Breast Cancer and Counselling Training
In 2016 I was feeling fit and healthy, busy juggling family life alongside my full time job as a designer. I was also running regularly, and had just completed a half marathon in May of that year.
In October I received an unexpected invitation to attend an appointment for breast screening. It was part of a trial to screen younger women in our area for breast cancer. I was 47, so just under the age of 50 when it becomes a routine test here in the UK.
I went along feeling a little nervous, after all I didn’t know what to expect - I’d never had a mammogram before. My appointment went ok, it was a little uncomfortable (which is normal), but I put it to the back of my mind and went off to enjoy a family holiday later that month.
A Different Kind of Christmas
On returning home from my holiday I discovered that I had received a letter (remember those?) asking me to attend the breast clinic for further investigation. I don’t remember feeling too concerned at that point and wondered if the mammogram hadn’t been clear and maybe it just needed to be redone.
A series of appointments followed in quick succession (although it didn’t feel quick at the time) and on the 8th November 2016 I was given the news that I had breast cancer. The mammogram had picked up that I had cancer before I had experienced any signs or symptoms of the disease.
To say my world changed in that moment is an understatement, it was all I could think about. I felt very lucky that my family and friends were so supportive and ready to listen as I talked it through and tried to make sense of what was happening to me.
As part of my treatment I had a wide local excision, or a lumpectomy as it’s sometimes called. My surgery took place on the 23rd December - I have never been so organised for Christmas. I also inexplicably felt the urge to clean my kitchen cupboards - I needed something to do I guess, as I tried to process the news I’d just been given.
Treatment and a Very Slow Run
It took time for my body to heal after surgery and the radiotherapy that followed. One radiotherapy session took place on my birthday - not quite how I’d expected to be spending the day. My ‘active’ treatment finished on the 1st March 2017 - it’s funny how these dates are forever lodged in the memory.
Long term medication followed, to block the hormones that were causing the specific type of cancer I had to grow. I thought of the medication as an insurance policy to hopefully guard against the cancer returning, although there were some side effects.
Determined to get back to some kind of normal, I remember the first run I did a few weeks after my operation. Trussed up in 2 sports bras and going at such a snail’s pace you would have overtaken me walking backwards, but it marked a significant moment in my recovery.
Recovery was slow going at times, but I felt grateful for the support I had from the wonderful NHS staff I met along the way, and of course my family and friends.
Moving Forward
During my recovery, St James’s hospital in Leeds where I’d had my treatment, had a programme of events to help those of us going through cancer treatment. We had access to a number of free complementary therapies - I think I tried them all!
Acupuncture turned out to be great in terms of managing my hot flushes, which had started before my diagnosis but ramped up with the introduction of my medication.
Counselling was another therapy I was offered. It was the first time I’d experienced this type of support.
My therapist was wonderful.
I expected to talk about my diagnosis and treatment, but actually that wasn’t the case.
There were other things going on for me at the time. It turns out that the rest of your life isn’t put ‘on hold’ when you’re given a cancer diagnosis, other challenges had been sent my way.
My counsellor listened patiently as I spoke about how I was feeling, I felt heard and truly supported as I tried to navigate my life with quite a different perspective since receiving my diagnosis.
Volunteering and Opportunities
I remember, while feeling grateful for the support I had received throughout this time, other people I met who were going through a similar journey (I’m not a big fan of the J word, but let’s go with it) were really struggling to speak about how they were feeling.
I’d already been using the resources provided by the charity Breast Cancer Care, (since renamed Breast Cancer Now) when I spotted an advert in one of their online forums, recruiting for volunteers on their Someone Like Me service.
This service matches clients with trained volunteers who have had a cancer diagnosis and have gone through similar treatment paths. It’s a telephone peer support service, and you may find yourself supporting someone who has been newly diagnosed or is about to start radiotherapy for example. It’s both emotional and practical support, where the volunteers can share their own experience and provide some insight into what has helped them at each stage.
After an interview process, (with not one, but 2 other Donnas on the interview panel!) I started my training with Breast Cancer Care and in time began to regularly support clients.
Counselling Training and Silver Linings
I realised very quickly that I loved my volunteer role! It made such a difference to those who I was supporting, it was so rewarding - in short I’d found my thing!
It was then I’d remembered my counsellor - could I do that? And so began my formal training, around 4 years in total which has brought me very happily to the place I am today.
I’m forever grateful for that unexpected invitation, it enabled my breast cancer to be detected early and to be treated quickly and successfully, and with a silver lining that has led to a change of career!
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, it’s given me the chance to reflect and share my story with you, and also to remind you to please be aware of any changes to your body and say yes to the invitations (however unexpected) to attend a screening appointment.