My Breast Cancer Story

By Diane Edwards

Hi. I’m Diane Edwards. I’m sixty one and a mother of five and a grandmother of seventeen. I nursed for 22 years, had my own business for 5 years and have spent the last 10 years in the real estate industry as a marketing consultant.

On 5 th February 2006 I rolled over in bed, brushed my right breast and it felt like I had hit a brick. At 6am it was too early to wake my husband so after copious cups of coffee and daylight set in I trotted off down the road in my pajamas to visit my doctor. He examined my breast and assured me that with such a large lump it was likely to be a cyst. He made an appointment at Radiology that morning to have a mammogram. I have been having regular 2 yearly mammograms up to this point with no abnormalities found.

Following a mammogram, ultrasound and needle biopsy I needed a large wine because I realized that the outcome was not going to be good. On 15 th February on the advice of my surgeon I had a radical mastectomy of my right breast and 28 lymph nodes removed, three of these were cancerous. So, I had a diagnosis of grade three cancer, as well as being Her 2 positive. I wasn’t devastated but I was shocked, because we never had breast cancer in the family. My family was more devastated than I was; I just thought well, I’ve had my tit off, now I have to move forward. But I knew I had to have lots of treatment then get on with my life.

My goal was to get back to normal as soon as possible. I continued to work throughout my treatment which after the surgery included chemotherapy and Herceptin. I wanted my life to return to how it was. However, those who have had breast cancer know that this is never the case. Even though it goes away, it is never far away.

I was one of the women who took Pharmac to court to try and get Herceptin funded for 12 months. Pharmac’s decision was a big disappointment but hopefully with a change of government it will be funded.

Today I am healthy and I cram more into my life than I probably should because I now know that I’m not bullet proof and I want to enjoy life to the fullest.