Breast Cancer, life love and all that's in between

How much life can one person handle?

Adversity is my middle name, how many days I have woken up, happy ready to face the day ahead, not knowing that something that day will forever alter the course of my life. It’s as though life waits until your happy, serene at peace with yourself and the world, then boom – there it is. That certain something the rocks you to your very core.

My latest challenge came in the form of a funny hard lump I noticed in my breast, like a small stone which hurt when I pushed it, didn’t think too much of it but still had it checked out and was referred to breast screen, even though I am only 46. Now my breasts are rather voluptuous, a DD cup that have breast fed 2 babies for 2 years so they are on the worst side of gravity and have a mind of their own. Believe me, it was a miracle that they were x-rayed in the mammogram machine as every time the radiologist placed them into position, they slide off. Thankfully her perseverance paid off, and after being swallowed by the cold machine I went home.

Four weeks later a note arrived calling me back for further mammograms to which I went. The wonderful radiologist tried 2 different machines, marked my boobs with texta to try to x-ray the lump, 8 x-rays later we had one that worked. If you have never had a mammogram, don’t worry as one day you will have the pleasure, it’s a bit like the transformers as you basically get closer to this you become one with the machine.!

More tests were to follow, ultrasound picked up the tumour much clearer and it was measured. Then 3 biopsy’s were required and then it was injected with carbon. The breast screen team are very thorough, caring and extremely kind. When they sent the resident counsellor in, I knew all was not well.
I returned there the following day to be welcomed by a nurse, a counsellor and a surgeon, the news was came – cancer. I was now one of 3000 women per year who are diagnosed with breast cancer. It’s that word you dread hearing, and believe hope that it will never enter into your world, but here I was with this hanging over my head.

Next step surgery, bills, hospital stays…..