Every individual’s breast cancer experience is unique to them. This experience is often described as a ‘journey’, on cancer websites, in books or leaflets, and in videos. The “journey” means your personal experience that starts when cancer is first suspected or tested for. Although everyone’s journey is different and personal to them, it usually follows this path:
routine screening or first noticing symptoms –-> tests –> cancer is confirmed –> treatment(s) –> side effects of treatment –> recovery, and/or living with cancer, and/or palliative care
The “cancer journey” might also describe the experience of someone close to the person with cancer, such as a partner, parent or child.