Heather’s Journey

It started with a lump—one I had noticed for a while but brushed off as a part of my breastfeeding journey with my son. A month passed, and when it didn’t change, I visited my GP for a breast check. I was reassured that it was likely due to mastitis I had had earlier in my breastfeeding journey and was advised to keep an eye on it. No further checks were done.

Another month went by. I returned to the GP, but Louie was unwell, and as any mother would, I focused on him, pushing my own concerns aside.

I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. It was weighing on me. I decided to see a different GP, one who immediately took my concerns seriously. He ordered an urgent ultrasound, and I was lucky to get an appointment the very next day.

That evening, while walking my dog, my phone rang. It was my doctor. His voice was calm but firm:

“Don’t panic, but come see me at 9am tomorrow” and in that moment, I knew.

The following days felt like a blur. A biopsy confirmed it - I had breast cancer, ER/PR+ Her2 Negative It was two weeks before my first Mother’s Day and just a month before Louie’s first birthday. How was this real?

The next few weeks were a whirlwind.

Within three weeks, I had:

• Met with my surgeon and made a treatment plan

• Underwent MRI, PET scans, and heart tests

• Connected with a McGrath breast care nurse

• Had BRCA gene testing

• Underwent surgery to remove the cancer and lymph nodes

• Started hormone treatment

• Began an egg retrieval process to preserve my fertility

• Met my oncology team and scheduled my chemotherapy start date

I went into planning mode, focusing on one appointment at a time. I did this most of my journey; I created a chart of all of my chemotherapy and radiation appointments, and would tick them off each time I got home from a session. I truly believe for me, that focus and mindset got me through.

I made a decision—I wasn’t carrying this into the New Year. Working closely with my specialists, we mapped out an intensive six-month treatment plan. It was tough and I pushed myself harder than ever, but I was determined.

In mid-June, I began chemotherapy, four cycles of AC chemo every 14 days (this one was brutal!) followed by 12 weekly cycles of Paclitaxel. Then came radiation which I completed just three days before Christmas.

I was over the moon—I had done it. While the journey wasn’t over, and managing hormone therapy presented its own challenges, I was learning to navigate the daily side effects of Tamoxifen and the monthly Zoladex implant. To this day, I’m still on those medications.

Now, on the other side of it all, I am beyond grateful—for my incredible support system, for the strength I found within myself, and for the chance to share my story. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to trust your instincts, advocate for yourself, and lean on those around you.

There is life after cancer, and I’m living it to the fullest.