My Bionic Boob

December 2021 Oncologist

2021-12-15T11:09:00Z

Since the surgical team have discharged me I’ve been referred to Oncology for what I call the “mopping up operation “. That is, treatments designed to reduce my risk of recurrence. Blood tests confirmed that despite my age, I am sti...(read more)

December 2021 Reflections: Bravery

2021-12-04T18:25:00Z

I have told people about my cancer, a lot of people say “I’m sorry”, but then the next thing they say is how brave I am. I get a bit crotchety at that: Brave? How? What am I doing that’s brave? I didn’t choose to g...(read more)

December 2021 - Recovery at Home

2021-12-01T23:52:00Z

At my post-op visit to the breast care unit I was reassured that my implant was stable, even though I felt like one of those crinkly cat toys and was pretty swollen, but no seroma to be drained. I was also told that the mastectomy revealed an area of...(read more)

November 2021 - Mastectomy & New Boob

2021-12-01T23:50:00Z

I had my right sided mastectomy on 19th, with an expandable implant fitted immediately (in a deflated state). I only found out, just before they put me to sleep, that they were going ahead with immediate reconstruction - which was a relief I didn&rsq...(read more)

November 2021 - Waiting for Operation #2

2021-12-01T23:42:00Z

Had my pre-op check with a nurse on the plastics team which highlighted a few issues such as my weight, my asthma and the increased risks of surgery due to my hypermobility disorder. I felt quite down but worse, I was told my reconstruction might nee...(read more)

October 2021 - More to do

2021-12-01T23:40:00Z

Pathology results came back: left side now cancer free but right side… every single biopsy they took, even if normal looking tissue, contained invasive breast cancer. It was what they call multifocal breast cancer, with dozens of tiny strands ...(read more)

September 2021 - Wide Local Excision Surgery

2021-12-01T23:37:00Z

I was booked to have Wide Local Excisions (lumpectomy) on both breasts as a day case. They also intended to take out the 5th and 6th sentinel lymph nodes on the left side, where I had the invasive cancer. I was so scared of my op being cancelled beca...(read more)

August 2021 - testing testing

2021-12-01T23:33:00Z

Before my Wide local excision surgery (aka lumpectomy), my surgeon wanted me to have an MRI. This was just to check the position of blood vessels etc and ensure there were no other areas of concern in my left breast. For the MRI I had to lie on my f...(read more)

June 2021 - Diagnosis

2021-12-01T23:29:00Z

A week and a half before that fateful phone call, I’d been for a routine mammogram. I’d been experiencing some breast pain, especially in the left breast, but my GP said it was probably hormonal as breast cancer rarely caused pain. Beside...(read more)

In the time before June 2021

2021-12-01T23:18:00Z

I’m a 55 year old mum of three - all grown up and only one left at home. I have recently finished a diploma in counselling, had completed my qualifying hours (and then some), for a fantastic charity and just had to finish my very looooong...(read more)