Introduce yourself!

My name is Caroline I am 54 years old, I've been married 33 years, have 2 daughters and 3 grandchildren plus my lovely dogs. For the last 18 years I've worked as a Teacher Aide in a primary school a job I love and enjoy.

I was diagnosed with stage 3 grade 3 breast cancer in Oct: 2015. 

I first noticed my right nipple was inverted late Aug: but thought it was one of those changes to do with my age and menopause !! Plus I had an overseas trip booked with my daughter, we were going to Spain, UK and Ireland just the 2 of us. So off we went while on holiday I noticed my nipple was even more inverted so I felt my breast and found a large lump but still thought no its too big I mustn't be feeling it properly !! When I returned to Aus I showed  my husband his reaction was errr your breast doesn't normally look like that it's a lot bigger than the left one and looks red. So off I went to my GP who within 2 hours had me booked in for a mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy and fine needle aspiration. It was a long day. The following afternoon my GP confirmed breast cancer and the journey began.

It was really hard telling my family especially my eldest daughter whose son at age 5 years was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma. His treatment was successful and is now a very active 10 year old. But it was a very emotional year. 

Since diagnoses and chemo time has flown by. But now waiting for surgery which is only 2 weeks away I feel so emotional, sad and keep crying especially when I'm on my own.