Hi
I just wanted to start a thread with some positive news. I was diagnosed last March 15th and as of last week all my treatment has been completed (other than tamoxifen).
It has been the most awful time in my life, 18 months ago my marriage ended very suddenly, my dad was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and my step dad had a major stroke. My cancer diagnosis almost felled me but here I am almost a year later feeling happy.
My treatment included chemo (4 EC and 4 Taxotere) followed by a therapeutic mammoplasty in November and 23 sessions of radiotherapy in January. In general I coped OK with the chemo, was able to work 2 weeks in 3 and side affects were manageable. My surgery went well and my new boob is pretty amazing. Radiotherapy made me sore but just like sun burn really.
Last Monday I had my final surgery to reduce my other breast and I now have 2 perky c cups rather than the saggy G cups I used to have :) I lost my nipple on the bad side due to the location of the cancer but he managed to save the other one and so far it looks great.
I have just spent a fortune on new clothes and amazingly they are not all black. Most importantly I feel happy for the first time in ages. I have been very over weight for years but I am now exercising and have lost loads of weight and with my new boobs look completely different.
I am still sad about my marriage but I am not crying every day which is huge progress. I think I may well end up on my own for the rest of my life - I am 53 but have so much baggage (lost my leg at 29, widowed at 33, separated at 51 and now breast cancer). I am OK about the being alone thing at the moment so have just decided to keep on swimming as Dory in Finding Nemo suggests.
As you can see I am almost fizzing with joy that this has come to an end. I wanted people to see that sometimes it is OK and that you can have the treatment and come out almost unscathed.
Thank you for reading my ramblings!
and I just want to say how pleased I am that your in a happy place, you deserve to be, and long may it last. All the best Xxx