Sue Buzzeo
In 2004 Sue found herself dealing with the fallout of the breakdown of her fourth marriage. Vowing never to marry again, she met Mark during a residential training course. Despite all her reservations and her determination not to fall in love, she realised that she had found a man who loved her like no other. On the day of their house move into their new home and new life together, she found a lump in her right breast. Within ten days it was confirmed, she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and needed an operation immediately. Sue then faced an aggressive course of chemotherapy over a six month period, followed by radiotherapy.
This is the story of a very ordinary woman, a wife and mother of six, who has had quite an extraordinary life. It tells of her thoughts, feelings and emotions as she faced up to the prospect of losing her breast and dealing with the tough treatments that followed. Sue, like many diagnosed with cancer, did not know what to expect and so she has written this book with the hope that is will provide encouragement and inspiration for those in a similar situation.
Sue very honestly talks of her relationship with God and how the cancer affected her outlook and how, just when she felt that too much had happened in her life for God ever to be able to play a part, there was an incredible catalogue of events that took place giving her the message that God had never left her side.
For every copy sold, a donation will be made to Breast Cancer Care and Cancer Research in the hope that with this support, further advancements can be made in the fight against cancer.
Sue is a 47 year old who has had rather an extraordinary journey in her life. She has been married and divorced four times having to deal with very controlling relationships, being abused in a violent relationship, finding her husband having an affair and dealing with an alcoholic.
She has lived not only in the UK but also in South America and France. Having found herself on more than one occasion a single parent, she has fought to keep her children and at times holding down three jobs to keep food on the table.
Sue is now happily married with six children, which include two step sons. In 2004 Sue was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to fight hard against the disease which threatened to end her life in six months if she did not start treatment.
All her life experiences have made Sue what she is today, determined, a fighter and an optimist. She has had a personal relationship with God since being a young teenager but that relationship was challenged as she lost her father suddenly in an accident during her twenties. Angry with God, she was determined to live her life, her way. Only now can she testify to the incredible events that occurred in her life that proved to her just how much God loved her and how He would never walk away.
This is Sue's first book that she has written and she hopes that it will encourage and inspire other cancer suffers and their families. She also hopes that it will be a tool to raise money for Breast Cancer Care and Cancer Research.
I was called back for the mammogram results and told that there was another test I needed to have and that was a biopsy. Led into a room opposite the consulting rooms, there was a nurse by the bed and a doctor looking at my mammograms. She was not looking too pleased and no matter how hard I stared at the films, they told me nothing. It was all a bit of a black and white pattern. The doctor had to do the customary poke and prod and then she told me that she would be taking a biopsy from the lump so that it could be tested further.
Tested for what I wanted to ask, but by now I was saying nothing. I knew what the answer was but so far the C word had cleverly not been mentioned. So there was no way I was going to bring it into the conversation. This was not funny, I thought as I winced when the needle went in deep. All the jokes we had cracked in the morning seemed such a long time ago and this was serious stuff. The nurse was very sweet and made sure that I felt comfortable. She said that I was doing well, whatever “well” was supposed to mean. If it meant that I was lying on this bed totally terrified whilst some random doctor stuck a huge needle into my breast was doing well, then she was right. It hurt, but not as much as I had thought it would then the needle was removed and I quietly got dressed again waiting to be told what would happen next.
The biopsy was to be sent off for tests and I would get them back in two hours at the latest. The doctor told me to go off and have some lunch then come back for the results. Have some lunch!! Was she mad, how on earth was I supposed to have lunch? Within one hundred and twenty minutes you could turn my life upside down and you suggest I have lunch. I thought they must be on a totally different planet.
As I left the room I started to walk back to the waiting room and Mark was there. He looked up and seemed pleased. He thought we were going home as I had removed the gown I had been wearing all morning and now I was dressed.
“Well? What did they say? Are we ready to leave?”
“I’ve had a biopsy and I need to wait for the results. I have been sent here to get you so that we can have some lunch.”
Mark’s face fell, then almost immediately he stood up and put his arm round me,
“Whatever happens we are going to be fine. Common babes and let’s get a coffee.”
We left the clinic and headed off to the coffee shop. Mark had a coffee and a sandwich and I had a cup of tea with a scone and blackcurrant jam. It was so hard to eat anything, but as I had not had much breakfast I thought I ought to try and get something down me. It was so surreal. Two people sitting in a canteen waiting to hear what could be the biggest news in their lives, having tea and scones to pass the time of day.
We waited our two hours and then headed back to the clinic. When we went in the silence hit us, as all the hustle and bustle of the morning had vanished. There were now only two couples sitting there, ourselves and another couple whom I remembered from this morning. The other lady was called first and getting up she asked if she could bring her partner with her, which she did. Within fifteen minutes they emerged from the consultant’s room looking radiant. We could hear them talking about going out for a take away that evening and who they were going to phone first when they got into the car park.
I was then called, and as I stood up and took a step to start walking forward the nurse asked,
“Would you like to bring your partner?”
Oh my god, that is it. It is bad news. Why would they want my partner to come with me? My thoughts were racing in my head as I turned
