My Story
Bring It On!
Me, two days before my first Breast Cancer operation.
Standing at the top of The Remarkables, Queenstown, New Zealand 2017
Me + Breast Cancer
In 2017 I was 39 and living in New Zealand when I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Based on a recent family diagnosis I had requested an early mammogram. I did not know I had any form of cancer, I did it to 'get me in the system'.
The mammogram caught my first tumour - Invasive Lobular Carcinoma - in my right breast. As I had dense breast tissue the surgeon ordered an MRI to check for any other disease. The results showed I had another tumour - Mucinous Carcinoma - in my left side.
The plan was to have a bi-lateral lumpectomy with radiotherapy treatment. Unfortunately the lumpectomy pathology (laboratory examination of samples of body tissue) showed I also had Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS). The next step was a double mastectomy with full reconstruction.
The mastectomy results showed I had Lobular Cancer in Situ (LCIS - is not considered cancer, but having LCIS does increase your risk of later developing an invasive breast cancer). Therefore I had three types of Breast Cancer plus one possibly brewing. I had made the right choice to take them off.
I returned to Ireland in late 2017 after my surgeries and treatment.
I am happy to say that I am now 5 years NED (no evidence of disease) and have been discharged from Oncology at St.Vincent's University Hospital (SVUH).
