Hi, I'm Catriona, a breast cancer survivor. It's been less than a year since I was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer in July 2023. Getting cancer has made me reassess my outlook on life.
After discovering that I was bleeding at my nipple, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Finding out I had breast cancer left me surprised, I wasn’t expecting it at all.
After hearing the news, I found myself reassessing my total outlook on life. While I’ve since recovered, I still hold this new perspective on life close.
Following my doctor’s recommendations, my treatment was centered around surgery and hormonal therapy. I had a mastectomy to remove my entire breast. Deciding on it made me feel relieved and motivated to continue.
Though I experienced fatigue as a side effect, I managed it without additional intervention.
During treatment, I tried to maintain my usual routine as much as possible and continued to spend time with my children and travelling with them.
My plans for the future involve staying focused on my well-being and that of my family. I hope to have a long life ahead of me and to be present to see my grandchildren grow up.
Throughout my recovery journey, my biggest fear has been the unknown. Managing cancer was completely new to me, but I've tried to overcome it through positive thinking.
Nowadays, I’m feeling a lot more optimistic, and hope to continue spending more time with my grandchildren.
To those on their cancer journey, I'd say: “Stay positive and make time for you and your family. Trust the process.”
This patient's story is published and shared with their full consent. Any personal data that can be used to identify the patient has been omitted.
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