So on Friday the 21st March 2025 I had my 6-monthly check ups on Harley Street following my well documented Breast Cancer journey.
It’s always an anxious time. I was full of positivity all week leading up to the appointments, but despite very best efforts…you just never know for sure.
First up was my “delightful” Gynaecology ultra sound. One of the drugs that I am on, Tamoxifen, can sometimes cause ovarian cysts. I have already had fibroids in the past, hence the need for the examination.
Blood works were then taken before I was then sent for a heart ECG. One of the huge side effects of the EC chemotherapy drug is that it can cause a condition known as “cardiotoxicity” which can damage the heart, sometimes temporarily, but in severe cases it can lead to permanent heart damage.
The Royal Surrey hospital in Guildford made a huge catalogue of mistakes in dealing with me in the early stages of my cancer journey. One such mistake is that they didn’t initially screen my heart to ensure that it was OK before administering the powerful EC drug.
Realising their mistake, they then scanned my heart and found that the 2 rounds of EC that I had taken had caused heart damage. This on top of being wrongly administered a drug that could have killed me due to me having sickle cell trait, prompted me to leave and receive treatment privately.
Luckily for me I was then placed under thee care of world class cardiologists who set about a plan to reduce the stress on my heart.
The Results!
When I spoke to my oncologist on Tuesday I was simply blown away by my results – all clear!
The blood test results all came back fine except for slightly anaemic ( always the case with sickle cell trait!), my fibroid was still dead with no sign of additional cysts, and my heart’s left ejection fraction had recovered to normal levels – so much so that they feel I can now come off of heart medications after speaking to the cardiologist next month.
I made a video for Instagram straight after hearing the news, I seem a little crazy but I was totally overwhelmed!
Sad News
There was however some very sad news when I was having my bloods taken. An incredible nurse “Z” looked incredibly stressed. She stated that her workload has almost tripled in the last 12 months due to the number of new cancer cases that she is dealing with. Worse still, whilst cancer used to be a disease associated with aging, it is now indiscriminately attacking people of all ages in much higher numbers than ever before, children included.
Speaking with forward thinking oncologists, they also now mention how cancer is returning to those treated for cancer in higher numbers than ever before, despite the improved successes of the treatments. One of the main reasons for this in some cases (but definitely NOT all), is due to many patients simply returning to their former lives and not changing their mindsets, behaviours, nutrition and exercise habits. Sadly, returning to your old ways of living which enabled cancer to thrive may not be the best way forwards post treatment.
| I’ve learned many lessons on my journey and made so many very necessary changes that I will carry forwards with me now forever. I’ll also be coaching other awesome people how to do the very same. Wishing you all an awesome weekend, and an awesome Mother’s Day to all of those beautiful Mum’s out there! Until next time, Vanessa x |
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