The Fox's Lady

I found a lump in the right breast over 20 years ago. Felt like a hard pea sized lump.... it was the time when there were many commercials on TV about checking yourself .... I was taking a shower just after seeing the add. I had a lumpectomy and it turned out to be nothing. I was 19.

Last year mum asked me about my cholesterol.... and given her's was a little high suggested I get tested....so off I go to the local GP, whilst I was there I said that I should probably have a Pap smear and mamogram given it had been a while since the last one.

2 weeks later, I went for the mamogram, quickly followed up with an altrasound in which I was told to go back to my doctor first thing in the morning....I figured something was very wrong.

I had 2 lumps in the left breast, they were certain it was cancer. Straight to the surgeon, followed by biopsy which confirmed grade 3 aggressive. In fact the surgeon confirmed that both were cancer, in fact over 45% of my breast was covered with cancer cells.... you can tell as they show up as little white dots. Within a week I was in hospital having a mastectomy, the results showed the right clearence for one tumour but the other was not so, four weeks later started chemo.

Both the surgeon and the oncologist asked me what made me go out and get tested..... I told them the cholestrol story and they said "you are very lucky, another 3 months and it would have been too late".  So ladies, tell your friends not to wait until they are 50 to get regular tests, I would have been dead if I didnt get checked earlier.

By the way- I could'nt feel a thing and neither could my GP -I was 43.

I am now 4 months post chemo and have another 3-4 months before getting tested again..... its a waiting game now but I am positive all will go well.

Thanks Mum......