DEXA bone scan

Hi everyone, hope you've had a lovely bank holiday weekend! I did as much as I could as I worked a few hours each day from home. Managed to get round the Exton Day in our village and did a bit of archery and watched the dog show on the green.

Last Thursday I had my first DEXA bone scan which measures the bone density. This is because the cancer medication I'm on can thin your bones. So I will be having these as a regular occurrence. I get the results on 2 weeks. It was the quickest and easiest scan I've had to date, which is a good thing with them being regular.

On Friday I went to see the nurse at the pain clinic, they wanted to see how I was doing after my steroid injections. I told her sadly they did nothing for me. But if my consultant has any other options I'd be willing to try them to get me through the next few months till I have my implants exchanged and ports removed along with them.

I've managed a few walks but not been able to get back on my bike due to the pain. I even get a painful chest just from walking, as my arms catch the side of my implants and the ports. Also my right implant has stuck to my rib cage. So I'll be happy to get them removed and hoping the new ones suit me better. It's a last try anyway before I decide to go flat. Never thought I'd be happy with going flat being a dancer and I especially love burlesque. But going flat is better than suffering in pain for the rest of my life.

Only 2 more weeks till I lose a few more bits that make me a woman, but that doesn't make me any less of a woman. At least that's what I'm telling myself and keeping positive about it all. So I'll be losing my ovaries and fallopian tubes, and as long as there are no complications during the operation I will keep my womb! What's the point in that though eh! But it will mean less time in surgery and a quicker recovery. Which is what I want and need, I want to get back to normality as much as possible and as quick as possible. My cancer journey has been going on for 16 months so far and I hope it will end before 20 months, fingers crossed.

Anyway enough rambling on. Have a good week everyone xx

Bed head,,,but at least it's growing now!

Consultant visit regarding painful implants!

I've been to see my Breast Consultant today and came away happy knowing there might be a solution to my pain, it does mean more surgery but I'm happy to try anything before I decide to go flat. I have an appointment to see a Plastic Consultant in July to discuss changing my implants to lighter ones to help with my pain condition (Fibromyalgia) these implants also have the lowest rate of capsular contracture, which is what I have after radiotherapy. They also tend to stay where they are placed, so a better chance of being more symmetrical. So one day soon I will be rid of these ports that keep banging on my ribs when I move, the pain of the radiated boob being stuck to my rib cage and hopefully I can throw away my chicken fillet! So with my Oophorectomy in June that's two more minor surgeries and hopefully I can put this all behind me!

Got my DEXA bone scan on Thursday to check the density of my bones now I've started on Anastrozole to help keep cancer away, but sadly thins the bones. Pain clinic Friday, to see if there is anything I can have to help me till my replacement surgery, I don't want anymore steroid injections if I can help it that's for sure.

I've bleached my roots ready to go Aqua blue for Race for Life Pretty Muddy on 4th June 2016, only 2 weeks away. Please do sponsor me, every penny counts. xx

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ajswarriors2016

Update and Cancer Free Meal

Thought I'd post a little update as I've not done a blog for weeks. Since my last blog I've had a birthday, rode my bicycle for the first time in over a year and had my hair purple, but it's already back blonde, lasted 3 of the 10 washes it said it could. Aqua blue hair next ready for Race for Life Pretty Muddy 4th June :-)

I also had a celebratory cancer free meal with my family back in Wolverhampton, we don't get together very often as a whole family, so it was very nice to do. I will see some of them again in July when we do Race for Life.

The cycle ride bought back my coccyx pain, so I had to sit with my bum hanging over the edge of the saddle. Didn't get far but it's a start, going to go out twice a week. Hopefully I'll soon be back to my 25 miles. Walking once a week with Jo and at weekends with the dogs, so hoping to soon lose all the weight I gained last year!

The steroid injection I had doesn't seem to be helping much, I'd say it's improved the pain from an 9/10 to a 8/10 at the most! So not sure I want to go through this every month for such little improvement. Maybe he will try the different steroid next time!

I've also got a DEXA bone scan in May to check the density of my bones, as the cancer medication I'm on can cause Osteoporosis.

I had some good news, my genetic testing results came back and I don't carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. If new genes are found in the future I can get re-tested for them if I want to. So I'm really happy with this.

Enjoyed the sun this past weekend, hope we have much more this summer. Bye for now xxx



Lilac hair...lasted a week!

My presents, thank you again everyone. xxx

Walk with Jo xx

Bike ride...better than nothing.