SIOBHAN- MY STORY, AHEAD OF OUR IRISH CANCER SOCIETY FUNDRAISER

Hi everyone,

Friday the 13th December (unlucky for some but as it turned out – Lucky for me!) is a day I will not forget for a while. It was the day I had my very first mammogram and the day they told me that they could see something that required further investigation.

I had been experiencing a burning sensation in my left breast on and off for a few months but one night it just kept me awake. I mentioned it in passing to my husband who took it on himself to make an appointment with the GP for me (knowing I would probably bury my head in the sand). Initially I thought he was overreacting but I knew I was not going to get out of it so I kept the appointment. The GP listened and was not overly concerned but recommended that I go for a mammogram to be on the safe side. I had not received my mandatory breast check appointment at this stage either.

I was given an appointment to see a breast surgeon a few weeks later. The waiting around for these results was the most difficult. The morning of my appointment arrived and we sat very nervously in the waiting room. After what seemed like a lifetime- we were called in to the Consultant. He had a big welcome and smile on his face so I immediately thought he was going to say “you’re fine” and send me on my way but that was not the case. He did not sugar coat the diagnosis – he said “Siobhan you have a tumour and it is breast cancer but…..” and it was that “but” that looking back should have calmed me but at the time you can imagine I was devastated.

After the “but” he clarified that the tumour was caught very early and while I would need surgery and treatment he was absolutely confident that I was going to be fine. He answered all of our questions and scheduled me for surgery on 13th February. (the 13th was beginning to be a trend here ).
I had my surgery and everything went well thankfully. I was grateful that they were confident they had removed all the cancer and it was no longer in my body but sitting on a Lab shelf somewhere out of harm’s way!! A few further nail biting weeks were spent waiting for the results of the further tests they were carrying out on the tumour to determine a treatment plan. I have to say I was relieved when they told me only radium was required – even though I would have taken any treatment recommended gladly.

I have now completed my radium and am on hormone therapy now for a few years to help prevent re-occurrence. I am a very lucky girl and as someone jokingly told me I hit the jackpot and scored the Carlsberg of cancers!!

I am sharing my story as it is a very common one but at the time I did not know anyone (in my close circle) who had gone through it. The treatments and outcomes are always improving and progressing. It was a shock but if you ever find yourself in a similar situation – my advice to you is to just take one step at a time – don’t focus too much on the “what ifs”.