DIAGNOSIS OF SECONDARIES Anyway, I returned to work and on my anniversary in 2002, had the mammogram and once again found cancer in the other breast. As I was experiencing pain in my right hip I also had a bone scan. One minute before accepting that I was going to have another mastectomy, the doctor advised me the cancer has spread throughout my body. He then opted to perform a lumpectomy. This was followed up by radiation to the hip area and then CMF chemotherapy. As I was pre-menopausal I went through the hot flushes, etc. but my hair didn’t fall out. All went well from when my chemo ended in Jan 2003 until May 2003 when my next mammogram anniversary and once again 2 very small areas of cancer were detected. My oncologist was more concerned about the bone scan results. But by the next month, my back felt sore and once again another bone scan showed extensive tumours in my hips, ribs, clavicle, skull and spine. I had radiation on my spine mainly in the T4 area.

In Nov 2003 after several chemos the oncologist added Herceptin to my treatment (which includes Bonefos) and I go in every week to receive it. I had a porta-cath installed and that has made it less stressful.

ABOUT ME The good news was that I resigned from work, (a clerk for the electricity industry.) I felt I should make looking after myself top priority and that doing an unfulfilling job for 8 hours a day was crazy. I enjoy working with glass e.g. mosaics, sun catchers and windows. My hobbies include reading, walking, golf and movies. My favourite colour is green. Overall I’ve learnt an awful lot about cancer and about life in the past 4 years. I’ve changed my lifestyle and rid my house of chemicals. It still feels like I have termites in my body and that my body structure is weakened and I dread what I will be like when I get older, but hopefully I will be given that chance to find out.

ABOUT MY FAMILY I have one recalcitrant husband called Jim. I only got married at 40 and was trying to have kids when cancer stopped that plan.

BEGINNING OF MY JOURNEY
I found a lump under my arm and had the Psychiatric Registrar have a look at it and he said he didn’t think it was anything. Maybe an infected lymph node from a mild infection I may have. About 3 weeks later I realised that around 2/3 of my right breast was hard. I didn’t do anything about it initially. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself. When I did mention it, I had an ultrasound, mammogram and biopsy the next day. I knew then it was not good after asking the nurse how it looked. Around a week later on I had a radical (R) mastectomy with the removal of 21 nodes all involved. This really knocked me. My husband came up from Mackay after hearing the results. All the crew at KRU were fantastic and in hindsight I was lucky I was up there because it gave me access to a tremendous oncology service at Townsville Hospital. Also psychiatric and psychological help 24 hours a day.

SECONDARY DIAGNOSIS Following this came chemo, then another course of different chemo and radium to my back for the terrific pain I had in my back. A bone scan had shown extensive lesions (tumours) throughout my skeleton and I was told I have limited time to live.

ABOUT ME I was in Kirwan Rehabilitation Unit in Townsville. This was for treatment of severe treatment resistant depression, which I had had for the past 11 years. They were terrific there and helped me immensely.

ABOUT MY FAMILY My husband’s name is Trevor.