Evicting Mickey - A Breast Cancer Journey (2025)

11/08/2024

4 years ago this day I found out I had cancer. Which led to a new life. I am a cancer survivor, someone who can get cancer. Most days its in the rear view, but never really far behind. I still take tablets daily to block the hormones that contributed to the cancer, blood tests twice a year and scans every year for the next. I have gone through menopause and fighting to lose weight due to the hormone blockers. But I am a survivor when others don't.

02/10/2021

Welcome to Pink-Tober! It is a month dedicated to raising awareness about Breast Cancer. I will be doing regular posts throughout the month on various aspects of Breast Cancer from Early Detection to what the Journey is like.

Today's Post is on Self Breast Exams. ALL PEOPLE HAVE BREAST TISSUE ON THEIR CHEST**. All Chests/breasts have 'ducts' (See Images Below), and Invasive Duct Carcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed Breast Cancer so All people need to do regular checks of their chests to ensure they understand what their normal breast tissue feels like. If you do regular exams you are more likely to pick up the abnormal sooner. That abnormal may just be a cyst, a fatty deposit, a blocked milk gland, dense breast tissue etc but if it is not normal for your breast...Get it checked!

People who have periods will notice change to their breast tissue and sensitivity over the month, therefore it is recommended to check a week after your cycle starts. Otherwise choose a day of the month and do it that day every month.

*See the pictures below on how to do self breast exams.
Feel free to post any questions on any posts. Please read Warning below.

WARNING: While I am comfortable with Pink-Tober and talking and answering questions about my Breast cancer, not all of the people in the breast cancer community are. This is something we live with all year around, not just in October. Please respect those in your life who have had this disease if they do not want to talk about Pink-Tober or their disease. Having Breast Cancer involves various forms of Trauma and "Pink-tober" can be a trigger for some. Take the tips provided through the month and PLEASE apply them throughout the year so this discomfort is not wasted.

**Much of the information on breast cancer is presented on the Gender Binary (especially images) and I will endeavor to use inclusive language and cover exceptions to this throughout my posts. If you are bothered by inclusive language I really do not want to hear about it as all PEOPLE can get breast cancer regardless of gender identity. If I make a misstep in using inclusive language please contact me so I can do better.

26/08/2021

Yay, 4 cycles down 4 to go of Xeloda (Capecitabine). Doing mostly well!

19/08/2021

Last herceptin treatment (cancer protein blocker) today.no more catheters or trips to chemo ward. I will miss the amazing nurses and other warriors but glad to be done.
There was a little emotion at the end and I hugged all the nurses and support staff that have got me through the last year. Definitely felt like celebrating this milestone. I will still be seeing my oncologist every 2nd Xeloda cycle (Tablets I am on) and talking to him each cycle in between as I still have to get blood tests before each cycle but it is a happy day!

12/08/2021

I had my 1 yr ultrasound/mammogram and I have heard today they have come back clean! Take that Mickey! While I still have a few months of preventative treatment ahead of me...I am currently...CANCER FREE!

01/08/2021

A year ago today my world changed. I was laying in bed and my cat jumped on my chest and it hurt and I was rubbing the pain and found a lump. (A lump I had checked before and was told it was nothing since it was smooth, but it had gotten bigger quickly) The next day I booked in with a Doctor, the day after had it ultrasounded, the day after had it sampled and a week later was told...you have cancer.
It is hard to believe it has been a year. I have been through several surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation and more chemotherapy. I have survived. I have survived when others have not. I have no cancer in my body that doctors can detect. There are days I feel like a survivor and days I wonder when it will attack again. I worked through most of my treatments and I thank my workplace for being so supportive and putting up with my bad days.
I am doing good right now. It feels like only yesterday I 'heard the words' and hear I am a year later 'Victorious'. My hair has grown back and getting people who didn't know what I have been through saying 'oh your hair has changed' Curly now because of chemo and short growing out from losing it in chemo. It the beginning it felt like CANCER, now it just seems like it was some little illness I had to overcome like I have throughout my life. It is still hard to believe that I HAD cancer and 'conquered it'.
My 1 year scan is Thursday. Everyone has paid so much attention to righty, time to make sure lefty didn't get lost in the mix.

14/07/2021

I know its been awhile so here is an update since the finish of Radiation.
My hair is growing back all curly so been getting lessons from my curly friends on managing it! Always wanted curls but learning I have to manage my hair differently than with straight hair.
I started my tablets form of 'Preventative Chemotherapy" which consists of 4 tablets twice daily for 2 weeks then a 1 week off. I am continuing my vitamin regime but had to come off the Tumeric while on chemo. Of the host of side effects it can cause I have gotten at most mild queasiness 1-2 days of the cycle which eating bread is enough to settle.
I got steroid injections in my shoulders since the hormone blockers triggered an arthritis storm in my body and I was in incredible pain top to tail but worse in my shoulders. All I can say is that I am a new woman. The steroid settled my shoulders down, but thankfully also my hips and knees too!
I got the results of my genetic testing and it was 'inconclusive'. What that means is that they don't why I got cancer but of the currently known types of genetic variations that cause it I tested 'negative' (Which means they didn't cause the cancer)
I had a two month checkup after radiation with my Radiation oncologist and she has cleared me for a year till next recheck.

14/07/2021

Warning the below contains some of the 'unfun' parts of the journey:
Something that many cancer patients go through and get the least support over from friends and family often is...'End of Treatment Anxiety". We are cured, we should be happy and moving forward with our lives! What we actually feel is..."What if it comes back and no-one is there to catch it and treat it!" While we are getting treatment it feels like we are 'fighting the battle with a team' but when we are done we are standing there alone with our sword and armor and waiting for the next attack not knowing which direction it will come from. We feel vulnerable now that nobody seems to 'have our back from sneak attacks'. In Breast Cancer we don't get 'remission' with get 'No evidence of Disease' aka NED. Unlike many cancers Breast cancer can recur even after 5 years so we will be living the rest of our lives with the Sword up waiting for the next attack.
I had a meltdown at my 3 weekly Herceptin infusion the day after the Radiation oncology clearance. The Anxiety over losing a team member on the battlefield compounded by a weird sort of survivor's guilt as I sit there with several Stage 4 warriors and here I am 'cured'. I am currently NED and all medication and treatments I am on are to prevent the Enemy coming back and not attacking the enemy directly.
I know I am not alone. When I broke down at the hospital I had the nurses who have been on this journey with me the last ...nearly a year supporting me through it. I will miss them after my infusions are done. (2 more to go). I called Breast cancer care WA and a counselor called me back. I have my monthly support groups. I have friends and family. Most of the time I am fine. There are just moments where I wonder when the enemy will sneak up on me again...or if it will take one of the men and women I have come to know on my journey across the battlefield.

24/05/2021

Radiation is done!

21/05/2021

Sessions 24-29, one more to go! The bell awaits!

Now just deciding what music to have for my last session. Taking suggestions below!

14/05/2021

Back on track. 24 down. 6 to go! Skin has healed up for now.

The theme- star wars movie shirts.

08/05/2021

STAR WARS WEEK! Radiation 19-21 (only 3 this week as halve to take a break to let skin heal) plus bonus star wars scrub top on "May the 4th be with you" and I dressed up for my herceptin infusion this week.

A little frustrating to have a pause in treatment but it's supposed to prevent further damage.

02/05/2021

Collage of first 16!

30/04/2021

18 down, 12 to go! Disney and firefly with a hint of next week's theme.

23/04/2021

14 down 16 to go! Having a low today I think because I have been told to take 2 weeks off work towards end of radiation for recovery. This leads to feelings of "letting people down" . So my monkey brain and self care brain are having a battle at the moment.

In happier news...its DC and Marvel this week. (Yes I have a lot of wonderwoman shirts)

19/04/2021

One of the most interesting aspects of my radiation is that it is in a historic railway workshop where the original architecture was maintained and the medical offices built around it.

18/04/2021

Real talk about chronic illness/invisible illness and 'Spoon Theory'.
(Ie Mental illness, Physical Illness,, Neurodivergent issues, Chronic Pain, etc Also remember that often people are dealing with one or more issues.)

I have Anxiety and Depression, Chronic Pain, Cancer Recovery issues to name a few.

Everyone has good days and bad days, that pendulum can swing greater for those living with chronic illnesses. To have a good hour/afternoon/day we often pay for it with hours/days/weeks of pain/depression/shutdown. Some may see people with chronic illness out having a good time, dancing the night away and think 'They must not be so bad'. In that moment they may not be, but they will hobble home, drug up and stand under a hot shower as 'payment'. Or have to recover from the social overload by shutting down and going reclusive. Or any other variations on the theme depending on what the person is dealing with.

Some refer to this as the spoon theory. Basically a person has a certain amount of 'Spoons' available on any given day. Activities take up certain amount of spoons and sometimes you need to 'save up spoons' to do something fun. They are used up getting dressed, making meals, transport, interactions with people, working etc. Then there are the spoons used in just pretending you are ok so you don't feel a burden on others or even yourself.

The hours of joy with friends are worth the payment when there are spoons to spend, even if have to borrow from the next day or the day before. Also remember to be kind when someone can't socialize as they may already be 'out of spoons' or saving up spoons for something else like work or school.

I know I usually post positivity on here, but I felt like it would be unfair to myself and other chronic illness warriors to not share the flip side.

Evicting Mickey - A Breast Cancer Journey

11/08/2024

02/10/2021

26/08/2021

19/08/2021

12/08/2021

01/08/2021

14/07/2021

14/07/2021

24/05/2021

21/05/2021

14/05/2021

08/05/2021

02/05/2021

30/04/2021

23/04/2021

19/04/2021

18/04/2021

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