Surgery

Before I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I didn't really think about my own mortality.

Throughout the majority of my treatment, I've not asked many questions about the choices I've been offered.

I woke up from my second operation back on the ward, in the same side room as my last op, feeling a bit sore and a bit dopey, just like last time.

So, where were we? Oh yes, I remember. It was 23rd December.

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.

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.

The time had come. After months of indecision about what type of mastectomy I wanted, it was time to go to hospital.

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.