I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer just after my fortieth birthday in 2009. My daughter was just 2 years old and my biggest fear was that I would not see her grow up to go to nursery, let alone school. Towards the end of a year of treatment - chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy - my oncologist referred me to a genetics clinic. I was advised I was at low risk of having an inherited mutation but took up the offer to take part in a research study looking for new mutations.
After a 12-month wait, I found out that I had a brca1 mutation and opted to have risk-reducing mastectomies in 2012. Unfortunately tests after the surgery showed another cancer which meant more chemotherapy. At the time of my second diagnosis, I was very ill after surgery and completely overwhelmed by the enormity of what I was facing. I felt really alone and contacted Breast Cancer Care who put me in touch with a lovely volunteer who had also been treated twice for triple negative breast cancer. I was in a dark place and she gave me the hope that I needed - I could see light at the end of the tunnel.
My daughter is now thirteen and I enjoy being with her and following her interests as she becomes more independent. Cancer taught me that life is so precious but dealing with cancer and its effects is tough. My experience was that completing treatment was not a finish line and it’s a road I continue to travel on. I’ve also learned how to manage the side-effects of my treatment, including lymphoedema in both arms and my right hand. It’s important to me to do something positive with my experiences and when I was well-enough and it was a natural progression to volunteer for Breast Cancer Now - to help other women in the way that I was helped when I really needed it.
You can email me on Tamsin@breastcancernow.org.