Primrose Patient Connie Davidson Shares Her Story
Connie Davidson, from Looe was diagnosed with Grade 2 invasive breast cancer which required a bilateral mastectomy, aged just 62.
Five years on and Connie says she has never felt so fit and healthy and wanted to share her story to show others that there is light at the end of what some may call, a dark tunnel.
Connie explains more; Right at the start, I remember noticing that I had lost a bit of weight and complained to myself, in front of the mirror, that I never manage to lose weight off my bust. It was then at this point that I discovered a lump…
I phoned the GP right away who told me to come into surgery immediately. We then sat and spoke about my age, health, and family history and although he was unable to confirm it, he did advise me that it could possibly be breast cancer and so he arranged an urgent referral to the Primrose centre for me.
I drove the 6 miles home and there waiting for me was an answerphone message, inviting me to Primrose for my first appointment
I remember it all happening so quickly, from finding the lump, to being referred to Primrose to then receiving my diagnosis shortly followed by surgery.
Throughout my whole experience, I remember thinking just how thorough, kind & caring everyone was at Primrose. Once I had my diagnosis the treatment plan was explained clearly and straightforward by both Mr Ramzi and a nurse specialist. I recall feeling safe in their hands.
I wasn’t at all surprised at my diagnosis as my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 46 and died just before her 50th birthday when I was only 15, so I always expected cancer to come a-knockin', and from the age of 50, I always felt that I was living on borrowed time and needed to make the best out of life.
I was given the option of a full double mastectomy or lumpectomy. I opted for a full double mastectomy as I felt that if I had a lumpectomy, I was more likely to be returning to the centre for further operations in the future. I felt that opting for a full mastectomy, would make it less likely that I will need further surgery. Mr Ramzi spoke to me about joining the “POSNOC” trial, which I happily accepted. I was randomised for the no further surgery route, for which I was very relieved, as further surgery would have increased the likelihood of me developing lymphedema. I was rather anxious about lymphedema because I witnessed it in my mother who had it badly.
On the day of the operation, January 5th, 2017, Mr Ramzi informed me that he would not be inserting drains. I said, ok, and thought nothing of it. The operation was straightforward, and I awoke the next morning feeling a bit woozy, but not uncomfortable. At about 9.30, I was visited by the specialist nurse with many leaflets on care and advice. She told me that the first thing was to explain how to deal with my drains. I told her that I didn’t have any. She insisted that I must have, checked my name / dob/ notes etc to make sure she was dealing with the correct patient!! “Oh, well,” she said,” that is a first!”
I was discharged and arrived home at about 4.30 pm. I felt tired, but again, not uncomfortable. I read the exercise leaflets and understood that it would be a long time before my arms would be fully mobile, and several weeks before I could lift my arms above my head however the following morning I was up and out meeting my cycling buddies for coffee followed by a shopping trip where I treated myself to 2 new jersey dresses, that I had to pull over my head.
The following day, it was my birthday, so I wanted to do one of my favourite walks, so we went up to the top of the Cheesewring, one of Bodmin Moor’s highest points, about 4 miles return. I felt exhilarated scrambling up the rocks to the top.
I had my dressing removed at the surgery the next day and the nurse stated that she had never seen such a tidy job and apologised for shedding a tear. In the afternoon, I hung my living room curtains.
The following day on the 10th January my husband, with the dog in tow in a trailer, my daughter and I cycled from Wadebridge to Padstow. We stopped outside the town to eat our packed lunch. When we left, I forgot that I had left my cycling helmet on and attempted to put my daughter’s helmet on top of my own. She laughed and told me to do it again and she would take a picture. It was only later that I realised the significance of the photo; that 5 days after a double mastectomy, I was easily able and painlessly to put my arms above my head - I went home and threw the exercise leaflets away!
I had both chemo and radiotherapy. Chemo was vile, but a pattern soon emerged. I felt ill for a week (not sickness but feeling ill, heavy, lifeless, couldn’t read, watch tv, concentrate or hold a conversation, barely able to move) improved for a week, almost back to normal for a week and then repeat. However, unlike an unknown illness, I quickly came to know what to expect and that there was a definite end date. I remember once, having to sit down twice while slicing a single slice of bread, and when I could finally move from my bed (on about day 5 after chemo) I had to crawl upstairs to the kitchen on my hands and knees. Between chemo 3 and 4 (out of 6), with the blessing of my oncologist, Dr Dubey, I spent 3 days cycling Devon’s Coast-to-coast ride, from Ilfracombe to Plymouth. I don’t recall much of the journey, except rain, rain, and yet more rain, but I felt a great sense of achievement!
When I was feeling my worst, I felt very blessed that, I, unlike many others, had very few external worries; my husband was looking after me, my children were grown and living away from home, I was retired so didn’t have to think about work, our mortgage was paid, and although far from wealthy we were financially secure.
Radiotherapy was ok. It was tiring but I think a great part of that was the travelling to and from Derriford daily for 5 weeks at different parts of the day. However, again, I kept myself as active as possible, walking cycling and route planning. The weekend following the end of radiotherapy, my husband, dog and I took our very small campervan to Holland, where we stayed for 3 weeks. During that time, we cycled a total of 2 thousand miles. After a consultation with Dr Dubey, I started on a further trial, the Adasprin trial, which I have now completed.
If I could give anyone reading this now who is about to start or has just started treatment any advice, it would be this; Keep busy, stay active, and exercise, exercise, exercise. Plan for a future event (a cycle tour of Holland perhaps). Walk, walk a dog, borrow a neighbour’s dog, or borrow a dog via borrowmydog.com. Get a cat or two, continue with hobbies; I love cooking, gardening, and dressmaking. Focus on the future and positive things, count your blessings that you have been given a literal lifeline. Use the services of The Mustard tree or one of their triangle centres – they offer loads of support, with kind staff and plenty of activities available if you need them.
Yes, I do have several side effects, but none are severe, and I can live with them if they are ultimately going to extend my longevity and quality of life.
As mentioned earlier, I had always expected to get cancer and I was thankful that I was 62 before it struck. I am so very grateful to the NHS and the wonderful free treatment I received. I try not to waste any time and honestly realise how lucky I am. I cycle twice a week and use an indoor smart training cycle 4 days a week. I have recently become a grandmother for the first time, I have gone sea swimming weekly for the last 5 years now. I play the saxophone in a concert windband and do a daily French lesson. I treated myself to a sit-on kayak the year before last, spend hours trying to tame a large garden and I go camping at every opportunity.
All in all, I think much more positively now. I am much more aware of daily goals and the passing of time. However, I have become much more intolerant of people who waste their time, are unpunctual (wasting my time), who drink, smoke, or take drugs, or complain. My mantra is, get over it, move on...
I would like to end by saying that I love being flat-chested; I can wear cutaway sporty racerback tee- shirts and proper swimsuits. Clothes fit much better and don’t have to struggle with my shoulders aching and I no longer have to wear big ugly bras – it’s just slightly problematic that I had to get breast cancer to realise just how darn inconvenient my breasts were.
The Primrose Foundation would like to thank Connie for sharing her story with us. If you too would like to share your experiences, please do get in touch info@primrosefoundation.org
Please be aware that The Primrose Foundation share patient stories as told by the person that has received the treatment and walked through our services therefore the content of each story told is that of the patients. Each person’s story is different, as is their opinion on the treatment option they chose.