Breast Cancer? - Oh Shit!
01
The Lump That Changed Everything
One quiet Sunday, my husband found a lump in my breast.
The tests came fast -mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy - and so did the fear.
Then the call: it’s breast cancer. Just before Christmas.
04
Decisions, Data and The Hair Thing
My Oncotype score made the chemo decision for me.
Six cycles, two drugs, countless side effects ahead.
I couldn’t choose the diagnosis - but I could choose what to do with my hair.
07
New Drugs, New Battles
A brutal reaction to Docetaxel led to hospital and a new drug - Paclitaxel.
I hit my lowest point emotionally, then landed back in A&E with pneumonia.
Delays, setbacks, but I kept going - because stopping wasn’t an option.
10
Radiotherapy - The Final Stretch
Radiotherapy was supposed to be the easy part - but it challenged me in ways I didn’t expect.
From breath holds to breakdowns, fidget toys to fierce hugs, each session carried its own weight.
On October 5th, I rang in a new title: Breast Cancer Survivor.
02
The Choice & Surgery
Back to hospital, and this time, I had options.
Telling the kids made it real - and raw.
Surgery came fast, but the emotional weight hit harder.
05
Chemo Begins
We visited the chemo ward to learn what lay ahead.
Cycle one began with four failed attempts to find a vein and a red liquid I’ll never forget.
I logged every temperature, every ache, and braced for the hair to fall.
08
Chemo Number 5 ...Again? I've Lost Count
Two severe reactions to Paclitaxel almost ended chemo early.
Then came Abraxane: a new plan, a new hope - and no reaction.
Tired, sick, but still in the fight.
11
When Treatment Is Over
Finishing treatment didn’t bring instant relief - it opened the floodgates.
I grieved the body, the identity, and the life cancer had altered, while learning to embrace the moments I once took for granted.
A year on, with clear scans and deeper gratitude, I began the hardest part: living again.
03
Recovery, Reality & Results
I came home sore, swollen, and stitched up - but still me.
Infection delayed the next steps, and emotions ran high.
Then the words: You’re cancer-free. And everything changed.
06
Halfway, But Not Half Easy
Chemo two hit harder - hair gone, veins failed, a port fitted.
I was halfway, but pride gave way to exhaustion and tears.
Still standing, still fighting, even when it felt too much.
09
The Last Chemo & The Bell
From joyful moments with friends to stubborn pain, I pushed through chemo 9 and 10.
The final treatment came - no reaction, no delay - and I rang that bell for me, and for my mum.
Six months on: regrowth, resilience, and the quiet power of survival.
12
Moving Forward
Two years on, the physical and emotional scars remain - but so does strength.
I’ve adapted to a new reality, found joy in unexpected places, and kept reminding others (and myself) to check, feel, live.