Nearly 12 months on I feel an apology is in order to my sisters on this site...so it did get better

Oh Sam - you made me teary!  I am so happy for you that acceptance has become part of your healing.  You know we are all here helping you through the venting and anger and hopefully the happy times. 
Ours is not to judge but to envelop in that cyber space the best we can.  Yes it is a so and so that we have the diagnosis BC however we're still here to tell the tale, how good is that!
Go girl! 
Take care and sending you a virtual hug xx