2.5 years cancer free!

Hello everyone, I realise it's been a while since I posted and thought this would be a good reason to post. I've just had my 2.5 years cancer free check up, yippee! I suffered from scanxiety for weeks before it, but so relieved all is ok. Wish I could say the same for my chest, it's so tight and stuck  to my ribs, I do all  the doctors say, massaging, exercises and moisturising,  with no joy. I've also seen the plastic surgeons recently and they are both happy to go ahead with my final surgery. Turning my tummy into boobs. It will probably be summer now though with all the delays in the NHS.

I've also just recovered from knee surgery and able to drive again after 6 weeks. I really miss the freedom and independence, so it's a joy and good for my sanity after being home alone for so long yet again! So glad I'm an office worker though and can still work from home.

Thank you to all my friends that visited me during the last 6 weeks, it means so much. Thank you to all my family and friends for my flowers and gifts.

Happy 2018 xxx

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

3.5 weeks post surgery

It's now 3.5 weeks since surgery and I'm feeling much better, I've been managing 1-2 mile walks daily for the last 4 days. Today I managed 3 miles. Going to try a little drive later in the week round the village too. All being well I can phase back into the office from next week, get back to Musical Theatre and dance classes and get fit.

It has been one hell of a journey the last 21 months but I'm a survivor and I'm ready to take life by the balls. Roll on 2017 it's holiday year for me, I've got a lot of catching up to do. Also got my girlie fun weekend with zip wires and bounce below at zip world in Snowdonia. Spa days with family & friends and much more.

Thank you to everyone that has supported me through this journey, Thank you for being my rock Tim, love you forever and always. Thank you to all my other rocks Mom & Dad, Angie & Frank, Barry, Adrian, Lauren, Jan, Nige & Sarah, Collette, Dawn, Lynda & Jen, Jo, Andy, Bex, love you all. Thank you to my boss Steve, Becky and all my work colleagues, you have been amazing. Thank you to everyone that did events in my honour, Lucy for Cabaresque for Cancer 2015, Jan and Kay for shaving their hair, Debbie for your fantastic scar work therapies, Amber for making loom bands for charity, AJ's Warrior's, my Breast surgeon, oncologists, and the best plastic surgeon and all the nurses, my GP, my counsellor, my chemo and surgery buddies Julie & Sharon, Ally and all my pink sisters, ALL my visitors during house bound times, including Jill, Mel, Lynne, Jackie, it meant so much to me. Thank you for all my flowers and gifts that I will treasure forever. If I have missed anyone out I'm really sorry, chemo brain (it's real) strikes again.

I love my new boobies and I'm a one year survivor. Here's to the future. X

Beautiful lowers from Dawn xx

2 weeks post surgery

What a long day it was on Friday, we spent hours at the hospital as there had been an emergency in the burns & plastics department. Then spent ages at the doctors and chemist, trying to get my medication sorted!

You'll be pleased to hear I'm healing well and they are very happy with my wounds, they have signed me off sick for another two weeks due to pain, so no work for me...what to do! The main pain areas are my liposuction site, my cleavage now I have one and under my arms. But they said none of them are anything to worry about. I have really itchy skin, but that's all good as it means the nerve endings are healing. They left me with an open appointment in case anything does worsen.

I slept for 15 hours yesterday, mainly due to a migraine attack. I've not had a migraine attack for 2 years, but I've suffered with them since I was a teenager, so not that long ago...wink wink!

I'm hoping I've caught up on my sleep now, so all I can do is watch box sets, that is now I can finally look at a screen. My car is fixed and I can't go anywhere, but please feel free to come and see me, cream cakes or chocolate required, or take me and my big fluffy pillows for a drive, lol. xx

A year ago...during Radiotherapy.

 

A year on from the end of active treatment.

Recovery is going well after my latest surgey

Hello everyone, sorry for the delayed post, but the liposuction part of surgery has stopped me from sitting up for too long, so sitting at a computer was just not possible. This is the first time since diagnosis I have had to actually use a sick note to be off work, which I'm gutted about after managing to work all throughout Chemotherapy, surgeries and radiotherapy!

I was in hospital for 4 days, not as long as expected as I didn't need the back flap, my plastic surgeon thinks my skin could recover, but only time will tell. So surgery wise, I had both my implants changed to straight silicone implants which are lighter for me and my ribs with my pain condition. The dreaded ports and capsular contracted implants have finally gone out of my body, they had their funeral on 30/09/16, much to my delight and I celebrated with a hospital brunch in bed. I also had liposuction of my abdomen through my belly button, to fill out the bottom of my right boob, to make me look as symmetrical as possible after the damage radiotherapy caused making it concave.

I had the awful drains again, but only 1 on each side this time, I had them for 3 days and couldn't go home till they were out! To get them out they had to be draining less than 30ml a day. My right drain took longer due to the fat transfer I guess. I had a few nice curries in hospital which made a nice change from the stodge you usually get fed, making you come out fatter than when you go in! So that's why I've put so much weight on after cancer causing me to need 4 operations...well that's my excuse hehe.

Well I'm glad to say apart from the liposuction bit, the rest of this surgery was a doddle compared to my Mastectomy. Anyone unsure of going for delayed reconstruction after mastectomy, I would seriously consider it if you would like something that resembles boobs. It is nowhere near as bad as anything you have already been through. Liposuction is a different matter, but every pain is worth it believe me.

I am over the moon with my new boobs, it has taken a long time to get here, but I can now say I have my body confidence back. My hair and nails are growing too, so the future is bright. I am back for a wound check at hospital tomorrow, fingers crossed they say I can go back to work, I have a few holidays to save for now. The only way is up :-D

Day after surgery

Hospital food

2 days after surgery



Sunset from my hospital window
 

Thank you Mom for looking after me for 2 weeks xxx

Thank you Tim & Mom for my Celebratory meal of Enchiladas,  Profiteroles & Prosecco xx

 

Thank you to all my Work Colleagues for my beautiful flowers & vase xx

 

 

Thank you Mickey for the beautiful flowers xx

 



Thank you Angie & Frank for the lovely plant xx

Thank you Mom & Dad  for my new garden sign xxx
 

Nom nom, Thank you Julie & Andrew xxx

 

Thank you Debbie for my lovely mermaid blanket xx

Recovery from surgery

Just a quick post to let you all know I'm doing well after surgery and home recovering since yesterday.  I'm not up to doing a full on blog as I'm not yet sitting up for long periods of time.

I'm struggling with the pain from liposuction more than anything. But I'll tell you more in a few days. I just wanted to let you know I'm ok and I love my new boobies. X

Before surgery 

After surgery with my drains 

sexy stockings 

The day after 

Only 2 sleeps to go!

After a stressful few days and a visit to see my Surgeon, I'm so happy I am fit for my surgery, and it can go ahead as planned on Friday. Doing a little dance as I type!

I will be having both implants replaced with lighter silicone ones, so bye to the dreaded ports and heavy saline/silicone implants, I will also be having an LD flap on the right (back skin and muscle...see link below) this part of the surgery is 5 hours alone. I will also be having a Mastopexy on the left (Breast lift) current implant is too heavy for my skin and has caused sagging into my armpit. Then finally I will be having liposuction from under my arms, which will hopefully be transferred to my right boob to even it out to match the left boob. So Surgery will range from 5-10 hours, long day but it will be worth it.

All I wanted to do this week was rest and recuperate from the cold I'd had, from which I still have a lingering cough. But on my 2 days holiday Monday & Tuesday, I spent 2 hours in the GP surgery Monday and 4 hours in hospital yesterday. So I spent most of today working in bed and will do the same tomorrow. But I did manage a hair cut, to tidy myself up a bit before hospital. Had to take all my Gel nail polish of, so not fair!

Anyway doubt I will post again till after surgery and I'm sitting up in bed, so have a good week and weekend. TTFN xx

LD Flap:
https://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/information-support/facing-breast-cancer/going-through-treatment-breast-cancer/surgery/breast-reconstruction/breast-reconstruction-ld-flap

Will I or won't I Have surgery on Friday!

I've recently been on a week of antibiotics due to what looked like an infection under my right mastectomy scar! Over the weekend I got a hole in the infected area and I could see what looked like white puss in there (TMI oops!), the hole was only about 1mm, but I decided I best see my GP anyway, after also having a cold/bug/man flu!

I've spent two hours with a doctor today, she said I did have an infection, but luckily it's now closed over and looks like the infection has gone, but she can't be sure! I'm on another set of antibiotics just in case, different one this time. She has also booked me in to see my plastic surgeon tomorrow, as it's not her call to cancel my surgery or say my surgery can go ahead on Friday.

Some good news is that I don't have a temperature and my chest sounds fine, it's just a rasping cough I have. So I've got my fingers crossed for tomorrow's outcome. But then it is what it is, and nothing I can do about it!

They can take my agonising implant out if I still have an infection but they won't want to put a new one back in till it's cleared up apparently! So watch this space what will my plastic surgeon say tomorrow!

So there was me thinking my man flu would possibly get my surgery cancelled and now it might be the actual boobies that do it! Till tomorrow. xx

 





Pre-op Assessment

I've been having an awful few days. It all started with being emotional at the hospital end of last week. Thoughts going through my head...am I doing the right thing! Not sure why! Oh yes I do...the opinions of one silly woman! (Shocked at myself for listening and giving a shit!) After a few days of strong emotions and feeling terribly low. My throat/chest is hurting so bad too! Surgery in 9 days and counting!

So last week was my pre-operation assessment which turned into quite a long day. Bloods, ECG, swabs and lots of questions and answers. Visited the ward I'd be staying on for 4-5 days, which I'm liking, felt like being in BUPA a little. I've heard nothing from the results, so I'm assuming I'm fit and healthy for surgery to go ahead! Apart from this blasted cold I've caught of course, my throat feels like it being burnt with a blow torch and cut with razor blades. My body feels like I have flu. I think the steroids are still working, but can't be sure at the moment as I hurt all over! Why this on top of all my other pains, haven't I got enough to contend with! Please someone give me a break!

I need and want this surgery now! Go away cold! Roll on the 30th! Oh to be pain free!

Sorry it's not a very upbeat post, I'll be ok in a few days, and be bouncing back like my little old positive self. xx
 

 

The surgery I'll be having next week.

Yes because this really does support Breast Cancer...NOT!

 

https://www.gofundme.com/alivecancer