Back in cancer-land after 11 years
This is my first post but I have been relying on this site a lot over the past few months after my cancer came back unexpectedly. Eleven years ago, aged 47 I had a small cancer removed with lumpectomy, axillary clearance and radiation. My post-treatment new priorities included a career change, completing 2 masters degrees, and joining a dragon boat team.
Last year I got my 10 year 'all clear'. A year later, just after a trip to Italy with my dragon boat friends, my routine mammogram showed some changes near the scar from my previous surgery. A core biopsy followed which didn't find cancer, but a subsequent MRI done 'just to be sure' looked suspicious. So I had a surgical biopsy in September which found a 2.5 cm cancer. Luckily a bone scan and CT scan were clear.
Five weeks ago I had a mastectomy and TRAM flap reconstruction with some revision surgery 3 days later. This went well, but a sentinel node biopsy found cancer in a lymph node, even though supposedly all my lymph nodes had been removed in 2002. So I had an axillary clearance last week and somewhat surprisingly they found 10 more nodes, but thank goodness these were all clear. Now it's off to the oncologist, and I expect to be starting chemo in the new year.
This roller coaster ride of diagnosis and 4 lots of surgery under general anaesthetic has been going on for more than 4 months now. I have managed to stay positive through most of it, mainly because of fantastic support from my partner and my dragon boat buddies. But I do so wish it wasn't happening and that I wasn't back in the land of cancer diagnosis and treatment. And all that endless waiting!
But I am healing really well and looking forward to having some fun over Christmas before my next treatment starts. The stories and posts on this site have really helped me, so I thought it time I posted my story.
And if anyone is looking for something positive to do after your treatment I can strongly recommend dragon boating. It is the thought of getting back in the boat with my dragon boat buddies that had has kept me going through the dark times. I went out last Sunday with a drain tube still attached to cheer my team on in a regatta, and am already planning my next trips away for more paddling adventures.
Viv
