My journey started back in 1997 when my mother, Nola White, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 69. My mother found a large lump in her left breast and, after consultations with her GP and specialist, she decided to have a full mastectomy. While Mum was in surgery, they also detected another cancer growing on the breast wall. If Mum hadn’t had the mastectomy they would not have found the second cancer. The grade of cancer that Mum had meant she had to have radiotherapy treatment.
I nursed my mother for two weeks when she came home from hospital. While nursing Mum, I read all the literature she had been given so that I could help her understand her journey and treatments.
After Mum was diagnosed, the BreastScreen Centre at Orange put me onto a yearly check up and, in 2001, I received a recall letter on the 30th November – my 50th birthday. After further mammograms, breast ultrasounds and a fine needle core biopsy on 5th December, the BreastScreen doctor confirmed to me on the Friday 7th that I had early breast cancer in my right breast.
I read the many different brochures and booklets from BreastScreen and my specialist, and with the previous knowledge from nursing my mother, I knew I had many choices. I chose to have a full mastectomy and tram flap reconstruction. This happened in February 2002. I did not have to have either radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
Unfortunately, in March 2004 when I was having my usual six-monthly checks, an area in my left breast was detected as suspicious. After some problems with diagnosis and having to seek a second opinion, which also led to many mammograms, breast ultrasounds and biopsies, in late July I was diagnosed with a grade 1 cancer.
I had to have surgery urgently and, yes, I was still fortunate enough to have choices, because the grade was on the lower scale. I chose to also have a full mastectomy and a latissimus dorsi rotation flap reconstruction and had the surgery in August 2004. Again, because the cancer was still a lower grade and I had the full mastectomy, I did not have to have radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
I did, however, have to go onto medication for five years; I only have 19 months to go. There have been many long days and nights with reading, working through feelings coming to the many decisions one has to make, because each person’s journey is affected by their own lifestyle. That includes work commitments, where one lives, the proximity to doctors, specialists, where the treatment is going to be given, etc.
This is just a small part of my journey, and events and circumstances that influenced my choices.
I lost my mother in August 2006: she had other complications.
I can only say, do your regular breast check and have the free BreastScreen two yearly checks. Early detection gives one a better chance of full recovery and also more personal choices as to treatment.
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