I was diagnosed on November 9, 2002 at the age of 54.

Sandra

I started having pain in my left breast in July 2002. I also had some swelling, pain, peau d'orange and some pink blotches. The swelling went down and returned a month later.

I saw a Consultant in November, had a mammogram but nothing could be seen because there was so much inflammation. My lymph nodes were infected. I then had a biopsy on the following Monday and was told I had ibc and that it was Stage III. I had never heard of ibc before.

I started chemotherapy in December and after three sessions had a scan and was told the tumour had disappeared. I continued with the chemotherapy and my breast and lymph nodes went back to normal. During treatment I had some sort of infection in my mouth and went into hospital for 5 days where I had a blood transfusion.

At the end of my chemothrapy treatment,my Oncologist told me that it was 'fantastic and amazing' that the tumour had disappeared and that this only happens in about 5% of cases. I still can't believe it's gone. In November 2006, I will have survived 4 years since my diagnosis, and I feel really lucky to be alive.

It is only in the last month I have had the courage to look up information on ibc, and I feel even luckier to be alive and want to warn other women of this disease.

Please click on the title of the hymn in order to hear the music.

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now can see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

And when we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We'll have no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun.