Diagnosis

A week ago I was told the shocking news I have breast cancer.  I have just turned 36, have no history of breast cancer in my family, breastfed both my children for over a year........I tick all the boxes for low risk.  If you are a woman, before you read anymore, go and check your breasts, and keep checking regularly for any changes.  It is rare but it DOES happen in younger women, for no rhyme or reason.

My purpose for writing this blog is to keep my lovely family and friends up to date with what is happening without the need for me to relate the same info over and over again individually.  I am truly  blessed to have amazing people in my life...unfortunately many of them live at great distance and, indeed, across the world, so an online blog seemed the most appropriate communication tool.  Obviously it is possible others who don't know me personally may be reading this.  I hope that others going through the same battle with breast cancer may, in the future, find any info I post here useful, I have gained so much already from reading about others journeys.

So, here we begin........I have had a stressful (to say the least!) week waiting for my biopsy results which Adrian (hubby) and I went to hear yesterday.  Be warned now - those that know me well will not be surprised - this WILL get technical because I have a love for science and medicine and an overwhelming need to know exactly how things work...... Cancer, and killing it, is going to be no different!  If you are a 'no details required' type of person then please feel free to drift off while I waffle on and just watch out for the summary at the beginning or end of each post!

My diagnosis is Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, I have a 39mm tumour (relatively large as these things go I think, but could be worse) in my left breast.  The plan so far is chemo, followed 
by surgery (of unknown severity at this point) followed by radiotherapy, probably.  I find comfort in the fact that this is a 'bog standard' kind of breast cancer (common, you might say, but I'd rather not be!). Again, those that know me well know I never like to stand out from the crowd too much ( that might be harder when I have no hair!).  But, the fact that it is a frequently seen Breast Cancer (from now on referred to as BC to save me from writers 
cramp) means they have a very standardised approach to treating it and know which chemo drugs are likely to be most effective.

That's about all I know for now.  I should find out about hormone and protein sensitivity at some point but I'll explain that to you another day ;-). For now I just want to say Thank you for all your thoughts and best wishes, the best thing you can do to support me is to treat me as normal not as though I am ill because I am not - I am fit and healthy - I may not be in a few weeks but I am just now.  Anything you can do to make me laugh or smile would be appreciated.......love and laughter is definitely the best medicine (although I will be going down the conventional medical route too as I do believe in Science :-))