Reconstruction in the public system. On waiting lists from 2009 to 2018. Finally finished.

My final reconstruction results are good and I am thankful and grateful but it really did take a long time.

I spent 2009 - 2010 on a waiting list (a year to the day) for a double mastectomy and expanders.  I had previously had private insurance but had never used it and had given it up.  Had to go the public route.  The double mastectomy was supposedly preventive - I had non- invasive cancer (LCIS and ADH and ALH)  and family history but I also had DCIS which was only discovered in the final pathology after the mastectomies.  During that year on the waiting list I was lucky the DCIS did not progress.  I was 15 months in expanders.  That was too long to be in expanders.  My breastbone buckled slightly.   Finally exchanged to implants which immediately developed dents and ripples. Back to Outpatients.  PS suggested fat grafting to fill in the dents. Another year on the waiting list. Fat grafting did not work at all, saw PS again who suggested larger implants. Another year on the waiting list but took myself off the list a week before the op as by that time I could not overcome the fear of surgery but after a few months regretted that, back to the PS in Outpatients and got put back on the end of the waiting list for another year (to the day). Bigger implants were the answer, they did not develop ripples. Then back on the waiting list for nipple reconstruction and that took a year to the day.

So now I have finished.  I am nine years older.