My life has been saved. We are fighting to bring another into the world..

My name is Agata, I am 32 years old and was diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago.

As is probably usually the case, it all started completely unexpectedly. When my gynaecologist referred me for an ultrasound, I didn't think I could be sick. Maciek, my husband, and I had just made the decision to expand our family. We were excited by the thought that my belly would soon grow and I would start to feel nauseous in the mornings, only to have him or her appear, a new person who would become the most important person in our lives forever. The test was only to confirm that I was healthy and there was nothing stopping me and Maciek from starting a new phase in our lives. However, the look on the doctor's face suggested that it would not be easy. The doctor looked a little concerned, but only said that I should go for an ultrasound the next day. Nevertheless, I slept very well that night. I even dreamt that we were already three. Nothing foreshadowed such a storm....

I remember the next day as if it was yesterday at the furthest. I remember exactly what I had for breakfast, what I was wearing, I even remember what my favourite radio was playing as I drove to the examination and how beautifully the September sun was shining. On that day, everything came crashing down. My whole world at the time came crashing down. The doctor who performed the examination did not speak to me, but I could see that he saw something wrong. I could feel the blood pulsing in my temples. The silence during the examination was unbearable. Finally he spoke up - Ma'am, you have a lump in your left breast. Unfortunately, it does not look like a simple cyst. Additional tests for tumour markers will be necessary - I felt panic rising. The doctor, of course, began to reassure me by saying that it was only further tests..., that perhaps nothing dangerous... and so on, but I already knew that instead of enjoying my new life, I would have to fight for my own.

That same afternoon I told Maciek about the examination. He couldn't believe it and started talking fast and a lot. I no longer remember what. Then suddenly he hugged me and we cried together. We lay hugged like that all night and neither of us said another word.

After that, things moved very quickly. Further examinations confirmed the worst. Then further consultations, further examinations. We sought another opinion, a second and a third and a fourth... Until finally, we accepted a referral from the doctor and to have the tumour surgically removed.

The cancerous lesion turned out to have been detected at a very early stage and tests ruled out it being a metastasis from other organs. Then I heard another piece of bad news. After the tumour was removed, I was facing chemotherapy. The doctor left me with no illusions. The therapy could very likely cause permanent infertility.

Another blow. After all, we wanted to have a child. Even if I survive, my life will not be as full as I wanted it to be. I was actually howling with pain, the mental kind. I cursed the doctor who gave me this news. Today I thank him for this news.

It was only because he told me about it. It was only because he thought not only of my life, but of the next one that I would not be able to bring into the world through chemotherapy, that we began to look at ways to safeguard my fertility.

We decided to have my ova collected before the operation and chemotherapy. Fortunately we had time to do this.

Today I am post-treatment, not just post-surgery and chemotherapy, but post-first cycle. It hasn't worked yet. We know it can be more difficult. My body has been through a lot. My life has been saved. We are fighting to bring another into the world.