F*ck Cancer

By Sharryn Thomson (Sydney, Australia)

(Acrylic on canvas)

“I’m Sharryn, 53 years old from Sydney, Australia.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer 6 weeks ago and since then it’s been a whirlwind of doctors, procedures, surgery, appointments and emotions.

Thankfully I was diagnosed at an early stage. I hadn’t had a mammogram for over 10 years but a beautiful angel whispered in my ear ‘it’s time’.

I received the call back a week later. Having had multiple breast cysts over the years I just assumed this would be the case so didn’t worry too much over the Easter long weekend. 

On the Tuesday after Easter, our 30th wedding anniversary my husband and I attended the rooms for further testing, still thinking it was a cyst we were dealing with. 

We were called into a room with a nurse who gave nothing away but just told us the plan of procedures I would be having that day.

Starting with a 3D mammogram then an Ultrasound. It was during the Ultrasound a doctor came in and informed me they’d found a suspicious ‘blobby lump’ on my first mammogram. It was at that moment that the word ‘cancer’ was first used.

I remember lying there and telling that doctor that ‘no, it’s just a cyst’.

Funnily enough, I actually had no cysts in either breasts. Just this ‘blobby mass’.

From that very moment on the 6th April, my life has been turned upside down. 

Right now, I am 6 days post surgery and will find out in 2 more days what my plan of action is.

I’ve always used art to get my feelings out and this new journey will be no different. In fact I’m itching to get back into my art room once I’m feeling on top of things. This canvas I created a couple of days after my diagnosis. The saying ‘art is good for the soul’ is so true. I intend to journal every bit of my story both in word and art form. I need to do this for me, for my soul and for my healing process. ‘Cos cancer sucks ❤️