My journey began when I discovered a small lump in my right breast in December 2014 (just before Christmas). We went on holidays on Boxing day for a week. After our break I came home feeling on top of the world and full of energy. During the week away the lump grew fast and was very large when I went to my GP in early January on our return. She sent me for a mammogram, ultra sound, and biopsy. The results came back as cancer. She then referred me to a surgeon at St Andrews Hospital in Toowoomba. He then referred me to an oncologist, also at St Andrews. She referred me for a bone scan, C.T scan, and a PET scan, and the results came back that I have metastatic breast cancer (HER2 positive). I also have the cancer in my bones, lymph nodes, and liver. I am almost through my treatment of Chemotherapy. My last one will be on the 16th July. I will be having ongoing treatment of Herceptin and Perjeta every three weeks. My CT scan a few weeks ago came back that everything was improving.
About me. I am 68 and I have been married to my husband Bruce for 45 years. We have three children, Trevor 43, David 41, and Sharon 37. They are all married with children, making us grandparents of eight, six girls and two boys, ages from 20 to 7. We live in Toowoomba just around from St Andrews Hospital where I have my treatment, so one can be lucky sometimes.
We were told about the Advanced Breast Cancer Group by the breast cancer nurse at St Andrews. Bruce and I went down one Tuesday and met Pia and Mary. I was able to stay for the group meeting and was impressed by the support given to everyone, by everyone.