Cancer

I waa diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023.

To be honest, I'd found a lump a year earlier, and went for mammograms etc: ang it was determined to be a cyst (spherical, soft)

I had my scheduled mammogram the following January.. mentioned the pre-existing lump before the procedure, and happily underwent the boobie-squish. After a moment, the radiographer(?) Looked at me concerned, and I just knew. Lump (who I named Roger the dodgy lodger) had grown, and changed shape.

About 15 minutes later I was in another room, carefully numbed, while nurses took biopsies, before being settled into a room to chat with an Oncologist, and oncology nurse, who explained that it was more than likely nothing: probably the cyst had become infected, but they wanted to be certain; and that I'd be called in a couole of days when the biopsy results came in.

Two days later, I was back in that same room, and before either of them could say anything, I asked "its cancer, isn't it?" They confirmed it, and expressed that they were sorry to give me bad news: I think it took them by surprise, when I smiled and half shrugged "OK. So - what do we do about it then?"

It's funny. I am the most babyish, mardy miserable child if I get a headcold... but that? I had no anxiety, no concern, and no doubts: just a determination to get on with fixing it. We talked about treatment options: surgery was a definite (bye bye nipple...) but until they checked the lymph nodes and ran other tests, they weren't sure what the steps after that would be

I had my surgery the day after valentine's day. Wike up wearing a particularly snazzy bra, courtesy of the NHS, with an absolute gem of a nurse adking if I'd like a cup of tea...

If I hadn't been such a hermit, living alone with no-one nearby to stay with me, I'd have been able to go home later that day. Instead, I spent a night on a small (4 bed) ward, Enjoyed a light lunch, then headed home. I was contacted by someone from the Macmillan Nurses to check in, and offer dome support should I need it. The MacMillan service is an absolute national treasure, and I coukd not be any more grateful for them.

Now, I'm taking a hormone suppressing medication, since the cancer I had feeds on oestrogen. I have a beautifully neat scar (two actually, since they had to remove a lymph node). I'm having yearly mammograms, but I'm actually doing really well. I had, and still have, more issues with my fibromyalgia than I did with Roger.

If, by 2028 there is no recurrence, I'll be discharged from oncology monitoring, and declared to be in remission/cancer free.Until then, I'm going to concentrate on fixing some of my other health issues, and getting myself a hit more fit than I currently am

I consider myself to be extremely fortunate: firstly that Roger was founded so early: and also that I had such a fantastic team of people involved in my care, including an amazing surgeon, and nursing team.

now im have to wait for the hospital to call or warie to me because I went to the opticians yesterday