How Roller Derby LITERALLY Saved My Life...

Author: Peeka

It's bout day! I love bout day. I love this game and everything about it. The skating, the hitting, the hugging, the family that is my league and many more.

This was a very normal bout day and today we were going to play S.W.A.T, one my favourite teams to come up against. So, we all travel down like normal, with bags of food and nervous bellies (no matter how often I play, I am always crazy nervous before.)

The game happened and as expected, was all the fun. We had hugs after and all settled down to watch the next game.

Now this is where my day takes an unexpected turn...

During a hard hitting and fast game, I took a hit to the upper part of my chest, and my God it stung! But that's derby for you – it's full contact and we expect to get hit. I think nothing of this until after the game,

The area is still hurting so I go looking for a bruise. "Ooh, what's that?" I thought. It's a new potato sized lump. It's on my right boob and it's very hard. This wasn't there before the game so after some poking and some thinking, I ask a few teamies to have feel and ask their opinion. 

Between us, we decide its a massive, swollen bruise and it will go down in a week or so. Let the day continue as it should.​

We watch the next game, and me and Trev settle down to do our usual eating of all the food. Then it's award time... yay! I can't remember all of them, but Trev got Best Jammer. No shocker there, as she has the best footwork - but to my surprise, S.W.A.T award me with MVP. This is my first ever MVP, as I don't jam, I block. After a few happy tears and a couple of photos, it's home time.

Now my story doesn't end here! Fast forward a month... This stupid lump is still there. I have named it Gertrude. I make an appointment with the doctor. Better safe than sorry. So off I go with Trev in tow to get my chest out for a doctor I've never met. Not the most fun afternoon of my life.

One look from the doctor and I'm referred to the Breast Unit. As you can imagine, my brain is now in overdrive. Within a week, I'm at the Breast Unit having tests. I won't go into too many details, but they included a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy.

I won't lie to you, at this point, I am terrified.​

So, I have a lovely doctor doing all these tests. She is very honest with me, and tells me in her opinion, it's bad news but to wait for the results to come back. So I waited - and on November 30th 2015, I got diagnosed with breast cancer.

Now, I am hoping this gets read by many, as it's a real story. I want to get it out there to help others, giving people the confidence to talk about cancer. It was a random hit in a derby game that alerted me to my lump, literally saving my life - and I now encourage everyone to check themselves regularly. Don't fear cancer, face it and fight it head on - as you would the biggest opposition blocker.

My fight continues.