I am Rosie. I am 43 years old, I have two children, I am addicted to reality television… and I am living with breast cancer. Hearing my diagnosis was terrifying. My husband and I had separated a few weeks before, so I felt really alone. I told my children what was happening, but I couldn’t tell them quite how scared and sad I was. They are 8 and 10, and I want them concentrating on homework and playing, not worrying about me and whether I’ll be around when they start senior school.
What struck me was that I really didn’t know how to go about getting better. It all seemed impossible. One of the first things that had to go was my job, with my new treatment schedule and the exhaustion it caused I simply didn’t have a choice.
My doctor soon realised this was causing me even more worry- I was falling behind on my energy bills and was in danger of my phone being cut off. She recommended the Breast Cancer Partnership.
I wrote to them, and within a week I had a reply. It is a moment I often think back on- without it, I don’t know what I would have done or if I would have coped.
Not only did they pay my energy and telephone bill, they sent me a Survivor Pack. I sat down with it as soon as the kids had gone to bed, and it really turned things around for me. I hadn’t been sick with cancer, until this point I had been sick with fear.
With the worry about bills gone and the belief I could beat this, I started to think about me and my recovery. I realised that I had choices. This sounds strange, but until it was pointed out to me I had just let things happen to me. Thanks to the Breast Cancer Partnership this changed, and I started to think about and take responsibility for my health every single day.
I am now following a Recovery Plan which I wrote following the advice Breast Cancer Partnership gave me and with input from my doctor, a nutritionist and friends. So far, this is working and my doctor has been impressed with my progress. I believe that very soon I will be completely well again. And I can’t wait.