Am I the only one who hates Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every time I open a newspaper or switch on the tv I am bombarded with it. It’s especially hard this year as I’m trying really hard not to dwell on it too much. I can’t help being a little angry when the latest celebrity effected by breast cancer pops up, telling everyone how wonderful everything is and how brave they are. Of course everything is marvelous for them, I bet they’re not relying on the NHS, they probably weren’t sent home by their gp with antibiotics, they didn’t have to convince everyone something wasn’t right only to have a two week wait for a biopsy, a week to get the results and another two weeks to get an appointment with an oncologists and then a further three weeks before treatment could start. I bet they’ll have all the ct scans and bone scans they need in the future and won’t have to wait seven years for the symptoms of secondaries to appear only to be told sorry it’s too late now.
I’m not opposed to breast cancer awereness and I’m happy for anyone who has come out of it the other end unscathed, I just wish it was handled differently. Awareness should be about imparting information on prevention and “heart warming” stories can be part of that, giving hope to those at the beginning of their journey. but sometimes it only serves to emphasise the fact that not all of us have been among the lucky ones.
I wouldn’t say I hate Breast Cancer Awareness month but this year has been a difficult one to come to terms with as it is the 1st anniversary since my diagnosis. In previous years I had always brought something pink and any spare change went into collection bins because I wanted to support all those affected…and then I become a victim in the month when breast cancer care is making us all more aware! I have this forum and BCC to thank for going to GP and yes whilst there was all the tests and waiting for results(which I must say is the most difficult part), a year on I am most grateful to it. Once I was given my treatment plan, (lumpectomy & SNB, additional safety margin clearance, chemo (FEC) x5 (couldnt do 6 veins packed up and could not get PICC line in), radiotherapy x23 sessions and Tamoxifen for 5 years.
For me October is always going to be difficult month - a cancer diagnosis is not something I think any of us ever really get over but we learn to live with it over time. I’m not a frequent forum ‘poster’ but throughout this October I was constantly checking in, I guess for reasurrance and support. And no doubt will do next October and the next…
Good luck with all that’s ahead for you and don’t feel bad about hating October for the moment, its a pretty traumatic time for you right now but once you know what your treatment plan is things will settle down a bit. Look after yourself and take it one day at a time:)