On the 27th of November 2024 l was diagnosed with breast cancer, two in my left breast and one lymph node. The two tumours in my breast were small and early, which meant l could have a lumpectomy and would only need radiotherapy. It feels quite strange writing this now, as although it never leaves you, it seems so long ago you sometimes wonder if it really happened.
I’d set myself up for a speedy recovery, as it was early, the tumours were small and l was really fit – the fittest and healthiest l’d been in several years. My recovery took a lot longer than l’d anticipated though. Surgery took place on the 10th of January 2025 and within a week l’d developed two unpleasant conditions – cording and a seroma. The seroma (it’s like a bag of fluid, which collects in the space where surgery took place) caused a lot of discomfort and delayed my radiotherapy. It did go eventually, but has caused scar tissue formation and firmness to the breast. It’s improved by massage, but will always be there to some extent.
Then in early March my boob turned a very bright pink …. on a Sunday morning, of course, which meant a trip to A&E. I was then admitted with a condition called cellulitis and was put on IV antibiotics.
Slowly, as the year went on things did improve, although the fatigue was something else. I didn’t expect to feel so tired all the time. I’d signed up to do a walk on Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) for Cancer Research UK in July, but sadly that didn’t happen, I now realise how overly ambitious l was in thinking l’d be back to normal in a few months. To be honest, l was very lucky with the cancer in my breast, but the surgery and recovery for the lymph node involvement was debilitating. They took 18 lymph nodes in total. Only one had cancer cells in it, but it does always give you that sinking feeling of has it gone anywhere else? I’m now on letrozole for the next five years, which comes with its own set of ‘fun’ (not fun!) side effects, but it reduces the chance of recurrence, so l’ll stick with it,
I managed to start my Bounce class again in July – although l now only go once a week instead of the three classes l used to do. I’m hoping to go twice a week this year, but will see how things go week by week.
Other positives are l have joined a choir – which l LOVE; l now go to yoga which is amazingly calming and grounding; l’m back volunteering at a lunch club for the elderly on Wednesdays; l meet up regularly with three other volunteers at the lunch club and we go out for coffee, or the theatre; and l meet up monthly for coffee with my Macmillan ‘Hope’ group and Breast Friends group for lunch, or coffee.
Would l have done these things if l hadn’t oot breast cancer? ……. Probably not. So although 2025 could be the year to forget, as cancer is a terrifying, life changing event, for many, many reasons it is the year to remember. I am still here, l am feeling (nearly) like my old self again and l’ve met so many lovely people that l wouldn’t otherwise have met.
I guess what l’m trying to say is be kind to yourself and those around you. Whilst you are the one who has had cancer it affects all those around you who love you and want to care for you. There may be set backs along the way and you may have to manage your expectations and to pace yourself. Yes, sometimes there may be disappointments when you desperately want life to be exactly as it was before, but live in the now and try to make the most of every day. It’s taken getting breast cancer to make me realise this, being the world’s biggest worrier, but some things are out of our control and worrying about them won’t change things.
This time last year l’d just been taken down to surgery for my lumpectomy. In 4 hours time l will have been cancer free for a whole year. I’m feeling really emotional today, but l’m also reflecting on where l am now. lt was a longer journey, to feeling more like myself again, than l was expecting, but l’m getting there now.
So wherever you are in your treatment journey, be it newly diagnosed, waiting for results, having surgery, getting through radiotherapy, or chemotherapy – stay as strong and positive as you can.
