I was diagnosed with ER+ grade 2 invasive lobular breast cancer, with some DCIS in the same quadrant in April 2021, days before my 70th birthday. I had a wide local excision which did not get all the margins, so I had a second operation a few weeks later.
I had 5 sessions of radiotherapy in October 2021 and Onco-type testing showed a low likelihood of recurrence, which meant I didn’t need to have chemotherapy.
I was started on Letrozole which I couldn't tolerate as I have osteoarthritis and my joints soon became even more painful than usual and after three months was moved to Examestane which was no better. In January 2022 I was put on Tamoxifen which suits me much better.
Throughout my diagnosis and treatment I have lived on my own. I have good friends I can talk to, but very little family now. I have a strong faith which has helped, as have my three beautiful Maine Coon cats, but it wasn’t easy spending a lot of time on my own - I tend to worry rather a lot!
I was very aware of how my diagnosis and treatment could impact on my nephew. He lives next door and helps me with practical things, but he has a learning disability which makes conversation difficult sometimes: I never mentioned the word "cancer" to him as I knew it could be unsettling and he easily gets alarmed.
I have been a Someone Like Me volunteer since 2023, and if you think I may be able to help you with any aspects of your diagnosis and treatment, do get in touch.
If you think I may be able to help you with any aspects of your diagnosis and treatment, do get in touch.