We found our mother’s breast cancer story after she passed away

July 2020 – Lisa, Kim and Simon's story 

Despite everything our mum went through, she achieved some amazing things during her lifetime. Between her bouts of illness and treatments, she lived a very full and happy life. She even volunteered as treasurer for Breast Cancer Now in Salisbury and raised £50,000 in her time there. 

She will be dearly missed. 

1979 – Erica's story 

My story starts in January 1979. I had undergone a biopsy, which was an operation in those days, and was due to get my results before returning home. So much snow had fallen that many of the local roads were unpassable and my husband rang to say he was unable to get out of our village to come and collect me, but would keep trying. 

Following this, the surgeon phoned to say he was unable to get to the hospital as well and had phoned to tell me that my breast lump was 'a lot more harmful than suspected' and that I would need a mastectomy – the only choice then. (No one ever mentioned the word cancer, it was very taboo.) After I made a tearful call to my husband, a local farmer in our village managed to clear one of the roads so John was able to come and take me home. 

Following what was called a ‘simple mastectomy’, and having been told that if I wanted a prosthesis I would get no help but should go and buy one at a medical appliance shop (how times have changed), I went on to have radiotherapy. Two of my lymph nodes were affected, although I was not made aware of this until much later.  

In those days you were not given any information about your condition except what was absolutely necessary. Chemotherapy was not available then. Unfortunately, having very fair skin I got burnt very quickly on the radiotherapy and was unable to have the final week in case it did more damage than good. 

1993 

All went well for the next 14 years, after which I became aware of a granular feeling in my other breast. This turned out to be another primary cancer which would require a mastectomy. As no lymph nodes were affected this time, I required no other treatment apart from taking tamoxifen. 

Quite apart from the hormonal effects, the horrific joint pains and palpitations became too much eventually. That combined with the fact that my uterus lining appeared to be thickening prompted me to come off the tablets after three years, and I immediately felt a lot better. 

2005 

12 years later, I had a feeling of discomfort under my arm and found a large lump there the night before Christmas Eve. The next day I made an appointment to see the doctor immediately after Christmas and with all the family coming that afternoon did my best to forget about it and enjoy the festivities.  

It turned out to be a grade 3 lump which had to be removed and followed by chemotherapy. Having had radiotherapy previously I could not have it again on the same side. 

I tried the cold cap in the hope of not losing my hair but after the first session I felt very cold for a week and some of my hair was falling out, so decided to forego the cap and opt for a wig instead. Six months later, when the chemo was all over, I went on anastrozole (Arimidex), and once more found that hormone therapy does not agree with me at all. The effects were not the same as with tamoxifen, but I eventually felt so depressed I came off them after two years. 

2009 

I found a tiny lump in my armpit again, and despite being told by the registrar who removed it that it was almost definitely a cyst, it turned out to be malignant and I returned to hospital a couple of months later to have the whole area cleaned up. 

2011 

I have regular check-ups and have to be vigilant to keep it at bay and so far continue to be well. I play tennis once or twice a week, walk a fair bit, read a lot, do crosswords and sudokus, love the theatre and enjoy having grandchildren.  

Throughout all of this, I have been very lucky to have a husband who was never put off by my mastectomies and appreciated me whatever I looked like. Also, I consider myself very fortunate to have survived after my first incidence of breast cancer and to have already had my three children before it all started. It has been a great joy to have been able to watch them grow up, get married and have children of their own.