My breast cancer diagnosis came after my three yearly mammogram at the end of April 2022. I received a letter asking me to go back for further tests. I told my husband but not my children as it wasn’t certain there was any problem, and I didn’t want to worry them as two of them were going through GCSE’s and A levels at the time. I wasn’t worried at all as I’d always been fit and relatively healthy – if a bit overweight. I was never ill. At hospital I was told I had some calcifications and that biopsies were required to discover more. Following a couple of biopsies and an ultrasound I was informed that I had two areas of high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ. Initially I was told I’d need surgery and five sessions of radiotherapy.

My first operation took place on the 20th July 2022. I had a breast reduction to the left breast. In hindsight I should have asked for a mastectomy but didn’t feel strong or well informed enough to argue. Results showed I needed further surgery to clear the margins as it hadn’t all been taken out the first time. My second surgery took place in September 2022. My diagnosis had now changed to G3 Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Ki-67 60% – and it was HER 2 positive although hormone negative. Due to the severity of the cancer and how quickly it had spread I was told I would need 6 cycles of chemotherapy and 10 rounds of radiotherapy followed by 18 injections of Herceptin every three weeks.

This news hit me very hard and my family were left wondering what on earth had happened, how had it spread so fast? Chemotherapy was a scary thought. I read up as much as I could on the drugs I would be having, and their side effects and I joined a local breast cancer group on Facebook for a bit of moral support.

My first chemo was on 22nd November 2022. I was very tired afterwards and sick for a couple of days before the effects started to wear off, just in time for the next cycle three weeks later. I had lost most of my hair by Christmas and decided to shave the remainder off. Before chemo I had long blonde hair halfway down my back. I missed it – and still do.

After three cycles of the first two drugs, I changed over to Docetaxel and Herceptin. The docetaxel made me quite ill. I’d been given plenty of pain relief to take but it didn’t help much. I was dosed up with steroids and had to take daily injections of Filgrastim to help my white blood cell count recover. I lost the sense of taste and developed mouth ulcers and had frequent nose bleeds. All my fingernails and toenails fell off and the skin on my hands and feet peeled off and I also developed trigger finger in the fingers of both hands.

My final chemo cycle took place on the 10th March 2023. A date I will always remember! I was then on the road to radiotherapy which started with a CT scan and tiny tattoos to make sure the beams were aimed correctly. I had five fractions followed by five boosters to the tumour bed. My Herceptin injections are expected to continue into Spring 2024. My mammogram in April 2023 showed no evidence of disease. The treatments have worked – at least for now. I must be vigilant and report anything untoward and I will be closely monitored for the next few years.