TROUBLING REAL LIFE
When Laura Rose, 39, from Grantham, Lincolnshire, received a shock diagnosis, she never thought it would be a blessing in disguise…
Grabbing my loofah, I lifted my left arm up in the air.
Only as my thumb glanced over my left breast, on 23 March 2021, I felt something strange.
Checking my breasts on a regular basis, Ihad somewhat of aroutine.
However, this time around, panic set in.
There was asmall lump which hadn’t been there the last time I checked.
‘I’ve found something,’ I said, telling my hubby Chris, now 42, as I got out of the shower. ‘I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about,’ he insisted.
My mum Stephanie, now 66, also said the same when I told her, too.
However, a mum to Ollie, now 10, and Zara, now five, I knew it was better to be safe than sorry, so I booked a GP appointment straight away.
‘It doesn’t feel like anything worrying,’ the doctor confirmed. ‘However, I’ll refer you to Peterborough City Hospital for testing.’
With aquick two-week turnaround, Ihad a mammogram, biopsy and an MRI scan, too.
In my heart of hearts, Iknew that it was going to be something more serious.
‘I’m sorry Laura,’ the doctor exclaimed on 16 April 2021. ‘You’ve got triple negative breast cancer.’
With Chris next to me, completely stunned, it was a strange moment.
I didn’t cry –I just sat there. I’m agoner, this is it. I’m going to die, I thought.
With the tumour measuring at 2.3cm, I also had another tumour behind my left nipple, one that I would never have found for myself.
Plus, Ineeded to start chemo immediately –amix of two different types as my cancer was so aggressive.
Mum tried to remain optimistic when Ishared my news, but Iknew that she was completely devastated.
And Iknew Ihad to tell Ollie, then seven, the truth.
Zara, then two, was too young to understand.
‘Mummy’s got cancer. I’ll need to go to hospital every week for medicine to make me better,’ I said.
‘Can Mummy die?’ he asked. ‘There is achance that could happen,’ Ianswered.
I didn’t want to lie –Ihad no idea what Iwas up against.
And from that moment on, Ollie asked me to take him to bed every single night ‘just in case’.
Having chemo every day for six months, I wasn’t awife or mum during that time.
Iwas unable to fight off a cold, Ineeded to be hospitalised and received many blood transfusions over that time.
Working for himself, it did make things tricky for Chris.
However, he never kicked up afuss –not once.
And my friends and family rallied around to help look after the kids, too.
During treatment, Iwas also given an injection to pla
