BREAST CANCER - I KNOW I AM SO LUCKY.

I don`t take anything for granted, not since I had cancer. Facing my own mortality has taught me to be grateful that I am still around, that I have seen my kids married, become a grandmother to a wonderful little girl, had the support of my wonderful hubby, children, relatives and friends.
Its been 8 years now since my diagnosis, 8th February 2005 I shall never forget the date, when the doctor and a breast care nurse took me into the office and told me my tumour was breast cancer. I refused to believe it at first, this could not really be happening to me could it? I remember saying something stupid like if I needed a mastectomy could I have reconstruction using the fat from my stomach, getting a tummy tuck as part of the deal. I was attempting to joke, all the while falling apart inside. I cried on the way down the corridor heading away from the doctors office, unable to take in the awful information that I had cancer, wondering what to say to my mom, my children, how would I cope? The breast care nurse must have realised my reaction was unreal because she had followed us down that corridor and she steered us into a room to get myself together, handing me tissues from a box in her hand. I suppose they get all kinds of reactions from people told bad news.
This past few days I have had my attention brought to a lady is dying of breast cancer. It is in her lungs, bones, now brain. She may have months only to live. She was diagnosed in the same year as me. I am lucky, I am fine now, she is not. It could have been me, after all my cancer was grade 3, stage 3, fast growing and aggressive, HER2 positive. I don`t know why I am okay and Sue is not, thats the way of this awful disease I suppose. Some are lucky, some are unlucky. That is why research and then more research needs to be done. Breakthrough Breast Cancer and other organisations like it do a great job, so please give all you can afford to help. Lots of women are diagnosed with breast cancer each day, some make it, some don`t. It could be you, I hope it isn`t but to be realistic it could be. I never expected it to be me, it was frightening, the treatments were not nice, but I got through it, I am here to tell the tale. 8 years later I am here. Sue may not be here to tell her tale, so she is telling it now, so please follow @suewhitham1, read her story, download her music, her legacy to her children.
Thank you. x