TODAY WE ARE THRILLED TO WELCOME BACK OUR GUEST AUTHOR, DEBORAH E FOX, WHO IS SHARING AN EXCERPT FROM HER DEVASTATING STORY, 'CANCER CAN GO AND DO ONE'. #RWRTeamBlog #ReadWriteRepeat
My Journey
My journey began in February 2025. I had reached the age when you are summoned to have a mammogram. Amazing, something else to look forward to, what fun. I had the mammogram, which I have to say isn't as bad as a smear, and thought that's that for a few years. Ha ha, that's where you are wrong, Miss Fox. I received a letter two weeks later. I needed to have a follow-up scan, ultrasound and possibly a biopsy. I went back to the hospital. I didn't think there was anything wrong. I just thought maybe the mammogram hadn't been done fully and it needed doing again. Wrong again. I needed the full works: mammogram, ultrasound and a biopsy. Trust me!!!!!
It wasn't long before I received another letter, this time inviting me to the Jasmine Centre, the breast cancer clinic at Doncaster Royal Infirmary. I still had no idea there was anything wrong. I couldn't feel a lump; I wasn't unwell, other than menopause aches and pains. Me and my partner Paul were called into a room, and I was told to put a surgical gown on, green, not becoming at all. The door opened, and four people walked in. I remember saying, “This isn't an event; I've not sold tickets!” I was examined by two consultants, who talked amongst themselves about the fact they could “feel” something. I was lying there thinking, Hello, there's a person fastened to that boob!
They told me to get dressed, and I sat down for what was coming, the C bomb!!! I can't fully remember what was said next. All I could think about was that my colleague had just gone on maternity leave, so I remember pointing out, “I can't have cancer; there will be no one in Debits!” Random, I know, but that's how my mind works. My job is important, and I was going to be the only one doing it while my colleague was off.
Paul asked the questions. My mind went blank. I felt like I was in a dream; someone pinch me.
The two consultants left, and the support nurse and her colleague stayed. I remember the first thing my support nurse said: “I'm so sorry this has happened to you.” She brought me back down to earth, to focus on her.
I said, “Thank you, but don't worry, it wasn't your fault. You didn't give it to me.”
She explained what would happen next and that the operation to remove the lump would be organised very quickly. We were both in shock, and she was really aware of this, so we left the hospital and went straight to see my mum and dad. I don't need to write about telling mum and dad; you can imagine how upsetting that conversation was.
The days that followed were weird. My phone felt like it was ringing every few minutes with appointments and follow-up questions. My head was spinning with trying to keep up. It was overwhelming. I didn't like this ride I’d found myself on, and I wanted to get off.
We went to see my support nurse a week later, and all my appointments were booked. Before they could remove the lump, they would insert a Magseed into the middle of it so that when they operated, they would know exactly where it was, and they would get what they call a ‘clearance’ around the lump as well. They also wanted to remove four lymph nodes; there wasn't any cancer showing in them, but they wanted to 100% check everything.
The week leading up to the operation was hectic. I think I had a hospital visit every day. By the end of that week, they had more of my blood than I did!
The operation was on a Friday, early. Paul couldn't come in with me; he had to drop me off and go home. He actually went to work to keep his mind off (or try to keep his mind off) me. Not easy. I've always said it's harder for the family than the person having the operation. I know what's happening, but they are completely in the dark and just hoping no news is good news.
I went for the operation at 9 a.m., or, sorry, I went to sleep, so I’ve got no idea of what they did to me. I did ask for a spray tan while I was under, but I was still as white as a sheet when I woke up, (rubbish NHS). I came around really well, and all I wanted was food, and lots of it. I’m gluten/dairy intolerant, so Paul had packed me a picnic to have when I came round. They called him to tell him I was awake and hungry (no surprise), and that he could collect me in about an hour. At 1 p.m. I was waiting in the car park to go home. He asked me, “Did you manage to eat something?” He's only known me for thirty years, so he should know better.
I had a month off work to recover. I couldn't sleep on my left side at all because the pain made it uncomfortable, so we bought a pregnancy pillow to trap me and stop me from rolling onto my left breast. It was like being cocooned and was so comfy, it definitely helped. I had exercises to do every day, twice a day. They were quite easy, so I did my own exercises: gardening, painting, walking. I wasn't going to let this stop me. After the month off, I went back to work. I wanted to get back to normal. As far as I was concerned, I would have two weeks of radiology, and that would be the end of my cancer journey. How wrong was I??!!
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AUTHOR BIO
Deborah Fox lives in Yorkshire with her partner Paul. She currently works for a large electrical distributor, as well as being a budding author.
Like many children, Deborah spent her time inspired by stories from AA Milne to JM Barrie, and to this day her favourite story was and still is, Winnie the Pooh! Her writing talents didn’t materialise until later in life as most of her childhood was spent dancing and performing.
Deborah’s passions are the outdoors, gardening, interior design, dogs and cinema. She has always been intrigued with all things supernatural and the time presented to her during COVID, and the inspiration from the sad passing of her dog Jake, was the start of her first novel ‘Second Hand Rose.’
With the support of family and friends and Blossom Spring agreeing to publish her story, it has fulfilled the dream to become a published author and has given the encouragement to write more stories.
My website has all the links to my socials.
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COMING SOON: On Sunday, 8th November, we are thrilled to welcome back our guest author, Robin Leeman Donovan, who is sharing Chapter 22 of her novel, 'I Don't Know Why They Killed Him; He Wasn't Really That Annoying'.
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