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FLClover
Member
12 months ago

Exchange Surgery and 4th Cancerversary ๐Ÿ’—

Hello to everyone and Happy Easter ๐Ÿฃ๐Ÿ‡๐Ÿชบ. 

Iโ€™ve been a bit quiet on here, just focusing on life after breast cancer I guess, going back to work, trying to get healthier etc. 
Today Iโ€™m posting again because itโ€™s my 4th cancersary ๐ŸŽ‰, and Iโ€™m also 2 weeks post my third surgery since this whole ride started. This was the surgery I was most excited about though, because it was my recon surgery, i.e. bilateral exchange of expanders to implants (Iโ€™ll be posting a picture story soon in the private recon group for those interested). I had my expanders in for a record time, just shy of 4 years ๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ˜„ (surgery kept being postponed for various reasons) so I might be able to enter the Guinness Book of Records ๐Ÿ˜…. The thing is, Iโ€™m absolutely terrified of surgery and pretty traumatised too, due to what happened after my DMX. It took a change of surgical teams 4 years ago and lots of counselling to be able to get to this state of being ready for it again. Thanks to all my hard work and my BRILLIANT specialist team, I got there, and I canโ€™t even express how happy I am with the results ๐Ÿ˜ƒ. My breasts now look like my original ones, albeit perkier ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜. They were an absolute mess from the 4 years of expanders, but my surgeon fixed my pockets perfectly and used implants that look very natural. The whole experience, despite stress from my previous trauma, was very easy and smooth sailing. I am beyond thankful and grateful to my team (Dr Eva Nagy โ™ฅ๏ธ and Fred ๐Ÿ’™) because without them this wouldnโ€™t have been possible ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ€. It might seem like something so simple, but it is so important to healing as anyone going through this (all of you) will know and understand, because it means getting my body back to what it was (or to a new normal for those not choosing recon). Actually, better than what it was because I was going to the gym for a year prior, to prepare myself physically for this, and so I am stronger than Iโ€™ve been in a long time. Silver linings everywhere ๐Ÿ˜. 
So now, every year on this day, I do something special for myself, as a thank you to ME for everything Iโ€™ve endured. One thing this cancer taught me is that I need to prioritise myself, because I was putting myself last before all this. Well, not anymore. Itโ€™s a work in progress for sure, but Iโ€™m now putting myself at the top of my list more and more often. 
My message, especially to all the newbies, is that it does get better. It gets a whole lot better. There will be a day and time when you wonโ€™t be thinking about cancer all day, every day - believe me! There will even be a day when youโ€™ll forget you ever had it. You do get reminded again because itโ€™s a bit of a โ€˜gift that keeps givingโ€™ situation, but you find the strength again and keep moving on. It might not always seem like it and I definitely encourage venting and getting all the anger out, and asking for help when ever you need it!! However, there are lots of beautiful days as well โ˜บ๏ธ. 
One more piece of advice: choose your medical team very carefully, because they will either break you or make you (speaking from experience). You are responsible for your life and wellbeing, but with the right medical team, you will have the support you need to do wonders. So, donโ€™t rush this decision. Do research before choosing, and always seek a second or even third opinion if it doesnโ€™t feel right. 
*Pictured are myself, the day after my surgery so please donโ€™t judge me for looking so terrible, and my beautiful magician of a surgeon on the right ๐ŸŒธ. 

Lots of love and fantastic health to all ๐Ÿงฟ๐Ÿชทโ™ฅ๏ธ,

M Xxx