Fran Peatt

My story

in April 07 we had a new Grandaughter born i had felt a lump and soreness in my right breast so when we returned home from seeing baby Hayley  i made an appointment to see my Doctor I couldn't get to see my own Doctor so saw another , she said it was nothing( as eight months before i had been told that my mamogram was clear.)  i wasnt happy with this so she finally agreed to send me for another mamogram and ultrasound  but as she said it wasnt urgent they made an appointment for a months time , again i jumped up and down and mentioned my family history. eventually my own doctor rang on the friday  and i was given an appointment for the following monday the doctor there did a core biopsy and said to make a appointment with a surgeon straight away.  i went back to my clinic and was very upset . i refused to see the lady doctor and demanded to see my doctor , i was to see the surgeon the following week , he had the results urgent and i had a high grade 3 aggressive ductal carcinoma. the lump had doubled in size in two weeks to 4cm and was growing fast had its own blood supply and was starting to spread.

i had a partial mastectomy (half my boob) and axillary clearance of 15 nodes.  came home with drainage bottle still attached yuk. then had chemo after my second lot got an infection and my immune system was shot. ended up being rushed by two ambulances to albury hospital and on many different antibiotics and morphine but wasnt responding. they thought i wasnt going to make it. finally after a million and one blood test from my feet and ankles due to collapsed veins they found the cause a cyst and cellulitis so more surgery and a picc line put in which they couldnt use for blood for some reason? bald wasnt a great look for me after 53 years of long blonde hair.

i eventually came home and had the next four doses of chemo with injections twenty four hours later. i then had to have 7 weeks of radiotherapy at monash peter mac in bentleigh east. i have a strong family history my grandmother on mums side died at 60 of ovarian cancer which she fought for over ten years , my mum had breast cancer and had a radical mastectomy and chemo.

i have been told i am high risk for my cancer to return but i dont dwell on this i just live life to the fullest.the journey hasnt been easy for me or my husband but we are getting there.

March 2011 i completed a Community Liaison course and i am loving being on the web site with so many inspirational women. and being able to spread the word on what a great organisation B.C.NA is.