The Woman Behind
Rose Gold Warrior
I'm Fiona
Ordinarily, I would probably say something like ‘I’m really excited you are here!’
But, considering the subject matter, there is always the possibility that you are here because you or someone you care about has cancer. Which isn’t exciting at all.
If that is the case then you are so welcome and I hope that this blog provides some respite for you. If you are here because you are simply interested, then you are totally welcome too!
I originally started this blog as a secret Facebook Page back in the day when they existed, until I realised, admittedly with some persuasion, that others may find what I have to say interesting or indeed helpful.
This is however, my journey and no two cancer journeys are exactly the same, whatever similarities appear on the surface.
It is not a delicate blog or advice or suggestions. It is raw and sarcastic; sometimes melancholy sometimes humorous. Much like myself!
I love writing this blog for many reasons. I find it cathartic; it clarifies a lot of what I am feeling but somehow can’t say out loud, and I get to post pictures of whatever I want – who wouldn’t want that!
Some sobering facts about Breast Cancer
- Around 55,000 women and 370 men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK.
- Every year around 11,500 women and 85 men die from breast cancer in the UK – that’s nearly 1,000 deaths each month, 31 each day or one every 45 minutes.
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women the UK with one woman diagnosed every 10 minutes.
- Almost nine in ten (85%) of women survive breast cancer for five years or more.
- Just over 10,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 50 every year in the UK. Of these, around 7,600 women will be in their 40s.
- Breast cancer in men is rare with just 370 new cases in the UK each year, compared to around 55,000 new cases in women.
- An estimated 600,000 people are alive in the UK after a diagnosis of breast cancer. This is predicted to rise to 1.2 million in 2030
- For many the overwhelming emotional and physical effects of the disease can be long-lasting.
- Breast cancer survival is improving and has doubled in the last 40 years in the UK.
- When diagnosed at its earliest stage, almost all (98%) people with breast cancer will survive their disease for five years or more
- Less than 1% of breast cancer cases in the UK are caused by oral contraceptives.
- 2% of breast cancer cases in the UK are caused by post-menopausal hormones.
- 8% of breast cancer cases in the UK are caused by overweight and obesity.
- 8% of breast cancer cases in the UK are caused by alcohol drinking.
- 5% of breast cancer cases in the UK are caused by not breastfeeding.
Chemotherapy & Me
Hands up who wants chemo?? Noone? Now there’s a shock. Chemotherapy. A word that
The Results Are In!
There are some results that you are excited to receive. Positive exam results that
The Time Inbetween
It’s now been just over a week since my surgery; since I got run
