4 years.
Four years ago, the 12th of May was Mother's Day. The previous week had been probably the most challenging of my life but was nothing to what I would go through in the coming months.
On the previous Monday I had been called in to see my GP (ahead of my scheduled appointment for later that week) to be told that my mammogram and ultrasound showed something suspicious of malignancy. I drove home and shortly afterwards received a phone call from the breast surgeon's receptionist giving me an appointment for 7.30am that Wednesday.
The breast surgeon did some biopsies but told us (my husband was with me) that she was certain this was cancer. The biopsy would give her more information about what type etc. There were different types? We had a lot to learn!
So, that Mother's Day was spent in a weird suspended state. I felt completely disconnected from the normal world around me.
On the following Monday (the 13th!), my breast surgeon rang to confirm that the early results from the biopsy showed hormone positive breast cancer. I was given a choice of the next afternoon or the Thursday morning for my mastectomy surgery. Things were moving fast and on one hand this was reassuring, but I needed to prepare myself, so Thursday it was.
Well that was the beginning and step by step, and with a lot of support and assistance from people on this network (my surgeon gave me the BCNA information book on early breast cancer at that first appointment!) I got through surgery, chemo and radiation. By Christmas I was on Tamoxifen and learning that in many ways my biggest challenge still lay ahead of me. I was only 47 but felt about 87 most days!
I was exhausted, scared and all my confidence was gone. I had to find a way forward, a way to live well, side effects and all. Step by step and with lots of support I found my way to solid ground again. For me it was not about trying to return to my 'normal' or old life. I wanted to make changes and live as well as I could.
It has been a slow process and one that is still evolving as life comes up with new challenges too. I started with things that were easier to change and found that each step made the next one more reachable. Now, 4 years later, I am happy with what I have achieved and motivated to keep going.
My next challenge is downsizing. Leaving our lovely (but too big, too much maintenance etc) family home and making a new, simpler life. My girls are 24 and 22 now, and living more independent lives.
There is something I try to remember whenever life gets challenging:
Thank-you to all of you who have helped to make the last 4 years as good as they could be. xxx
On the previous Monday I had been called in to see my GP (ahead of my scheduled appointment for later that week) to be told that my mammogram and ultrasound showed something suspicious of malignancy. I drove home and shortly afterwards received a phone call from the breast surgeon's receptionist giving me an appointment for 7.30am that Wednesday.
The breast surgeon did some biopsies but told us (my husband was with me) that she was certain this was cancer. The biopsy would give her more information about what type etc. There were different types? We had a lot to learn!
So, that Mother's Day was spent in a weird suspended state. I felt completely disconnected from the normal world around me.
On the following Monday (the 13th!), my breast surgeon rang to confirm that the early results from the biopsy showed hormone positive breast cancer. I was given a choice of the next afternoon or the Thursday morning for my mastectomy surgery. Things were moving fast and on one hand this was reassuring, but I needed to prepare myself, so Thursday it was.
Well that was the beginning and step by step, and with a lot of support and assistance from people on this network (my surgeon gave me the BCNA information book on early breast cancer at that first appointment!) I got through surgery, chemo and radiation. By Christmas I was on Tamoxifen and learning that in many ways my biggest challenge still lay ahead of me. I was only 47 but felt about 87 most days!
I was exhausted, scared and all my confidence was gone. I had to find a way forward, a way to live well, side effects and all. Step by step and with lots of support I found my way to solid ground again. For me it was not about trying to return to my 'normal' or old life. I wanted to make changes and live as well as I could.
It has been a slow process and one that is still evolving as life comes up with new challenges too. I started with things that were easier to change and found that each step made the next one more reachable. Now, 4 years later, I am happy with what I have achieved and motivated to keep going.
My next challenge is downsizing. Leaving our lovely (but too big, too much maintenance etc) family home and making a new, simpler life. My girls are 24 and 22 now, and living more independent lives.
There is something I try to remember whenever life gets challenging:
Thank-you to all of you who have helped to make the last 4 years as good as they could be. xxx
