Lumpectomy day...I had to be in the hospital for admission at 07:30. I woke up early to take one last shower with this special decontamination wash lotion.
But before that, I took some last pictures of my boobies. My A/B cups have been with me through it all - from my twenties, where I flaunted them in tight shirts and sunbathed topless, to my thirties where I used them for breastfeeding, and my forties where they continued to play a significant role in my femininity and sexuality.
The procedure is called WLE, which stands for wide local excision, and local perforator flap breast reconstruction. I also had a sentinel lymph node biopsy. It turns out there were two other ladies who were also being operated on by the same surgeon. Both were younger than me and had the same story of disbelief and fear. It just goes to show that this is unfortunately a common experience for so many of us.
But I have to say, my surgeon Dr. B is amazing. He checked the lump and a few bits and put me at ease. The physiotherapist also came by and gave me a ton of information on exercises to start on the first day after surgery and other advice to reduce the risk of lymphoedema and cording. And the nurse was there for us before admission until we were discharged. The medical professionals I've encountered in the NHS are truly incredible. They're so professional but also genuinely caring.
The operation itself took under three hours, and I had to stay for a few hours for some checks before being sent home. I'm a bit sore and have some mild pain, but overall, I'm doing okay.
It's definitely not the most fun thing in the world, but I'm just grateful for the medical professionals who are helping me through this.
