Here we go again
So, where were we? Oh yes, I remember. It was 23rd December.
Run and Done?
Dermot and I were called in, and we sat down, nervous and excited, ready to hear the good news. And we did. We heard that the chemo had melted away the ductal cancer in my breast.
Waiting for the results
It was now time to find out exactly what my patients go through after I've operated on them. I must admit to being a huge mixed bag of emotions.
Mastectomy time
The time had come. After months of indecision about what type of mastectomy I wanted, it was time to go to hospital.
Twas the night before surgery
So chemo is over, and I've had a month to get ready for my surgery. It's a very strange place to be - wondering whether I've made the right decision about what operation to have, and still not believing that chemo is finally over.
Decisions, decisions
Helping a patient decide whether to have a reconstruction following a mastectomy can be incredibly challenging, for a variety of reasons. There are things that the patient can control, and those she can't.
How to cope with chemo
I had no idea what chemotherapy would be like, and didn't know what I needed to help me through. Simple things like what to wear to chemo, and how much paracetamol to buy.
Transition time
Suddenly it was time to go to my last chemo session. In the end, I decided to dress for comfort. It was a blustery day and I was feeling the cold, so jeans and a hoodie to keep my head warm, allow access to the port, with a zip for quick cooling for the hot flushes was the order of the day.
5 down, only 1 to go
So here we are, the penultimate chemo session, and I really didn’t want to go. I know I say that every time, but it’s true. I’d thought about cycling in, but it was cold and windy and I was tired - tired of life at the moment.
What is a breast?
What is a breast? Now don’t look at me as if I’m mad. It’s a valid question, and one that I thought I knew the answer to.
