Her Voice Her Strength

Dear Kind Reader,

How are you ? I hope you are well 🩷

Today I would like to share with you in more detail what took place prior to receiving the diagnosis result.

So, as you know I pushed for a biopsy to take place and requested for this to be administered with a guided ultrasound scan. During my appointment the assigned sonographer did not prepare me for the pain I was about to experience, the way she dealt with me was so ruthless it was as if I was being stabbed aggressively a few times with a huge needle. I was definitely not prepared ! She showed no empathy as I flinched and squirmed, there was a great deal of blood that gushed out of my breast and I literally felt the blood running down the side of my body and onto my hospital gown. 

Once the procedure was done I was wiped down rapidly and the sonographer patched my breast with a medical plaster. I was not provided with any after care nor any extra medical plasters (this is a breach of duty of care). In addition I was told I could wash and wet the area as normal although the biopsy wound was very new and raw … ( I learnt eventually that this was incorrect advice and a breach of duty of care also).

Once, the results came back from this awful biopsy experience. I had to face the music alone by meeting the breast specialist face to face. My appointment was the 17th October 2022 I can never forget this day or date. I recall walking into the appointment room at around 8am and this room was so bright I wasn’t sure if I walking into heaven or a different realm.. Honestly, that room was extremely bright. I knew what time it was when I saw the main breast specialist seated in the middle, a nurse on my left (who was a McMillan nurse) and another trainee nurse on my right. 

The breast specialist tried to make small talk with me. I cut him short and said look with all due respect just give me the news, what is it ? He then dropped the bomb !💣 ‘We have found DCIS breast cancer and we need you to have a mammogram scan today ! (I was still stuck at the we have found). He then said, you are required to have a breast MRI scan this week. The only two things that registered in my mind was the scans, I couldn’t hear anything else. My life started to flash right before my eyes, numbness started to creep into my spirit, then the autopilot mindset and then lastly anger rushed through my whole body. I could not stop thinking 💭 I came to these people 4 months ago, why did they turn me away and say I had nothing to worry about?

Moving forward, I was given a huge green McMillan folder which had all sorts of information regarding breast cancer. A lot was being said however, I zoned out in utter shock and was thinking are these people being serious right now. 

After the mammogram scan, I didn’t say a word I walked home. I messaged my best friend via WhatsApp at 11:50am and wrote; I have cancer they say and I just didn’t eat the whole day, I was just contemplating if I should cancel my pre-booked trip to Romania.

The message I sent my best friend

A few days later I decided to research what the breast MRI scan entailed before going to this booked appointment. I learnt that this breast MRI scan included a contrast dye that would be injected into my vein through my arm during the procedure. Due to the negligence I experienced from this hospital I ensured I read and researched for more details. The purpose of this MRI scan was to help them create clearer images and find any outlines of abnormalities more easily… My best friend accompanied me to this appointment.

I called the McMillan nurse after this appointment and I told her l have a holiday booked for my birthday and I have every intention of going. Therefore, she can schedule an appointment for me when I return to discuss their treatment plan.

Ladies and gentlemen I celebrated my birthday although I really did not want to, I went to the Oblix at the shard by force by fire as my friend refused to let my birthday go by without a celebration.

However, I asked what am I celebrating? A cancer diagnosis… well, hey she got me outside.

After that I went to my holiday in Romania to see a friend.

Then I came back to face the next sets of music regarding the treatment plan.

During this experience that month I said the following things to God;

You really must hate me…

What are you punishing me for now?

God I just testified in church last month.

Click the picture to see a snippet of the testimony I mentioned

Lastly I said, God seriously… 

I’ll pause here to let you envision and digest that month of October 2022.

Thank you for reading and tuning in, I will write to you again.

See you soon.

Warm wishes

Andréa Xxx 💕