Elizabeth’s Story

I am 45 years old, married for 24 years with two children, aged 18 and 14. This is my story. My best friend had a lump, and she was told she had breast cancer. She told me to check my breasts. I found a lump under my left arm. I went to the doctor’s that morning. My doctor told me to get an x-ray and mammogram urgently that day. The next day was my birthday. I was told I had breast cancer. My best friend and I were 4 weeks apart.

That night I saw my surgeon. He told me not only did I have a lump under my arm but also had a little pea sized one on my left breast. It was all so quick. I had a biopsy. On August 2nd I had an operation that removed all my lymph nodes and a little of my left breast. They told me I had Stage 2. I had to rest for 3 weeks before starting 4 cycles of chemotherapy in October 2016.

One week into chemo and I had already lost my hair. During the second cycle of chemotherapy I got a bad infection. I stayed in hospital for 2 weeks. They thought I had a clot in my lungs. So I had many blood tests, X-rays and scans. Three doctors came and sat next to me and told me some very bad news. The cancer had gone to my sternum and front bone of my head. I had stage 4.

My world was put upside down, my kids, mum and husband mean the world to me. I had some time to think, I had to calm myself down. Two of my friends got me to see a Professor Avni Sali in November (Integrative Medicine). I see him every two months. He built my immune system and I take Swisse tablets: Cinnamon, Curcumin, Multi Vitamin Green Tea, Vitamins D, C and K1 and Probiotics. He believes you should think positive, don’t stress and exercise.

In November I joined this amazing support group and it has really helped me in so many ways.

I saw my oncology team and they said to stop chemo. I had fluid in my breast and had to get it drained every 2 days for 4 weeks. I’m taking Tamoxifen every day. I have injections once a month, Denosumab for bones and Zoladex to stop my oestrogen.

At the end of December I started radiotherapy for 6 weeks Monday to Friday every day. I had one week to go and my skin was really burnt. I ended up in hospital with 3rd degree burns. Radiotherapy had to stop until my skin improved. In 5 days my skin improved and I finished Radiotherapy. I had a CT and bone scan in February 2017. My treatment has worked and my bones are healing. On the 21st March I had my ovaries removed, all clear. Every 3 months I have to have a CT scan. My family and friends have given me so much support and they are happy to see the results. These are my 3 words that have helped me through this journey and I want to share them with you.

I’M BLESSED

I’M STRONG

I’M HEALTHY