What cancer were you diagnosed with?

Triple Negative breast cancer

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What age were you diagnosed?

27

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What has helped you to thrive?

Pretty much since receiving the news of my diagnosis I really wanted to step up and help other people, I knew how scared I was and since finding Trekstock and realising how many young people are also diagnosed daily I just knew I had to do something to cheer people up! I came up with @thepinkparcelco and what I do is fill pink parcels with pink goodies such as fluffy socks, tissues, lip balms, word searches, face masks, mints etc and these are given out on the chemotherapy ward I attend weekly for other chemotherapy patients. 

Also, I'm really fortunate to have cancer during the coronavirus pandemic as this has given me the opportunity to spend 24 hours a day with my 1-year-old and when can you normally have that luxury! so every cloud and all that... 

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Emma's Story

I'm Emma and at 27 years of age and 1 year after having my first child Arlo, I never expected to have the diagnosis of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

In December 2019 I had a sore patch of skin on my right breast under examination I found a pea size lump, I booked in to see my GP straight away, fortunately, he fast-tracked me some Breast screening.

I'll never forget the day I went in for screening I had ultrasounds, biopsies and a mammogram (which I was really scared about as I heard they could be uncomfortable but honestly did not feel a thing!) all the nurses were really nice and put me at ease straight away, the DR said it was most likely a fibroadenoma and I shouldn't expect to hear from them again - hurray! about a week later I get a referral in the post for an appointment in over a months time, I thought hmm ok perhaps they're just checking up on it a few days later I get a phone call that my appointment has been bought forward to the following week. I instantly knew I had that sinking gut feeling that week was the longest week of my life! Everyone kept saying to me your too young, everything will be fine. My mom and dad came with me that day after waiting over 1 hour to be called in I walked into the room with my mom and there were 6 people looking back at me - now I'm no expert but that's never a good sight is it! She told me to sit down and said my biopsy had shown cancer cells I just felt so numb I was heartbroken to see my mom in bits and just thought how will I tell my fiance and does this mean I won't be here to see my baby grow up?

After a few days of self-pity and wallowing I thought right this isn't going to beat me I've had some knock backs in my time and this is just another one! I've found great comfort in connecting with others on social media who have a similar diagnosis and hearing how they have all come out the other side and I'm now having chemotherapy and coping a lot better than I thought I would.

I'm currently having genetic testing which will determine my surgery outcome and then after chemotherapy will have surgery and radiotherapy.

If I could give anyone advice it would be to take it all one day at a time and in your own time you will come to terms and tackle this as best as you can whether that be, you find comfort in the fridge, starting a charity, blogging, reading or all of the above. There is a community out there for you and so many people who are willing to share there successes, hints and tips to get you through ❤️ 

Thanks, Emma x