cancer. Unfortunately they replied yes!
I was gutted and petrified as I had never been into hospital before. A lumpectomy lymph-node removal and finally 3 weeks of radio therapy followed after my diagnosis. I was calm and took whatever they threw at me because I had seen Elliot for the last 8 years be so positive and go through some gruelling treatment.
I had to rely on my children and my friends to take me here there and everywhere. The support and help from them all was truly amazing and to this day I really appreciate everything they did for me. I know if I had not gone for that first Mammogram my story could have been so different. I am one of the lucky ones and I am coming up for a year of being cancer free!
Manchester, United Kingdom