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My journey with breast cancer began when my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35 ( two years older than me). She lived in New Zealand and lost her battle with cancer at the age of 41. I was needless to say having regular checks and at 41 was found to have a 'suspicious' lump on ultrasound.
I live in Goulburn, and work as a nurse. My doctor was unsure who the best person to send me to - I did not want a local general surgeon operating on me. So I did some networking and went to a doctor at POW and had an ultrasound and then a needle biopsy on the same day. I received the results by phone at my request and was booked immediately for surgery the following week. This turned out to be the worst weekend of my life. I was about to walk out the door to go to hospital when my mother rang from NZ to say my father had died. He had been diagnosed with bowel and prostate cancer earlier in the year and this was not an unexpected outcome, just and badly timed one. I made up an excuse as I had not wanted my family to know about my problem until it was positively diagnosed and headed up to Sydney .
The day of the surgery arrived and although I was going to have a full mastectomy at the last minute I decided to have a partial one and radiation as I was reassured the outcome, longevity-wise was similar. I had a 10-year-old and a 7-year-old and my husband remained at home to look after them. The evening after the surgery a phone call from home told me my dog had been killed by the school bus. This was just the last straw. I had the radiotherapy and all went well for 2 1/2 years then on routine mammography extensive calcification was found in my other breast and the biopsy was again suspicious I elected to have both breasts removed at this time. 'The worst it could be is ductal carcinoma in situ', said my doctor.
Surgery followed and another primary tumour was found so axillary clearance followed as did six months of chemotherapy, followed by Tamoxifen (still on). Both my tumours were relatively small, though the second was bigger than the first, and having had both lots of lymph nodes removed I was relieved to find they were all clear. It is now just over five years since the second surgery and I try and enjoy everyday as I am thankful that I am well. I have mild lymphedema on the side of the first surgery. I am a member of our local support group and the Fenceliners and am keen to embark on their next adventure. I have been in three City to Surfs since surgery and have taken up Tai chi and bike riding for my health. Hope this is of inspiration to other breast cancer suffers.
Bev, Goulburn, NSW, diagnosed aged 41
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Bev Artiss 
