Jeanette’s Story
... the oncologist said my prognosis was from 6 months to 10 years. Well, it has been a lot longer than that ..."
I was born in 1936 – the youngest of 6 children, and have been married for 60 years. We have two daughters and four grandchildren.
I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. I was very sick with bronchitis and my GP sent me for an X-ray to rule out pneumonia. I did not have pneumonia but there was a shadow. A subsequent scan showed a small lump in my right breast and a swollen thyroid. I was told that I needed an urgent operation because eventually the thyroid would choke me. I had the breast surgery first, but after this lumpectomy I was advised that more tissue needed to be taken and 3 weeks later I had a mastectomy. My cancer was oestrogen receptor positive. I bounced back, and felt that I was home free – it was only a small lump, and after all it was better to lose a breast than lose my life! I had my thyroid operation 3months later, in January 1998, and the surgeon removed only half of the thyroid, avoiding the need for me to take a lifetime of tablets.
In December 1998, following persistent shoulder pain and minimal follow up, results showed that I had a large tumour in my spine and at the base of my skull. I continued to have ongoing treatment – originally radiotherapy followed by hormone tablets including tamoxifen, then arimidex. Some years later it was questioned whether the cancer in my spine was actually due to secondaries from my breast cancer. In 2012 I developed cancer in my other breast. It is now probable that each of these was a primary cancer.
While diagnosis is a shock to women, it is very hard on family members who find it difficult to handle their personal and emotional feelings when confronted with a situation they are totally unprepared for. When I was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer my daughter asked the oncologist what my prognosis was and she said “from 6 months to 10 years”. My daughter said ”Think 10 years, mum”. Well, it has been a lot longer than that, and in that time I have been hang-gliding, hot air ballooning, and on many overseas trips. I don’t intend to sit around thinking about cancer, as “life’s for living”.
Since then my husband and I have had many experiences of cancer and other illnesses, but we have tried to have a healthy balanced diet, and learn what we can about understanding cancer. I am currently the carer for my husband who is very unwell, but we are managing the difficulties life presents to us.
My experience of belonging to the Thursday Girls has made me realise how important it is for women with advanced breast cancer to have access to the right information and support and give them the assertiveness and courage to ask questions of their medical professionals.