Jo's Pink Ribbon 🎀 Morning Tea.

My Story

So it kind of all kicked off after I went to my friends Pink Ribbon lunch last yr 2023. I knew I had a couple of lumps and so I decided to go and get my Mammogram. The day of my Mammogram was a long day because after my Mammogram they wanted to do a biopsy so I had to go back in the afternoon to be put back in the Clamping Mammogram machine and whilst being clamped down and lying down they then did a biopsy on my right side. After they had finished they left a huge bruise behind and I was feeling pretty nervous and sore but glad I had gone for the mammogram and glad they had done a biopsy.

A few wks later I got a call to go back to get the results and it was not the results I was wanting,. I got told I had Breast Cancer, It was a huge shock to me and my husband and later on to my kids, It was my worst nightmare come true. Me and my husband got introduced to a surgeon who we had heard was very good and he was recommended by some one in our family, We decided to go with him and go private and found out we would be going to Bowen Hospital in Wellington.

After A few more appointments with my surgeon and a couple with a plastic surgeon a surgery date was booked for the 1st Aug. Inbetween the time from the mammogram and seeing my surgeon I had told my surgeon that I had a lump on my left side aswell that hadnt been found with the Mammogram and so he had to do a biopsy from the lump on my left side,  Unfortunately the results came back with breast Cancer on that side too wich was very upsetting. So I was booked in for a Double Mastectomy with Skin sparing Expanders put in.   I slowly got through my 6 wks of recovery and then I was going to start my Treatment in September starting with my 4 sessions of chemo over 3 months I was very  Lucky that  my mum was able to come over from the uk to be with me during my chemo sessions. 

 It was so great having her here, during my 3 months of chemo my mum and I thought to make some Drain bags together to give back to Bowen Hospital, we made about 50 bags to give them , so each time we went back for a session we took some bags back with us . Before my chemo started I had a porta cath fitted that they would then use for my chemo line, during my chemo sessions I used a Cold Cap as I was very scared about loosing my hair,   over the time I did loose a little hair but I kept the majority of it even though my mum went wig shopping with me for just incase I lost all my hair.   I managed to get through my chemo by the end of Nov and by mid Dec I started My 15 sessions of Radio Therapy. I only had radiotherapy on my left side as that was the worst side . In the middle of my Radiation I unfortunately got Covid but I still went in for my Radiation Sessions.  I finished my Treatments in the beginning of Jan this yr (2024)   

It has definitely been a physical and  emotional Roller Coaster since being on this Rd.  I still have one more surgery to go to swap out the expanders for implants. 

 I am hosting my Pink Ribbon Morning Tea so that I can fundraise and give  back to a very good cause and one that is now close to my heart. I want to thank my family and friends for all their wonderful support during this hard time. 

I'm hosting a Pink Ribbon Breakfast because I got diagnosed with Breast cancer June 2023 and have been on my own personal journey and since then I am now half way through my journey I want help give back and raise money to help.