Today, marks a year since I sat in Dr D’s rooms and heard the term DCIS for the first time.

That’s the day my life changed forever (the significant changes to my body of course came later, another bizarre kind of anniversary to mark).

No shock, no fear, no grief, no sadness – just relief he was detailing what could be done to prevent it from progressing to the next stage and determination to get the process underway. Boy, did I feel lucky.

The sadness and at times disbelief is only just starting to seep in. What a year?!

For as long as I live I think April 23 – date of diagnosis, May 20 – date of bilateral mastectomy (plus to a lesser degree the surrounding dates on which I had the lumpectomies, partial mastectomy and later the reconstruction) will always hold a bit of a heavy, painful weight. It thankfully will be balanced by the gratefulness I feel to be here.

Thanks again, to everyone involved. Happy Anniversary.