Support Erin in the Fight Against Breast Cancer

Well, it seems an appropriate time at the end of Breast Cancer Awareness month to publicly announce that at 25 years of age I have been diagnosed with an Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Breast Cancer.

I found out almost a month ago and the last month has been a whirlwind of appointments and blood tests...I have had more needles poked into me in the last month than I have in my whole life. I begin Chemo in mid November and I face 6 months of chemo, then surgery and then a further 9 months of drug therapy and possibly radiation treatment. Currently I am undergoing a very fast IVF treatment to harvest some eggs before chemo nukes my ovaries which involves scans every few days, injecting myself with hormones every night and currently feeling like my ovaries are on steroids and about to punch their way out of my stomach. On top of that I have a cold and a toothache so it's been hard to keep my head up these past few days.

I wanted to announce this publicly for a couple of reasons. Firstly I need everyone's support as I am bloody scared and it's going to become pretty obvious soon anyway when I start Chemo and go bald. Secondly, now that I have had some time to deal with this I want to use this as an opportunity to raise awareness that it isn't just older ladies who can be diagnosed with this...so to any of my friends and family (including the guys) please make sure you do a regular check, even if you are young.

Also I am very very thankful to be surrounded by so many loving, caring family and friends who have already helped me through the past month of madness, I can't possibly list everyone but a special thanks goes out to my amazing boyfriend Kenaniah who still manages to make me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world even on my worst days and my bestest friend in the whole wide world Sheri McConnell who is on hand everyday with juice, hugs, vitamins and is constantly organizing and sorting things out for me. Much love and a huge thank you to everyone else who has given me their support so far. Love to you all xx