I first noticed some swelling in my left armpit, which settled down over 24 hours into a 2-3cm lump that was sensitive to the touch, so I went off to my GP and then mammograms, ultrasound and biopsies. Unfortunately, the mammogram and biopsies revealed that there were also 2 lumps in the breast tissue, one of which along with the node in the armpit was cancerous and HER2+. Within 1 month after the biopsy and a week of seeing my surgeon and oncologist, I had started my first round of chemotherapy. It all happened so fast.
It is a bit of a shock to have this diagnosis, but I have been very well supported by my friends, work, medical and church communities. My faith in God has enabled me to accept and walk through this journey with a confidence I didn’t know I had in me.
You don’t need to know everything yourself. Follow the process, trust your medical staff and breast care nurses - they have been through it before many times and can and will give great advice as you need it.