The Last Surgery

I have a date with the Plastic Surgeon on the 23rd June.  Just after my 2 year anniversary of this shitty disease.  Hopefully the last surgery I will need to do with this reconstruction anyway. Some reconstruction revision surgery (borrowing from Peter for Paul) and building fake nipples and liposuctioning my hips to put back into my buttocks. I feel like a spare parts yard.

I know I have another surgery with the curette for the polyp in the uterus. I just need to get through all of these latest round of appointments before I go down that road as well. I've just visited my breast surgeon who is happy with everything.

I have an appointment with the Cancer Centre next week to suss out some side effects I'm having from the drugs.  I have been having some tinitus ?  buzzing in my ears and some other things. My GP is not around, she's on extended sick leave so it leaves the cancer centre and my oncologist to help me out. I might also see if I can change medication now that I've been post menopausal for 2 years. It seems to be the standard time they need to determine if you are pre or post menopausal.

I also have an appointment with my radio oncologist.  He phoned about a month ago to see how I was going - which was nice of him.  It was quite out of the blue to receive his call.  I wasnt home so he spoke with John. Maybe he was confirming my appointment with him?? Who knows.

Exercising 6 times a week is a hard ask between work and kids etc.  I was swimming until my shoulder froze up and now have arm pain.  You can imagine what comes up for a breast cancer survivor when I doctor google that one!!!!!

It is a mental game - always trying to be the utmost in positive and pushing down any negative thoughts. I have to remind myself that I had a Pathological Complete Response......no residue cancer. So logically....none in my body either.  Stories of other cancer patients plus I'm in a couple of 'Cancer Clubs' so am surrounded by others at varying stages of this process.

Imagining myself as an old lady is the best way to re-focus me and dancing at my kids weddings :)

Before, During and Now

On this journey, I have had hair and taken it for granted.....

 

I shaved it off during chemo and worn a lovely wig, cant complain about it, it was a good wig

I've given up the wig once I had an even coverage of hair covering all of my bald spots.  So grateful to have hair again - even as a pixie cut.  This is my birthday photo post single mastectomy and reconstruction 1 month before and post radiotherapy a few months before.

Finally, with a little bit of help from some real hair extensions sewed into my short hair - can you see the happiness beaming from within.....I cant describe that :) but you can see it!  Here I was out with Heidi celebrating being Marcellin Mums at a function seeing Jasper Jones.