I had thought perhaps I had felt a small lump which my doctor confirmed to be the case. Knowing what I now know, I would have reacted differently but ultimately, I do not know how it would have played out. The progression and journey were going to be big since I believe this to be a soul journey more than a physical one. And perhaps there is a master plan for our lives that we signed up to on a soul level but would never have done so on a physical level! A bit deep I know but my spiritual journey was now in full flow and I was seeing the world differently.
Once you visit the doctor it will be full steam ahead and I felt myself being rallied down a road of conventional medicine. Against my better judgement I got a biopsy in order to help my oncologist. Even though putting a needle into an area of protection (a tumour creates a protein around itself for protection) in the possibility it could spread was not a choice I’d have personally made.
As a believer in the power of the body I took advice from those with similar understandings and a good piece of advice I received was ‘take time to ground yourself from the fear and do not rush into anything. Despite grounding, a month later in December 2016 I was scheduled for a lumpectomy. It seemed the best course of action at the time due in part to having informed my family of my situation.
I learned my surgeon took away 20 lymph nodes despite the sentinel node (master node) being clear. This resulted in me visiting my local hospital on several occasions around the Christmas period to get the tennis ball size fluid swellings drained away.
It seems testament to my beliefs I am still here and well (albeit with a disfigured breast) nine years later when the average cancer patient dies within five years! These are not great stats for an industry centred on finding cures and investing billions. We are no further on with longevity either with this media hyped so-called ‘race for cancer.’
LESSON: Slow down and make decisions that are right for you based on knowledge and from a calm rational brain. Remember there are lots of ways of doing this and watch inspirational videos and read inspirational cancer stories.