Susie Henry Testimonial 

I had just celebrated my 50th birthday and received clear results from my first mammogram when I found a large cyst in my breast. I wasn’t unduly worried, as I had had a couple of cysts before, which had been drained by my GP, and was told by the Horton Hospital that I would probably get more until I went into menopause and then they would stop. There was no family history of cancer of any type.

Luckily, I had recently changed my GP to a lady doctor, who decided to send me to the JR for further investigation. At that appointment I underwent another mammogram, which was also clear. I then had an ultrasound, where I was told that I had a large cyst that would need to be drained, but they could see a shadow deep underneath and they feared that I had breast cancer.

They made an appointment for me at the Churchill Hospital where I had core biopsies taken and another appointment was made back at the JR a fortnight later to get the results.

I knew it was bad news as soon as I walked into the consulting room, as there were 5 medical staff in there.  I was given the news that no woman wants to hear, that I had breast cancer and it was the worst type of breast cancer, being invasive lobular. I was given the choice of having a mastectomy or a lumpectomy, although there was increased risk of further surgery with the lumpectomy with this particular form of the cancer.

I opted for the lumpectomy as the tumour was measured at 12mm and a fortnight later I was in the Jane Ashley Unit of the Churchill, awaiting surgery. I think it was the most nervous I have ever been in my whole life, waiting to be wheeled down to the operating theatre and not sure what my future held, if indeed there was going to be a future.

A fortnight after surgery I was back at the JR for results of how of surgery went and what the biopsy of the tumour had revealed.  Unfortunately it was a mixed bag, the margins were clear, the lymph was clear but the tumour wasn’t 12mm it was 53mm.

Next followed 6 cycles of chemotherapy and then 4 weeks of radiotherapy, which altogether with the surgery took almost a year to complete. I had a bit of a wobble towards the end of treatment, which apparently is completely normal, as you go through treatment ticking off appointment after appointment but don’t really deal with the mental and emotional trauma.

I went over to the Maggies Centre at the Churchill, where I spoke with one of their team and my husband also spoke with some other ladies that had gone through the same situation and assured him that it was perfectly normal.

Unfortunately treatment isn’t the end of the story, as  the medication also has effects on the body. The radiotherapy had zapped my thyroid, the chemotherapy pushed me into an exaggerated menopause, affected my bone density and also my eyesight. My eyes are very light sensitive and I now have full blown osteoporosis.

A couple of years ago, I caught the nasty cough that was doing the rounds and unfortunately coughed so hard, I was left with a spinal fracture. Then earlier this year I had to have time off work with a trapped nerve in my shoulder and arm on the cancer side with lymphoedema.

My saving grace has been Sam at the Windrush Leisure Centre, as following a GP referral, I am now on the Healthwise Programme, which is helping me enormously.  For a reduced cost, I can use the centre as much as I like, not just the gym but also swimming and any classes I wish to attend.

Sam is so knowledgeable and knew the right exercises to get me moving again and I have come on leaps and bounds. She is just at the end of a text or email if I need to contact her and contacts me at regular intervals to check on my progress and amend my programme.

Ideally I try to get to the gym 2-3 times a week and swim at least once a week.  Last week I managed to swim a whole kilometre and I can see my body getting trimmer and stronger week by week. With osteoporosis it is important to do weight bearing exercises and although initially the upstairs of the gym with the weights section and machines, was slightly intimidating, with the men looking like they knew exactly what they were doing, I actually love using the weights as it is easy to see how quickly you can make real progress without bulking up.

When I finish a session, I feel really good, so pleased that I made the effort, both physically and mentally. Sam you are a real marvel, just wish I had met you earlier.