Hi, I'm Jacqueline from Ireland. Two years ago, I was diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer after participating in a sleep study. I have since completed treatment and am thankfully in remission.
I was part of a sleep study for sleep apnea and I got a PET scan for being in the study. At first they said it was a papillomas cyst, but it turned out to be stage 0 breast cancer.
When I first heard the news, I felt sad. These days, I have to contend with feelings of helplessness, and I am often nervous and worried.
Considering that I was diagnosed at stage 0, I didn't make any changes to my lifestyle after the diagnosis.
After diagnosis, I underwent breast-conserving surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy.
The decision was tough, but I trusted my doctor's recommendation. Knowing that I’m in good hands made me very happy and motivated. I’m also slightly relieved and hopeful that I didn't seek a second opinion or alternative treatments.
Though I experienced side effects like fatigue and weight fluctuations, I managed them without specific medication.
Throughout my experience, I kept in touch with my parents regularly, but I didn’t get to visit them as much as before. I could only spend half as much time with my five kids as I used to. Before, we travelled several times a year, and my hope for the next two years is to make sure we still get to go for holidays together.
I lost motivation in this journey. I just want to make it to my son’s 18th birthday, so he has a roof over his head.
I really fear that I will die before my son reaches 18. He’s nearly 12 now. I can’t stop myself from thinking about it.
It's a thought I can't shake off, leaving me feeling fearful, helpless, nervous, and worried.
I pretended I was sitting on a plane while getting chemo. I flew through it. I used a cold cap so I didn't lose my hair. I never took anti-sickness tablets, and I carried on as if I was going to be okay. I cleaned and ran my house as normal because I didn't want my youngest to be worried. But now that I'm finished with everything, I think it's hitting me. So, I would advise people to talk about it but not dwell on it. I made friends in the hospital too and joined a group on Facebook.
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