5 weeks post surgery

I visited my plastic surgeon today and he's very happy with my healing this time. I'm so glad to not need dressings 3 times a day anymore. It will take another 2 months for my chest to fully heal and settle down. It's very hard and lumpy at the moment, but it will go through various stages and eventually become softer.

We discussed further surgery today and we agreed on a TRAM or DIEP flap. Which is basically using my tummy with or without muscle to make new breasts. This will be my final surgery and almost the end of my journey. About bloody time too eh! The final part will of course be 3D nipple tattoos.

This final operation will be a 12 hour surgery, but he's going to have another great surgeon perform this with him, so it's only 6 hours in theatre. This is the surgery I wanted back in 2015, but I was too slim back then and had no tummy. But during treatment I have gained 3 stone and now I've just enough fat to make a small pair of boobies, which I'm more than happy with believe me. Better than the scars I'm left with now and better than my experience with implants, plus I'm alive and that's all that matters.

I'm so happy and wish you all a wonderful week xx

More surgery!

Well one week ago since I had to have more surgery, this was due to not healing since surgery in June. I've had to change dressings 3 times a day ever since, been on 6 lots of different antibiotics too. My surgery was to take more skin and tissue away and a flush out, then 24 hours in hospital on IV antibiotics, I came home with a drain this time, which I should of had last time really, I got the drain out on Friday. My scar has got longer, so it's virtually across half my chest now, so you could almost join it up with the left scar. Time to heal now and decide what I want my final surgery to be and when. To try another expanding implant, or to use my tummy and make 2 new boobies, or go flat!

3 months post surgery

I'm still waiting on the results of my scans, can you believe it...yes i hear you say! But in the meantime I've had to go back to see my Plastic Surgeon and he's tried me with different dressings with silver in and iodine washes, to see if that would help my wound heal, but no such luck, typical for me eh! So sadly I need another surgery to remove more tissue, where my wound is holding fluid. This will be my 6th surgery because of cancer, the gift that keeps on giving! They also want to keep me in overnight and keep me on IV antibiotics due to the 4 different infections I've had over the last 3 months and most recently 2 bugs that are hard to get. This time I will be having a drain for 2 weeks, which I really should of had last time, then I wouldn't have had all these issues grrr! So surgery is 6th October, it's only a 90 minute surgery though and 3-5 days before I can drive this time. So on a good note I will be doing the show I've been rehearsing for the last few months. Hope some of my local followers can make it, it's a great show and I've loved every minute of it! Thank you for following and reading my blog. Have a good week one and all. Xxx

2 months post surgery and 2 years in remission

Well would you believe that my scar is still leaking, and could possibly carry on like this for at least another 2 months. I've had my CT scan and am awaiting the results, so fingers crossed.

I've had my holiday which was fabulous, went swimming in the sea as it was so hot and a few dips in the pool to cool off. I wore waterproof plasters and kept it clean.

Not cancer related (I hope) but I've got an MRI scan next week on the knee I've torn my cartilage in, hoping that's not another surgery to add to my list!

I also delivered lots of donations from the Cabaresque for cancer knitters, crocheters and sewers, consisting of drain bags, hats and scarves to the Leicester hospitals.

On a good note I've reached my 2 year remission date, so Happy Cancerversary to me.

Have a good week all xx

Almost a month post surgery

Well it's 3.5 weeks since surgery and sadly I did get another seroma, and sadly I'm still leaking from my scar. The hole is tiny and can't believe it just won't heal. I'm taking arnica and using inadine patches to try to speed it up, will try anything now. I need to be able to go in the sea and pool on my holidays in 3 weeks.

My plastic surgeon says I now have enough fat on my belly to make new boobs, so I'm now waiting for a CT scan to see if the blood vessels in my belly are suitable for the surgery. I have a tattoo on my belly which will end up on my one boob, which will look nice I think. Once this surgery is finally done I can get my 3d nipple tattoos and put this whole journey behind me once and for all!

I've gone back to musical theatre, dancing and singing, and I'm loving it so much. I really have missed it over the last few years. I'm in the ensemble for 'Rock of Ages' in October this year. So I can lose a bit of weight, but not too much, so my surgeon gave me permission to eat cake hehe. Hope you're all having a lovely summer.

1 Week post surgery

Well it's been a week now and what a weekend I had. It was lovely because my Mom came to stay with me, but my scar decided to leak for 3 days. Luckily it stopped yesterday and I've had my post surgery check up today and they are pleased and all is healing well.

Apparently the body makes fluid to heal, and my body made enough fluid to fill the cavity that the removed implant left, which is a sack of fluid called a Seroma. I thought my chest felt like a water bed for a few days. It is quite common and can happen more than once, so fingers crossed it doesn't for me.

I can finally have a proper shower and hoping to drive again next week. Sadly I had to give up my Robbie Williams ticket last night as I was too poorly to go. But the tickets got used thankfully.

Thank you to my visitors for keeping me company, thanks you for my flowers, gifts and meals. Thank you for helping me get to and from hospital. xxx

Thank you Lynda & Andy xxx

Thank you Mom & Dad xxx

Thank you Mom & Dad xxx

Thank you Derek x

Post surgery

Well I'm 4 days post surgery and starting to feel a bit better, very tired and so uncomfortable and sore, but doing well. I go back for a check up on Wednesday and get my dressings changed, so I'll see my new scar for the first time then. It's very weird having one boob but I'm sure I'll cope for a while. I want the other one out when they'll do it, I didn't want foreign objects in my body to start with, but sadly two years ago I was too slim to use my own flesh. Hoping I am perfect for that surgery now I've gained three stone. I will find out on the 20th when I see my plastic surgeon again. Hoping they say I can drive this week, fingers crossed. Hope you've all had a lovely weekend. TTFN X

What now!

Well I never thought I'd be blogging on here again but I've had a few problems this year. With pain and my right implant capsulating again. I had a scare when I found a lump in the same place my cancer was, ultrasound found it to be scar tissue...phew. I've also changed my cancer medication from anastrozole to letrozole and been put on vitamin D to see if that helps with my bone pain.

But in the last three weeks I had a hole the size of a pin head in my right breast scar,  I had an infection and have now had three sets of different antibiotics. I visited my plastic surgeon on Friday as the hole has just got bigger and bigger and is constantly leaking body fluid which is trying to heal me and It's now 2" round.

I have been put on the trauma list and will have my implant removed on Tuesday or Thursday latest. I'm totally devastated at what is happening and in shock,  but at the same time I think I'll be happy to be out of the pain it's causing me daily.

Thank you for reading and following my blog. X