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Fast forward to the age of 43 and my husband noticed it so off to my GP I went. He checked the lump ordered an FNA which came back negative and life carried on.
So now I'm 46 the lump is getting bigger, my sister is hounding me to have a mammogram as I didn't get called up at 45. Yeah I'll get around to it. My boss called a meeting to tell the staff that she has breast cancer, she is 40! A few months go by and another staff meeting is called to tell us that a colleague has pancreatic cancer (she has since passed away).
I get to thinking about my lump that is rather large and decide I should get it checked out again.
Off to my GP I go. He thought it was a waste of time getting sent to a specialist as I was too young to have breast cancer. I insisted that he send me to a specialist. I went to my first appointment, the lump was checked and they were quite concerned. Off for a mammogram and then a core biopsy. The following week I got the news that it was breast cancer.
Three weeks later I had my breast removed.
The operation went well and they got good margins. Turns out my lump was just under 5cm! I didn't cope well with the drugs they gave me and sat up too quickly when I was being sick and ruptured something. Luckily my surgeon was just coming in and quickly put pressure on and off to theatre again to stop the bleed.
I guess I am lucky (if there is such a thing). I had four rounds of chemo (I got neutropenia after my first session and was in isolation for a week and then had to inject myself after the remaining sessions) and 15 sessions of radiation and now I'm on the lovely tamoxifen for the next five years. (Boy does that drug mess you up)!
So now I'm 46 the lump is getting bigger, my sister is hounding me to have a mammogram as I didn't get called up at 45. Yeah I'll get around to it. My boss called a meeting to tell the staff that she has breast cancer, she is 40! A few months go by and another staff meeting is called to tell us that a colleague has pancreatic cancer (she has since passed away).
I get to thinking about my lump that is rather large and decide I should get it checked out again.
Off to my GP I go. He thought it was a waste of time getting sent to a specialist as I was too young to have breast cancer. I insisted that he send me to a specialist. I went to my first appointment, the lump was checked and they were quite concerned. Off for a mammogram and then a core biopsy. The following week I got the news that it was breast cancer.
Three weeks later I had my breast removed.
The operation went well and they got good margins. Turns out my lump was just under 5cm! I didn't cope well with the drugs they gave me and sat up too quickly when I was being sick and ruptured something. Luckily my surgeon was just coming in and quickly put pressure on and off to theatre again to stop the bleed.
I guess I am lucky (if there is such a thing). I had four rounds of chemo (I got neutropenia after my first session and was in isolation for a week and then had to inject myself after the remaining sessions) and 15 sessions of radiation and now I'm on the lovely tamoxifen for the next five years. (Boy does that drug mess you up)!
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So now I'm just past two years and I have had my reconstruction.
I chose to have a TRAM (tummy tuck) and I had plenty of tummy to use. I also had to have a reduction on my remaining breast to even things out. Again the operation was a success. I was mobile by day two and waking unaided by day four. Sleeping on my back became a pain but that is the only position that I could sleep in. Two weeks post op and I developed an infection in my breast. I was admitted to hospital to have the wound cleaned and debrided. I went home with a vacuum dressing which I had on for about five weeks! Three weeks after that infection I also got one on my tummy wound. That was caught quickly but took a long time to heal. I also had a small vacuum dressing in that. I had a reduction in my remaining breast six months after my reconstruction. That operation went well, no complications! Three months ago I had new nipples made (I chose to have the other nipple removed for better symmetry), and some scar revision to correct the nearly scars creating by my infection). They have healed well but I am now very allergic to hypafix. I am due to get another small procedure done in December. A little wedge taken out of my left breast to even things up and some fat grafting on my right breast. Then all that's left to do is get the areola tattooing done. |
This is me today
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I turn 49 at the end of December and it's been a long road to get here but I am happy with my reconstruction. My breasts don't look the same naked but in clothing they look fine. I was always rather large busted so I am enjoying the new smaller size. It's fun to go bra shopping as there is so much more choice for me now! Ka kite anu xx
