Monday 24 August 2015

First Post - About Me and My Cancer

They say the first post is always the scariest one to write so here it goes...

About Me

I suppose I should start with a little more about me. My names Kirsty, I'm 27 and as you have probably gathered I have Breast Cancer. 

I currently live in Saltaire, West Yorkshire. Before that I lived in Manchester for 4 years. I'm originally from a little village called Hesketh Bank, which is between Preston and Southport in Lancashire. Yes a Lancashire girl living in Yorkshire! I'll argue that the only good thing in Yorkshire is the M62 back to Lancashire but, honestly, the tea is better!

I studied at the University of Central Lancashire and I have a degree in Retail Management with Buying. I worked as a Buying Assistant in Manchester and I now currently work for Asda Head Office as a Merchandiser. 

For me the most important things in life are my family. I live with my boyfriend Michele, who is the love of my life! xx I'm extremely close to both my parents and  my brother Darren who is the funniest person I know! 




About My Cancer...Here's the Science!

I have Invasive Breast Cancer (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma is its posh scientific name). Invasive means the cancer has already spread from the ducts to the breast tissue and has the ability to spread to other parts of my body. It's currently a Grade 3, which means the cancer cells are 'most changed'.

It's is HER+ so it's tested positive for certain proteins that make the cancer more aggressive. I will be having Herceptin injections after Chemo to try and combat this. 

The Cancer is also ER+ which means oestrogen can make it grow. To stop this I'll be treated with a drug called Tamoxifen, which I'll need to take daily for 5 years.

At the moment I'm just recovering from surgery where I had the tumour removed. I had a Left wide local excision and sentinel node biopsy on the 18th August. I'm going back next Wednesday to get the results. So fingers crossed the tumour is out with a good margin for error and the cancer hasn't spread to my lymph nodes! Then, once my wounds have healed, it's time to start the dreaded Chemotherapy.

So there it is me and the cancer in a nutshell.



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