Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page . 

                OUR BIG PINK DAY IS ON 27TH OCTOBER 2015

1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer in their life time!

I discovered a lump in my left breast whilst showering one morning at the end of April 2011.  I had always been very vigilant and the nurse at my local surgery had advised me in previous years how to check for lumps and suggested the most effective and easiest way to do this was during a shower with plenty of soap and hands only – no sponges.

I will never forget that feeling – I was frightened and worried.  I did not delay – I went to see my GP the following day and he referred me for a mammogram and scan.  This was acted upon within the week, with biopsies taken at the same time.

The following week I sat in front of the consultant and he delivered the bad news. The lump was cancer, it had spread to the lymph nodes and there was precancerous activity in the right breast.  I opted for a bilateral mastectomy with lymph node clearance under the left armpit followed by 6 cycles of chemotherapy and a year of Herceptin.  He called the treatment “belt & braces” to make sure there was nothing lurking. 

The whole journey took around 18 months out of my life with low times and good times. The support I received from family, friends and work colleagues helped me to get where I am today.  I am not naïve enough to say I am cured, I have regular check ups and take an anti-cancer drug that has side effects that I can deal with. But I am here and the whole experience teaches you to live life and enjoy every moment to the full.

My advice to anyone that is worried or concerned about any changes in their breast is “don’t delay – get any lump or change checked out immediately”.  The research and new drugs to treat breast cancer are advancing monthly…..but it really does help to catch it early.