Horse Needles and Tattoos

I survived my horse needle. I went to the cancer centre and talked through everything again with my oncologist. She now confirmed that there is always a plan b, plan c. Prue Francis from Peter McCallum and St V's, one of the oncologists was the latest author on the New England journal with this treatment (using an ovary blocker for a post menopausal drug) and found the slightly better outcomes.

Anyway, in to the cancer centre with a nurse, she started with a local anaesthetic to make a tunnel if you like, then proceeded with the zoladex needle which included an implant (so that's why it's so big). About 12 hours later had some leg pain and some twinges but so far so good. I can't tell if my hot flushes are worse or not, but the usual jumper on, jumper off, jumper on happens all day.

Today I saw the plastic surgeon. He drained another 80 mls of fluid from the donor site. He said he hates seroma's. Hah try and have one. I think he tries to be funny, but he's very dry. I asked him if he had any reservations/concerns about surgery on the other side, he said not at all. He explained that not too many ladies have the option of trying one side and then being able to change their mind, as mostly both sides are done at the same time. Only with the gluteal flap is it done one side at a time. Gosh imagine having both sides done and not being able to move both arms.

So we tentatively booked the Friday 24th June!!! Scary now that's done - it's 2 months away. He has to confirm it with my breast surgeon as she has gone off and had her baby. It looks like we might need to celebrate Alex' birthday a few weeks early and maybe I'll be out of hospital on his birthday all going well. I do think that even though it was a big surgery, I've faired pretty well. I have seen and heard some horrific stories of necrosis and infections, battered and bruised. My skin has faired pretty well after radiotherapy, it just looked like I had a bad sunburn but is fading already.

He did try and talk me into nipple sparing on that side, but I reminded him that I wanted the least surgeries, the least complications. That includes him wanting to create new nipples - what a useless operation. To create some lumps of skin - normally you are removing lumps of skin right!!?? Anyway I showed him these amazing 3d nipple tattoos I found on a website in Canberra called 'Tatts on Tatts off' he told me that his team of tattoo artists do a great job, but not 3d and he doubted it would look 3D. So I showed him the photos and he was surprised. Anyway, asked me for the website so he could show his team so they could learn how to do it too. As long as they aren't learning on me I was thinking.

I could fly to Canberra and get it done :) anyway I can't get that last part done for a while yet and it's just aesthetic anyway. He suggested 4-6 months after.

At least the plans are starting to come together and I can start planning the second half of the year.

Anyway back to plastic surgeon week after next to check the fluid buildup, physio appointments in between, cancer centre for survivorship program and another horse needle in the tummy and in 6 weeks time for my daily hormone blocking drug....what a fun filled 6 weeks ahead of me :/