Dear All,
I was diagnosed and had treatment for right breast cancer in 2914 through 2015 and developed lymphodoema in the right arm in 2016. I never felt that the risked nor prevention were properly explained to me, and once I developed the condition the was little (effective) help. Following a couple of years of the.condition getting worse and several epsisodes of cellulitis I decided to explore surgical options. These had to be self-funded as despite life-threatening infections and supporting letters by my consultants I was told there was no funding to help me. I had a consultation at the Oxford Lymphodoema Practice but was disappointed by the predicted outcomes. Nevertheless, I felt this was my only chance so booked a date for the surgery. Unfortunately I developed another bout of cellulitis that within four hours had me hospitalised with borderline septecemia. I was in hospital for a week and at home recuperating for a further fortnight. This time gave me chance to review my situation and decisions this far. By chance, a chat with an old friend (Italian) who advised me to look at going to Italy to seek hhelp (she knew nothing of my specific condition nor the treatment options available in Italy, so I was a little sceptical) rather coincidentally coincided with me spotting that the surgeons who were going to perform LVA on me (but had predicted less than attractive success outcomes) had trained with an experienced micro surgeon in Italy. The rest, as they say, is fate. My friend acted as translator/communicator and after a 36 hour trip for a consultation and discussion I made the decision to have my surgery in Italy. It was a tough call - expensive, lonely, scary, time consuming and unpredictable. But I'm in week 3 of my 4 out here, surgery went well, and I'm getting excellent support as well as looking at a much less swollen and softer limb. I will update as I hopefully progress and will answer individual questions if anyone is considering the same. So far, the whole enterprise Is looking to cost around twenty thousand pounds, but this isn't much more than I was expecting to pay in the UK and I feel I'm getting much more for this cost. Please let me know if you have specific questions and I will doe my best to answer them as directly, honestly and thoroughly as I can. And please keep your fingers crossed for me that these early good signs develop into really life changing results.
