Thread
On the 21-04-2008,12 yrs ago, I received the devastating news that I had Cancer. I found a lump on the 20th, went to the doctor on the 21st, was sent straight to the hospital on the same day, had a mammogram and a biopsy, heard from the surgeon that he suspected the worst.

I was living in Holland at the time, I was sent home that day knowing that it wasn't good news, I had to go home & tell my children & partner that it was almost certain that I would be diagnosed with Cancer within the following 3 days when the biopsy results would be revealed.

3 days later the news came, it was Cancer and it was very aggressive, Stage 3 Breast Cancer. Within 5 days I was operated on to remove the Tumour, I was to hear within a week that I needed a 2nd operation to remove all Lymph nodes on the left hand side as they were infected.

So, a 2nd operation it was scheduled within a day of hearing the news. I remember waking from this operation, confused, in awful pain and feeling sick. My world was about to get much worse!, within 12 hours I was in so much pain, there was something very wrong.

The nurse tried to peel back the dressings, I began to scream it was so painful, eventually they removed the dressing to find a hole, 12cm long, 6cm wide and 6cm deep, if I lifted my arm, you could see my rib cage. I had contracted the flesh eating MRSA bug in the wound.

For two long weeks in a special isolation room they were doing their best to save my life, no anti-biotic worked, blood was taken from my feet, toes, fingers, wherever they could take blood from, it was hell & they worked so hard.
All I could think about was my two children.

It would take me 6 months to fight the MRSA bug, not forgetting I was fighting Stage 3 Cancer at the same time. Whilst I was fighting the MRSA bug I had to begin 8 rounds of chemo, once every 3 weeks, my body was so weak but I fought to stay alive for my children!.

Nothing was going to take me from my children or partner!, at the time my children were 15 and 12.
After finishing 8 rounds of chemo, I was to begin 35 rounds of Radiation. Simultaneously I would have my ovaries removed and 2 other operations.

Later I was to find out I needed 17 more rounds of chemo & anti-hormone treatment, again every 3 weeks, my life was well and truly on hold, I gave everything to fighting my Cancer. Eventually it would take nearly 3 years of my life & the lives of my children & partner to beat it

Today is an emotional day for me, it is a reminder of what happened to me at the age of 36. It is a reminder of how hard not only I, but my family fought for me to stay alive. It is a reminder to never give up, to follow your dreams & to fight tooth & nail for LIFE.
NEVER GIVE UP

I have good news to add to this thread, today I was excepted onto two teaching courses, my journey begins to become a teacher in Further Education, I am hoping to motivate and inspire the younger generation into fulfilling their potential & achieving their goals!
YEYYYY