Sarah's story

We're sharing stories from some of our wonderful members of the community who have a diagnosis of Triple Negative. Sarah shares her story.

"So, in December 2015 I found a lump just above my sports top.

My best friend was going through treatment for hormone positive breast cancer so my plan was to give it a month and then see my GP.

The beginning of January I spoke to my GP and she had a feel and said because it hurts it can’t be cancer so don’t worry. I walked out feeling conflicted to be honest. If my best friend wasn’t going through treatment then I probably would’ve ignored the lump because of what the doctor had told me.

As it was, I gave it another month and saw the same doctor. This time I insisted I wanted to be referred and get it checked out. This time she agreed!!

On February 12th 2016 I was told it was breast cancer and a few data later my GP phoned to apologise!!! I had a lumpectomy, three cycles of EC chemo and three cycles of docetaxol chemo and then 20 sessions of radiotherapy which I found really hard. I cried every single day because I felt like a piece of meat.

I got the all clear in October 2016 and started working in a supermarket and getting on with my life.

In January 2020, I woke up one morning feeling like I’d been kicked in the chest by a horse. I couldn’t breathe, my chest hurt and I had a cough. I had bone scans, CT scans and X-ray’s and no-one seemed to know what was happening. Just before Christmas 2020 I had a lung VQ scan and got told I had multiple blood clots in my lungs and got put on blood thinners.

In January 2021 I woke up one morning feeling like I wanted to rip my ribs out of my body so got sent for another scan and this time I got told I had mets in my ribs. The local hospice sorted out pain relief and I started capecitabine. My body hated it so two weeks later I started iv carboplatin and got told I was stable after three cycles.

I finished chemo in December 2021 and since then have gone back to aerial classes, have given up work because of the fatigue and I’ve just stopped denosumab injections because of the pain.

My oncologist is surprised I’m doing so well and that makes me happy!!!

I spent my 50th birthday on the beach wearing a ball gown type dress and I’m planning on doing the same for my 60th in 8 years!!!!!

Life has changed but cancer has made me slow down and realise the good stuff that’s happening now instead of waiting for the perfect time in life.

 Make 2nds Count has been a lifeline when it comes to the treatment side of things. I panicked being triple negative - knowing the treatment lines available to me really helped me to learn to relax a bit, especially after only lasting 48 hours on my first line!!!

The 2nds Together Facebook group is a huge support. Knowing that there are people who absolutely understand is amazing. Family and friends are great but they don’t actually get it, whereas the group do.

There’s always titbits of information from ladies to help when it comes to advocating for ourselves and how to do that, using the resources that are available to feel like we’re in charge of something when you can feel like we’re not in control of anything at all.

I couldn’t cope if I didn’t have that support at my fingertips.

Thank you Sarah for sharing your story. If you would like to share yours, please drop us a dm or email our comms manager: clare.cox@make2ndscount.co.uk