Young Macedon Ranges mum writes about cancer struggle

When a Macedon Ranges mum was diagnosed with cancer at just 32 years old, she had no idea how to tell her young son.

Cheryl Slade, with her con Carson. Slade wrote a book about her cancer battle. Picture: Rob Leeson.

Over two weeks, my son Carson, at 20 months old, went from breastfeeding on demand, co-sleeping and never being apart from Mummy overnight to having to stop breastfeeding cold turkey.

I had three minor surgeries, started chemotherapy and ended up in isolation in hospital for five days.

Up until then, Carson was secure in his knowledge that Mummy would feed him and cuddle him every time he went to bed and would be there every time he woke up.

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That all changed in November 2017, when Carson found a lump while I was breastfeeding him. It was tiny but it was making Mummy’s milk taste yucky.

I then got an ultrasound and a biopsy which came back as stage 2a, grade 3, triple negative breast cancer.

I was only 32 years old.

Cheryl Slade with her con Carson, wrote a book about her cancer battle. Picture: Rob Leeson.

I completed 12 intravenous chemotherapy rounds, lumpectomy surgery, 30 rounds of radiation and three months of twice daily oral chemotherapy tablets.

But that wasn’t the worst part. Young Carson was struggling so much to understand what was going on, where Mummy was, and why I couldn’t do the things I used to.

I searched the web, support groups and support centres for anything that could help reassure Carson.

After crying on the phone with my husband James one painful night, he suggested I should write a story myself.

I mused over the words I wanted to say.

I then asked some friends and family to have a read of the manuscript. They encouraged me to make it a reality and submit it to publishers.

I was given the all clear and the words “no evidence of disease” in January.

Mummy is Sick, But I Love You is available in local bookstores and online at facebook.com/ mummyissick or on Amazon.