Visit to Olivia Newton John Wellness

So here I am back at Olivia Newton John Wellness Centre lots of new faces in the revolving door of the waiting lounge, a new puzzle being built. I've had my appointment with Michael Chao, the radio oncologist. What a lovely man. He talks to me about my whole treatment, are confirming what Damien, the plastics surgeon and the breast surgeon, Christina Foley are doing. Specifically about the cancer and what they are hoping for. 

Micheal told me today that the 3 of them and probably an oncologist from chemo have been meeting and discussing every step along the way (I love that he sums up the whole process). 

The best case scenario is that after my mastectomy, the pathologists find nothing to test in the tissue. Which means a total cure from their point of view. He also asked me to participate in a study which will confirm this new order of things. It will mean that they need to document the breast tissue before during and after the mastectomy and reconstruction. They will take photos and perform CT scans each time to watch the tissue. I welcome doing my bit if it helps others in this process.

He explained that doctors are suspicious by nature so need data to be convinced and I will provide that. It also means that they watch me a little bit closer afterwards for some time to come which is a good thing. There's probably a lot commercially at stake as well. Tissue expanders have a place in the old regime, where they will no longer with this regime. It could wipe out a whole product in the long run, but I guess there will still be old fashioned doctors who don't like to change. The new regime means much lower impact physically and psychologically for the patient. 

Michael seemed very excited about it all in anticipation. I told him I'm not mentally ready yet and he said 'well we are ready so that's a good thing'.

Here is where I sit writing this instalment......aaahhhh.

Yesterday, I had my final meeting before my big operation with my plastic surgeon (PS) Damien has pulled back a little on the plan. He has decided to not do the nipple recon in hospital, but I will have another operation on day 3. They are concerned with necrosis of the skin after it has been radiotherapied and given my boobs are going to be the poster girls, they are being extra cautious. Ha, ha!  So the skin from my buttock is going to be sewed in like an extra flap, it will sit there until they decide my original skin will survive, then day 3 they will remove it if they don't need it....it will be very white if they decided to keep it as it won't match my new radiotherapy tan......Oooohhh - too much information for some...sorry.

So Damien man handled me squeezing my butt and squeezing my boobs, trying to get an indication of size. He has pulled back on size too from a small C to a good sized B. Well that's what I asked for in the first place anyway. Nipple reconstruction will be done later down the track - if I still want it I guess. 

So after meeting with Damien, I headed down to Think Pink and met with the Pink Sisters. They are a group of under 50s with breast cancer. The guest speaker was a girl who was 2 years out of the process. She came to show us her boobs. Well I have to say that once you've let every man and his dog feel and squeeze your boobs throughout treatment, they don't mean that much to you any more. And after with no sensation in them, for the wearer, they are totally de-sexualised. 

Anyway, so I spent the morning squeezing and prodding this poor girls breasts who I'd known for 5 minutes making lame jokes to hide our awkwardness. They were fantastic. And the big deal is - so I saw what an autologous tissue flap looked and felt like oppose to implant breasts. And she decided not to have nipple reconstruction, only areola tattooed on. So I may decide not to have nipple recon either - Damien said well it's 'the cherry on the top' for plastic surgeons and having pride in their work. Excuse the pun ha, ha. So I do it for me or for him......

I'm about to be called in for my oncology massage.....hmmmmmmm - looking forward to it.