Diagnosis
As part of her diagnosis, Julia was given a pack of information about her treatment, but she struggled to take it all in. As a result of everything she was going through, Julia was left feeling very lonely. Now she wants to share her story to help anyone else who might be starting chemotherapy or living with and beyond cancer.
“I felt so alone.
“Cancer is such a lonely, lonely, journey.”
Julia was scheduled for six rounds between June and September. She suffered from most of the symptoms listed when receiving chemotherapy – something she wasn’t prepared for. From vomiting and severe mouth ulcers to constipation and diarrhoea, Julia really struggled with the aftermath of chemotherapy.
“I have a high pain threshold, but I needed to call the helpline at 3am.”
No one can prepare you
After two rounds of chemotherapy, Julia was told her cancer had started to shrink which boosted her confidence and helped her push through the next few rounds of treatment despite the ongoing struggle with side effects. When the time came to have her sixth and final treatment, Julia was desperate for it to be over. She was told her blood count was too low to have her final round. She was relieved not to have to put her body through another round of chemo but scared what this meant for her cancer.
“Mentally no one can prepare you because no one knows what’s going on inside your body.
“There are lots of side effects and I’ve got them. My cancer has taken part of me away. I don’t look the same, I don’t feel the same, but I’m still here.”
Following the end of her chemotherapy course, Julia went on to have a lumpectomy and in December 2023 Julia was having her nails done when she received a phone call from her cancer nurse specialist. It came as a complete surprise because Julia had a booked appointment with her Doctor a few days later. Fearing the worst, Julia broke down in to tears when her CNS told her the good news – she was cancer free.
Adjusting to her body's new normal
Doctors recommended Julia have a seven-day course of preventative radiotherapy in January of this year followed by Herceptin injections… and she is now living cancer free, but the worry is still there. She finds herself constantly asking herself ‘is that normal’? She has noticed a lot of changes to her boobs since her radiotherapy treatment and it has taken some time to adjust to her body’s ‘new normal’.
Julia wants to ensure no one else feels alone during their treatment. Despite the support of her husband and friends, she really wishes she has spoken to someone else going through treatment to share experiences and reassure her. By sharing her story Julia hopes she can give that reassurance to others.
“I just couldn’t fault any of the care and treatment and I want other people to have the same experience. I want other people to know they can get through this. It’s an ongoing journey. I’ve got to take a tablet for the next 10 years, maybe for life.”
Julia is organising a fundraiser for her 60th birthday at Lilleshall House and Gardens, and various friends are supporting her with entertainment on the night.
“I want to do something to give back, all the Doctors and Nurses in the Centre are an amazing, absolutely fantastic group of people. Lingen Davies does so much for people, we really don’t know how lucky we are to have the Centre here and the support it gives.
“Thanks to everyone there, I’m still here.”
