Scar Work Therapy

Hope everyone's having a fab weekend! I had a great day out yesterday in Leicester with some of the girls from work. We had a 3 course lunch and way too many cocktails! So my 2016 is starting to become a better year already, especially with all the plans I have made so far. After all life is short and you only have one of them!

On Wednesday I went to see my Chemo buddy as it was her Birthday and she said do you fancy a bit of cake, well when she bought it out, I said it's more like a slab of cake, was very yummy though and this was before my dinner hehe!

I had my first appointment with Debbie at The Stables Clinic for my Scar Work Therapy, and after only a 45 minute session we noticed such a difference. My internal scar tissue has stuck to my ribs which is where a lot of my pain is, this has had some slight relief so far. Also the actual external scar has become smoother and less red. This has all been on my right breast so far, the one that had radiotherapy. I'm really looking forward to continuing with this treatment, I'm actually excited by it as it will mean I could become pain free and not need further surgery. I'm so grateful to Debbie for helping me with this part of my journey. I'm still waiting for an appointment with the pain clinic at LOROS.

I've got by Genetics appointment later in the week for tests to see if I have the gene BRCA1 or BRCA2. This will help me decide whether I have an Oophorectomy or a Hysterectomy. I also have an appointment with a specialist clinic to help me with a bra fitting and hopefully fit me with a prosthesis to help even me out until I get lipofilling.

Lipofilling may be done after breast reconstruction to fix small asymmetry issues or defects in the shape or balance of the breast compared to the other breast. Fat tissue is removed from another part of the body, the abdomen, for example, processed into liquid in a lab, and then injected into the reconstructed breast to improve its shape or fullness.

Scar Work information from The Stables Clinic Website

A scar whether from surgery or injury is far more than just a superficial mark on the skin. Think of an iceberg, what you see on the surface belies what is happening underneath. ScarWork not only promotes healing on the scar surface but most effectively of all, reduces adhesions in the underlying tissues. Scar tissue will stick and adhere to surrounding healthy tissue causing secondary problems around the site.

 

You may not have heard of ScarWork as only 65 therapists in Britain are qualified in this specialised holistic scar massage treatment. ScarWork was developed in America by Sharon Wheeler and uses no oils, creams, lasers or machines, it is gentle and pain free and works on new and very old scars just as well. As skin is healing after an operation or accident,  different layers under the skin get stuck together as the body works to close and heal the wound. ScarWork helps gently release these stuck layers to allow better function and movement in the scar tissue and surrounding tissue, muscles and ligaments. ScarWork is primarily about improving how the scar feels and moves, helping smooth and soften ridges, reduce holes, knots and tight ropey scars to create better movement of the tissues and reduce pulling or sticking.

Visually it can make the scar appear smoother but the emphasis is on the underlying tissue changes. The work starts with the surface layers and moves deeper into fascial tissue under the scar. ScarWork may also help improve nerve-impairment such as numbness, pain or sensitivity as it seems to stimulate further healing even in very old scars

http://stablesclinic.co.uk/index.html

Becky, Laura, Moi, Ann and Paula. Thanks for a lovely day girls xxxx

Slab of cake with my Chemo Buddy Julie and Andrew xx

Pelvic Ultrasound scan

My Gynaecologist phoned me on Wednesday regarding my scan and told me there is nothing to worry about. I don't have Ovarian Cancer, which is what I was worried about. But she wants me to have an MRI scan to find out exactly what the mass is made up of. It is most probably endometriosis or uterine fibroids. This would explain why they couldn't find one of my ovaries and also explains the pain mother nature inflicted on me pre cancer. She also reiterated that my bloods showed a tumour marker of 8 which is normal and shows no sign of ovarian cancer.

I've spent a few days back with family in Wolverhampton, and had a lovely time, I do miss them all. But this is a new year and we are all going to see so much more of each other. We celebrated my brothers 40th Birthday with a lovely Italian meal, but my 4 day trip got cut short as our dog Marley needed surgery today to have a claw removed that he's split and had to have the nail cut off. It wasn't growing back right and he could lose a toe. He also has a lump growing where the nail was cut off a few weeks ago, which may need to be biopsied. While he's under we decided to have him castrated too. So sat here writing my blog waiting for a phone call to say all went well and when we can collect him.

My beautiful flowers from my cousin Beth xxx <3

 



Marley on the left xxxx

Painful implants

It's been a year today since my biopsy results confirmed it was Cancer!

I went to see my consultant yesterday and we talked about the pain I'm getting and my options. So before we think about any more surgery I'm being sent to a pain clinic at LOROS. I'm getting pain in my ribs and under my arms from my breast surgery. Which is worse when I exercise or sleep on either side. So fingers crossed they can help me, otherwise it could possibly mean more surgery to remove ports and/or swap/remove implants.

Still no news on my scan, but not for the want of trying, I will phone again tomorrow!

I had a lovely catch up with my chemo buddy and my bestie Jan. Had a great night with a few of the am-dram gang. I'm of for a few days to spend some quality time with family in the West Midlands. Will be interesting to see how I get on with the long drive and my coccyx. Trying to keep myself busy and also catching up with everyone and getting my life back to some sort of normality. Also thinking of holiday destinations for the year ahead. :-)

 

 

Happy 1 year on from cancer diagnosis

Happy 1 year on from cancer diagnosis to me. I'm spending the morning with my chemo buddy and the afternoon with my bestie who was one of my rocks through cancer 😘💖💞🍷🍻

Pelvic Ultrasound Scan

Today I had my Trans-vaginal Ultrasound for the Gynaecology department so they could see if there would be any problems to hinder surgery when I do go ahead with it. The Ultrasound Technician found a mass in my endometrium (lining of the uterus), but she said it isn't cancer because there is no blood flow to the tumour. So I probably have endometriosis or fibroids, so yet again another waiting game, but nothing I'm not used to. So they'll possibly remove this when I have an Oophorectomy. I'll find out more when I get an appointment with my Gynaecologist. Hoping it is sooner than the one already booked for 7th March though!

It is the eve of the day I was told I had Breast Cancer one year ago, so I'm trying to think positive and telling myself to remember she said it is NOT cancer. Thinking positive, it is NOT Cancer. I've had some beautiful flowers and gifts, thank you all very much xx

 

 



Beautiful flowers from My Mom & Dad as it's been a year since diagnosis. xxxx

Lovely card and gift from Claire & Steve as it's been a year. xxxx

A poem by my Pink Sister Jude, thought it was apt for today xxx

World Cancer Day #WeCanICan

I'm in this one xx
 

Zoladex injections

I'm not ready for surgery to remove my Ovaries so I become menopausal so I can take a certain medication. Cancer has already taken my hair and my breasts and I need more time to come to terms with this.

So today I received my first Zoladex (goserelin) implant injection, which is to stop the ovaries producing Oestrogen, so I can have this medication called Anastrozole (Arimidex), which helps fight cancer by lowering the amount of Oestrogen in your body.

You have Goserelin as an injection just under the skin of your abdomen every 28 days. It is called a depot injection, which means that the drug is absorbed slowly into your body over the 28 days. I can continue these injections at my GP surgery and I start the tablets on 1st March once the injections have started working.

I'll be so relieved to be on this medication as my cancer was oestrogen receptor positive and I finished active treatment in October. It worries me that I have been without medication for a few months, so roll on 1st March.

So far the injection has made me feel hot, nauseas, headache and itchy, most symptoms are slowly wearing off, but my headache isn't shifting, but it will be worth it, to be alive. At least that's what I'll tell myself until I start growing facial hair :-/

Ouch!

Prescription pagers now...whatever next!

The lovely nurse who gave me my first injection.