This is Barbara's true-life experience of breast cancer. How on one Sunday morning in the middle of May 2002, just before her 56th Birthday, on self-examination, Barbara found 'The Lump'.
'The Lump', which is something every woman dreads, drastically changed the months ahead. In fact, once having suffered breast cancer, life is never quite the same again.
On her first visit to the breast clinic the thoughts furthest from Barbara's mind is that she was soon to encounter a mastectomy, and believe it or not, of her own choosing. In a very short period of time from finding 'The First Lump', there was soon to be found a second. Not long after, there is a third, and this time in her right breast. Surely this could not be happening -- Barbara could not believe that it was happening to her. This was something one read about, something one heard about, but never thought it would happen to them.
Although Barbara had her husband to help her through this terrible ordeal, she also found it of immense help to Get it off her Chest by diarising her experience. In this book Barbara describes not only her intimate private thoughts and personal feelings, but also the chronological sequence of events including the struggle with the bureaucracy of the Health Service, her emotions and fears and those who are closest to her. Finally, Barbara gives us a glimpse of her new life in France and the possibility of another book.
'The Lump', which is something every woman dreads, drastically changed the months ahead. In fact, once having suffered breast cancer, life is never quite the same again.
On her first visit to the breast clinic the thoughts furthest from Barbara's mind is that she was soon to encounter a mastectomy, and believe it or not, of her own choosing. In a very short period of time from finding 'The First Lump', there was soon to be found a second. Not long after, there is a third, and this time in her right breast. Surely this could not be happening -- Barbara could not believe that it was happening to her. This was something one read about, something one heard about, but never thought it would happen to them.
Although Barbara had her husband to help her through this terrible ordeal, she also found it of immense help to Get it off her Chest by diarising her experience. In this book Barbara describes not only her intimate private thoughts and personal feelings, but also the chronological sequence of events including the struggle with the bureaucracy of the Health Service, her emotions and fears and those who are closest to her. Finally, Barbara gives us a glimpse of her new life in France and the possibility of another book.
