When were you diagnosed?

June 2017.

What were your symptoms?

I had a collection of symptoms which I ignored and assumed would go away. Because I was pregnant/had baby/breast fed everything I was experiencing could have been caused by that. I had a lump, my breast was swollen and hot, my skin started to look a bit like the texture of orange peel, my armpit was bulging. It was only when my nipple started to invert and the pain was unbearable I went to my GP. Within a month I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Inflammatory Breast Cancer.

What treatments did you have?

6 rounds of Chemotherapy. 16 Radiotherapy sessions. Skin sparring mastectomy, lymph node removal.

How did you know it had spread?

A few months after my surgery at a consultant appointment I mentioned I had pain in my hips keeping me awake at night. A week later I had a bone scan a week after that I was told that it had spread to my bones. It was inactive which was a good sign but incurable. My primary cancer site was in my breast, it had spread to my lymph nodes. Unbeknown to us a few rouge cells escaped and set up home in my lower back area. Thankfully all my treatments had put it to sleep.

Why are you menopausal?

My cancer is oestrogen sensitive. So my bodies ability to produce oestrogen had to be shut down. Early Medical induced menopause is an effective way to stop recurrence. Unfortunately it comes with side effects that make life very hard.