Yes - I am sure there are plenty of us! I had breast cancer diagnosed in January 1996; it was a large tumour and plenty of nodule involvement under the arm (I think it was 26 out of 42 nodes were affected. I had a mass of treatment, starting with a mastectomy, followed by a lot of chemotherapy incuding some associated with a trial (the trial was later abandoned) and then radiotherapy. To my astonishment, and I rather suspect that of the medics involved, I have not had any recurrence. I was of course absolutely terrified, and I think the fear was the worst thing of all. What helped for me was an absolute determination to do all I could to survive; I had several children, down to aged 10, and so much to live for with a significant and very interesting career. So I focused on how to keep the fear at bay, and how to do what I thought would help - building in as much walking as possible, and eating healthily (though we did that anyway, and I did not do anything at all extreme but just made very sure I always ate a lot of vegetables and fruits of various colours), and above all kept my spirts up in the dark times of night by visualising being a miniature carpenter, hammer in hand, checking out all my cells and bashing any cancer cells up and down bones, liver and everwhere else. I am now a proud grandmother of numerous children, happily busy in retirement, and still thrilled to be alive and well, even when it is cold and raining. I decided to be sure to do all I could to enjoy, in whatever little way, whatever life I was able to live, and I still do. I wish the same for you and for all others who receive this alarming diagnosis.
