My Journey
November 2010 I felt a lump in my breast, I was sure it was nothing but over a few weeks it got painful to the point I knew I had to get it checked. My doc sent me for a mammogram and ultrasound and when the radiologist walked in the room I knew it was bad. After referrals and biopsies I was in hospital 2 days before Christmas having a left mastectomy. It broke my heart on Christmas day listening over the phone from in hospital as my 4 year old and 11 year old were discovering Santa had been, however my amazing husband packed up all the presents and brought in 2 garbage bags full of gifts that Santa had left into the hospital by 9am so my boys could open them with me there. The rest of my amazing family (there is about 40 of them, brothers sisters nieces nephews) all changed their christmas plans so that they organised Christmas for the following day at my place as I could go home the following day drains and all. After the surgery I felt great knowing the cancer was out of my body, my specialist rang and told me it was grade 2a there was 3 lumps but 0/15 nodes all clear. All other scans showed the rest of my body was clear too. I started 6 rounds of chemo in January 2011 and was surprised at how upset I did get when I lost my hair. When it started falling out I shaved both my sons hair (which I normally do) but then I gave them the clippers and let them both do mine, my youngest thought it was fantastic. After chemo in may 2011 I was put on tamoxifen which I tolerated well but I would always have aches and pains which everyone would say your over40 now they come with age, or that I had a good cancer so stop worrying they got it early. But I always had a terrible gut feeling, anyway I got back on with my life I was in my 3rd year of studying bachelor of nursing at uni so I completed my degree which I am so proud of. At the start of this year a got accepted in to a grad program at one of the hospitals, I completed 6 months in theatres and was just starting my next rotation on the wards but my back was always hurting. My gp sent me for a ct San knowing my history which came back clear BUT they found suspicious lesions in my right lung. So here I go again after weeks of appointments and biopsies it is confirmed in the begining of August 2013 I am now stage 4 with lung mets. At times I just crumble the thought of not seeing my boys grow up or my husband having a life without me breaks my heart. The oncologist has changed my treatments so I hope my prayers are heard that these medicines work and a cure is found for all who are going through or yet to go through this terrible disease.
