I thought I would share here so others would as well.
I’m 44, but I was 43 when I found my lump in my right breast. I live in Manitoba.
Every year my best friend and I go on a girls’ trip, and last year’s trip in November was to Portugal. It was 3 days before we were heading back home; the night before, we had had an awesome night watching a professional semi-final soccer game, which I now refer to as the last day of my life carefree without cancer being a thought. On November 27th, I was having a shower before we left for the day and found a large lump in my right breast, and the tears came instantly, and my heart started racing. I knew, I just knew. I had a strong family history of breast cancer, and I couldn’t “move” the lump like a cyst; it felt attached.

When I arrived back in Canada, I immediately called my family doctor and got in right away. She didn’t feel like the lump was concerning because she felt she could move it, AND I had just had my physical in August, and there was nothing there at that time. But she sent me for a rushed mammogram. When I did the call for the “rushed” mammogram, it was not till a month later which was not acceptable to me, so I called the clinic every day, twice a day until finally the receptionist told me to come in the next day, Dec 10th before the clinic opened and they would see me. It’s the appointment I will never forget.

After 3 mammograms and 3 ultrasounds they found a lump in my left breast as well, which the radiologist said right away she thought was nothing concerning, but the right breast…it had breast cancer characteristics. She was very kind and gave me a card and told me that the breast health center would be calling me soon for a biopsy. So, I basically left with a breast cancer diagnosis and went to work. I again received a call for the biopsy, but felt it was too far away, so I again called persistently for a cancellation and got in on December 20th. I waited over Christmas with the dread in my stomach, just knowing and got in on Jan 3rd with my family doctor, and she confirmed that it was cancer. I saw my surgeon oncologist 2 days later, and I was diagnosed with 2 types of breast cancer. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma and extensive high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ. Grade 3, stage 3, and it was around 4 cm. The biopsy showed I was ER/PR negative, but they couldn’t get a result for my HER. So I was sent for a 2nd biopsy. I was told that I would require chemo first and then surgery afterwards. Devastating news.

Fast forward 2 weeks after my biopsy and getting all my scans completed, I met with my oncologist for the first time, completely expecting a treatment plan to start the next week and found out that the 2nd biopsy also did not show any HER results because my tumour was mushy inside, as they described it. BUT the best news you can ask for was that all my scans were clear!

So off to my 3rd biopsy, which was a stereotactic biopsy, and you don’t ever forget that experience.

Finally, I did receive my HER results, and I was HER positive, which was also good news!
So, on February 27th 2025, I had my first cycle of chemo, exactly 3 months after I found the lump in Portugal.
I am having my 6th and final cycle of chemo this week and then surgery in late July. I will also receive Herceptin treatments for a full year, so that will be until March. I’ve opted for a double mastectomy with tissue reconstruction with my family history. I did have genetic testing, but I don’t have any results back yet.

So that’s my story. What I’ve learned is that you’ve got to advocate for yourself. Be that pain in the ass that calls every day for cancellations! I got in for 2 of my biopsies on cancellations as well! As I said, my lump was not palpable in August, and by November it was 4 cm.
After 6 chemo cycles, every 3 weeks, it is down to 1cm.
I’ve lost my hair but not who I am, and cancer can never take away your hope and belief in yourself.

Sending hope, love and strength to all of you and hoping to hear your stories as well.