"Leaving aside the bough that produced beauty's fruit, Inclining toward a bough that no such fruit does show" - Wallada

In 2000, Radiotherapy and Tamoxifen were offered to me as the 'standard' treatment. After much soul-searching I opted for Tamoxifen only. I did not want to put myself through radiotherapy, when it was clear that in my case there was no concrete evidence that this would help. I was not happy to take Tamoxifen, but did not feel confident with alternative remedies on their own. Various things were mentioned from mediation to urine therapy!

Tamoxifen (also known as Nolvadex) and its menopausal side effects wasn't brilliant, but I felt that along with the other changes that I made to my life, that it was my best bet at the time. Taking Tamoxifen at the age of 35 had its own difficulties, particularly as it put an end to our attempts to have children.

For me, the follow-up treatment and its implications were far worse than the surgery. The whole situation has been complicated by an existing medical condition which means that I have a number of problems with my connective tissue. I have incomplete Marfans syndrome which means that I have a variety of problems with some of my tissues and organs. This condition has affected my decisions about my treatment and will continue to do so.

I made a concious decision to have a dairy free and organic diet as far as was possible. This is a combination of Susannah Olivier's nutrition advice and that Professor Jane Plant as shown in the Diet list below:

• No dairy products (including cheese and yoghurt)
• Eat minimum of 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day
• Eat at least 3 portions of oily fish a week
• Use olive oil or cold pressed flax oil
• Eat a portion of soya products 5 days a week
• Eat at least 25g of fibre a day
• Eat 2 tablespoons of linseeds a day
• Buy organic, wherever possible
• Have red meat (organic) only occasionally
• Drink at least 1.5 litres of bottled or filtered water a day
• Reduce fat intake and concentrate on healthy fats such as avocado and oily fish.
• Avoid alcohol (this is hard.......but I try and have more beer rather than spirits, although I do indulge in my beloved Bombay Sapphire Gin), sugar, refined grain products, coffee and excess caffeinated tea.
• I'm also taking a cocktail of vitamins and supplements on a daily basis
  

At this point in 2005, I am having chemotherapy and complementary therapies as a follow-up to the mastectomy.

As I am still premenopausal, I am having monthly injections of Zoladex (also known as Goserelin) to switch off my ovaries which has once again put me into menopause. I've been told that this time there is an 80% chance that it will be permanent, so having children is well and truly off the agenda.

Once the chemotherapy is complete I will be taking Arimidex (also known as Anastrozole) for at least 2 years. This is a post menopausal hormonal treatment which reduces the amount of oestrogen in the body.