Life was just going great. We had two foster kids and they fitted into our family baby girl from birth and a wee boy 4yrs old plus we had took my hubbies great nephew 8yr old jack who was getting put into foster care we took him in. But in April 2013 our life's changed dramatically. I was diagnosed with grade three invasive ductal carincinoma. Week later went in hospital for WLB and SNB. Result no clear margin and 3 lymph nodes affected so this meant I needed to start chemotheraphy straight away. I had to say goodbye to my foster kids this broke our hearts they had been with us for 17mths. Not only had I had this illness but to cope with this grief was very hard. I had 3 fec and 3 tax did leave me pretty ill. I was admitted to hospital on nov 2013 for mastectomy and the rest of my lymph nodes away plus reconstruction lasi dorsi. Woke up in ICU my heart and lungs were failing so they couldn't proceed with lasi dorsi recon and they had to quickly put in expander. Worrying time for my family n friends. 2 wks later I was discharged. Results they found more tumours in breast and lymph nodes so therefore chemo didn't work for me. Had to have more tests to check it wasn't secondary thankfully it wasn't. I then had 25 sessions of radiotheraphy burnt quite badly needed lots of treatment. Have been in and out of hospital with infections several times but hopefully that's finished. Things are starting to get back to normal now and we are busy decorating for a new foster kid coming and get back to normal and do the job I love. I have been told there is a high chance my cancer will come back as chemo never workd but I can't dewel on this. My husband, family and friends have been so supportive throughout. And I also met bunch of brave women called June jewels online in the breast cancer care forum great support and good friends now.

Doreen McKenna
Glasgow, AL