My story begins in July 2000 on a hot sunny morning, just a normal sleepy start to the day, curled up in bed when i dreamily put my hand on my right breast and jumped up when i realised i had a lump!
Once i was fully awake and out of bed i checked again and yes this was a lump for sure. Later that day i called my GP who assured me it would be nothing to worry about, i was 33 years old, a non smoker and fairly fit......and the chances of cancer were slim. How wrong could he be 4 weeks later after a scan, 2 biopsys and then a partial mastectomy i was told i had a clear cut cancer of the breast. I was terrified to say the least but although the cancer was a grade3 it was in its early stages so the journey began!
At first i was gripped by fear, as a mother of 4 i had to beat this disease so in October 2000 i had an operation to remove all the lymph glands from my armpit and began 6 months chemotherapy and 27 radiotherapy sessions......not very pleasant but i needed to take as life insurance policy for myself. I spent weeks on end being sick, losing hair and feeling ill, i was told i wouldnt have any more kids and my body would probably age 5 years.
Finally the treatment stopped and i have been fine. In early 2003 i asked my cancer team about the posssiblity of having another baby and the said although they werent banning the idea it probably wouldnt happen...... How wrong they were! In December 2003 i gave birth to a healthy baby boy Spencer, now 6. Proof there is life after breast cancer!
airdie, United Kingdom