At 33, I had just become a single mother to three beautiful children, 5, 3 and 7 months. Life with their father had been difficult but now we were about to start a new chapter in our lives.
While breastfeeding, my boobs had been lumpy but one lump kept getting bigger and wouldn't go away like the rest. December 19th 2013 I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.
That was a really crappy Christmas! The not having answers to the millions of questions running through my head was terrible.
Within a week I was in Sydney, as a patient of Westmead Breast Cancer Institute. I was told I had stage 2B Her2+ Breast Cancer.
February 6th I had my right breast removed and headed home 4 days later. A post op infection meant I needed a second operation and another week in hospital.
6 rounds of chemo started in April and I think I had EVERY side effect there was, but I got through it on the tough days with the love and support of my mum, sisters and kids.
Radiation was much easier but I was burnt badly and that wasn't much fun either.
I still have another 5 months of 3 weekly IV treatment but I'm coming out the other side, feeling much better and the kids and I are nearly ready to move out of my mother's house and back into our own place.
NOW we are ready to start the next chapter of our lives!
NSW, Australia
