Welcome to Titivate: My Breast Cancer Blog

A raw, honest and passionate account of my breast cancer journey to help other cancer warriors.

About me

My name is Gemma Fish, I have always been known by my full name since I was a kid and it’s stuck now! I’m the youngest of six daughters to my amazing parents, Linda & Graham, who are my absolute world.

My diagnosis

On the 17th February 2023 I was diagnosed with Lobular Breast Cancer in my right breast. The tumour was 6x8cm, it was classed as Grade 2 and it was Oestrogen positive but HER2 negative. My lymph nodes had also tested positive for abnormal cells - and so began my breast cancer journey.

For the first time in my life I was so content and then this curve ball hits, but as with everything in my life I decided there and then that I was going to ght this head on. There was NO WAY that anything was taking the peace and happiness I’d nally achieved. It’s been a whirlwind of appointments with my army of consultants, nurses and specialists. In March I had a single mastectomy and16 lymph nodes removed. In April I started chemotherapy, which lasts a few months, followed by radiotherapy after....phew!

All the signs I ignored

Since I'd been pregnant with my daughter, my right boob had not been right, but as with most things I ignored it and fobbed it o as “pregnancy changes”.

As expected in pregnancy my boobs grew... but at very di erent rates and my right boob never caught up with the left. Then my beautiful Rosie arrived and life took on a completely di erent pace - a total whirlwind of bottles, nappies and zero sleep!

As my body started to return to its new normal post pregnancy state, once again both boobs behaved di erently; the right shrunk back to pre-pregnancy size, but the left stayed at its new size which was three cup sizes bigger!

Over time, my right boob continued to change. Each morning in the shower I would look at it and think about contacting my GP, but as with any busy mum as soon as I stepped out of the shower there was a million and one things to do and I promptly forgot until the next morning and repeat for the next 16 months!

FINALLY, in February 2023, on a random Wednesday morning, I rang the doctors and thankfully got an appointment that afternoon. O I went, convinced it would be nothing but with a niggly feeling that it wouldn't be. Once my GP had examined me, I could tell that this was serious. She completed an urgent referral and told me to be prepared...

I ALWAYS want to give something back

The support and care I’ve received from the Bolton Breast Care service has been absolutely amazing since Day 1. My rst task is to help raise money for a garden at the Chemotherapy Unit for patients, families, nurses, sta and volunteers to enjoy. If you’d like to help me fundraise, please visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bolton-breast-cancer

Follow my journey and get in touch at: www.titivateblog.co.uk

Facebook @titivateblog

Please share with all your friends and family and PLEASE check your bodies regularly.