"Bubble of Disbelief"
The ‘bubble of disbelief’ is what I ask my supporters to burst and say ‘tricked ya’ when they ask ‘what can I do to help’. Breast cancer diagnosed just after my 60th birthday in 2012. Right mastectomy and just one chemo treatment which caused complications and I nearly lost my life. As a result, I didn’t proceed with the remaining three; my philosophy being that if it nearly killed me, then it has killed anything else floating around!
My goal was to be clear for five years so I could return to donating blood. Being O-ve and CMV-ve which is only 9% of the population, this particular blood group is safe for premmy babies and high-risk/IC patients. However, this was not to be. Early months of 2015, I developed a blur spot in my eyesight. Eye tests did not detect any issues with the sight itself. Consult with my doctor resulted in a CT scan which suggested possible metastatic breast cancer. Further tests at the PA confirmed lesions through the brain, lungs and liver.
On Wednesday 20/5, I am to start ten days of intense radiation of the brain due to the fear of brain dysfunction and seizures. It is then immediately into chemo treatments, which I am informed will be ongoing.
What an adjustment! Not only going through the mental anguish of the diagnosis and its implications and complications, but also to the fact that I’ve gone from being a totally independent, working fulltime individual,to being totally dependent on supporters to pick me up for appointments etc. as doctors denied me driving due to the deteriorated eyesight.
There is no choice as to what cards are dealt in this game of life, one just has to play the hand.
