I'm in remission from breast cancer - AMA

[weebarra]

I was diagnosed with breast cancer nearly 5 years ago, I was 36.
Double mastectomy, chemo, radiotherapy.
I have the BRCA gene. Ask me anything!

How has your outlook on life changed? Have you changed anything since your diagnosis?

Congratulations on your remission, I am so sorry you have had to go through cancer.

May I ask how was your cancer diagnosed? Did you do regular breast checks before it was found?

Glad you’re in remission.

Question: does the language around cancer bother you - ie all the stuff about fighting etc, the language you don’t get with other diseases.

I mean,, it almost male it sound like it’s the patient’s fault if they don’t beat cancer because they’re not fighting hard enough

I do have a different outlook on life now. I don't sweat the small stuff so much and I'm much less afraid and anxious.
I try to spend as much time as possible with the people I love and try to be good to myself.
I was diagnosed very unexpectedly as I found a lump which breastfeeding my 8 week old DC3. GP said it was a blocked duct but a friend of mine, also a GP, encouraged me to push for a referral.
Good thing she did - I had cancer in both breasts and in my nodes.
I hate the "fighting" talk. Whether you live or die of cancer is pretty random. Two friends of mine with ovarian cancer died in the last year. They didn't die because of not trying hard enough.