Love It! September 29 2009

MY HUBBY HAD BREAST CANCER

Lisa and Chris Cotterill underwent every couples worst nightmare when Chris was diagnosed with breast cancer. The couple have been together 14 years and had just had first son in October 1999 when Chris found a lump in his right breast. Over the following ten years the couple battled the deadly disease - until Chris was finally given the all-clear.

The couple have been together 14 years and had just had first son Jordan in October 1999 when Chris found a lump in his right breast.

Convinced it was nothing to worry about he went to the doctor just to get it checked out. They told him not to worry and it was probably only a bit of gristle he had to have taken out so in May 2000 Chris had the lump removed.

A few weeks later he received a phone call and was asked to come into the hospital, when he arrived he was told he had breast cancer. Lisa was sat in that waiting room outside when the nurse came to get her. When she walked in the room and saw tears streaming down Chris’ face, she knew it was bad news. They dissolved into each other’s arms, their hearts breaking.

The pair faced a horrific journey. Chris had to have a mastectomy and have six weeks of radiotherapy. AS young Jordan went through his first steps and first words, Chris was fighting a deadly battle with the cancer. Two years later they were told Chris’ cancer had gone into remission. For five years Chris took the drug Tamoxifen, normally prescribed for female breast cancer sufferers.

Finally by 2005 Chris was given the all clear and they celebrated with family including new son James, now five. Then last July the couple decided to tie the knot, hoping the shadow of cancer was gone from their lives and they could finally start a new phase in their life.

But last October Chris suddenly became violently ill, vomiting all weekend and with an intense pain in his chest. He was so worried he went into see a doctor at A and E who told him he had pulled a muscle and needed six weeks off work doing his job as a courier. But four weeks later the pain had intensified.

He was rushed into hospital for tests and they noticed where Chris had had the mastectomy was incredibly swollen. Blood tests and a sample were taken but doctors came back with good news. Chris went home to celebrate with his family. But just hours later they received a phone call, the biopsy hadn’t taken enough tissue and they wanted him to come back in.

When they performed scans, shadows were clear on Chris’s right breast. The cancer had returned they told him. But this time it was going to be treatable – but incurable. Chris and Lisa were devastated. Newlyweds and with two beautiful boys they saw their world crumbling apart.

Chris was taken into hospital and more chunks were removed from his ribs on his right hand side. As they faced the murky future Chris and Lisa were inconsolable.

But when the tests came back doctors had miraculous news. The tumour was in fact an abcess caused by the mastectomy operation. Chris was safe.

The pair now treasure every moment together and take nothing for granted. They are aware how lucky they are to have each other and thank their lucky stars every day that Chris is ok. He is still on medication and the shadow of cancer will never truly leave them – but they are glad for every minute they have been allowed together with their boys.