The story so far
This year is going to be a write-off for me. Two weeks into the year I found a lump in my breast which led to an ultrasound, mammogram and biopsies to be diagnosed with breast cancer just over one month later.
During this time I honestly thought it wasn’t going to be anything serious, I thought I’d already had my fair share of illnesses. I survived a life threatening illness in my early 20’s and during the last quarter of 2014 I had a scare with liver tumours which turned out to be benign.
Following the breast cancer diagnosis was a whirlwind of specialist appointments, CT scans, MRIs, more biopsies and awkward ultrasounds. Two weeks and four days after the diagnosis I had my mastectomy on my left breast. Although I had already decided I wanted a double mastectomy to reduce the risk of the cancer returning, this couldn’t happen at the same time as final ultrasound results from my right breast didn’t reach my surgeon in time. There was concern for the right breast at one point but it turned out to be clear.
Reconstruction will occur at the time of the other breast being removed later down the track. I was advised that if radiotherapy or chemotherapy is needed, it’s best not to have any implants or ‘expander bags’ put in as radiotherapy can cause scarring and skin tightening. Therefore a better result would be achieved if the reconstruction was performed after radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.
I came home from hospital on Wednesday, 11 March after being in for 2 nights and really haven’t been in much pain at all. The only discomfort has been from the unsightly drain that is hanging from where my left breast used to be. The breast care nurse was kind enough to give me a lovely rainbow coloured cloth bag to “disguise” it with although I feel like I should be off to Mardi Gras. I have instead been hiding it in one of my handbags. I was longing for the K-mart guy to ask to check my bag the other day but typical, the one day that I want them to they’re not there!
At my post-surgery appointment with my surgeon my husband and I were told the cancer had been fully removed and had not travelled into any of the lymph nodes. There were four taken out for biopsy in total, three from the first level (where the cancer would spread to first) and one from the second level (where the cancer is likely to spread to next).
Now I’m just waiting to see the oncologist next week to find out if chemotherapy is needed. My surgeon has warned that sometimes chemotherapy is recommended as a precaution especially to patients at a young age (36 is still young!) and to make sure that no cancer cells had become free and were travelling throughout the body. I’m hoping I won’t need chemotherapy but if I do I know that I need to do what I have to do to stay on this earth and keep healthy. I have also requested ‘cold capping’ at the Mater Hospital to reduce the risk of losing most of my hair. I know that might seem vain but it’s probably one of the biggest and scariest things about this whole experience that I’m not looking forward to. On the other hand I’ve got a new set of cans to look forward to, until then I’m just a bit more aerodynamic on my bike.
