Hi, I'd had breast cancer before in 2012 and a wide local excision for grade 3 LVI DCIS with sentinel plus two more lymph nodes taken. Followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I didn't have any hormone therapy as I reacted badly and for the 4% gain on life expectancy I was offered I passed on that. I've instead had 12 excellent quality years until the past six months. My spine herniated badly in December 2022 rendering me unable to walk. I've since had spinal surgery in March and thankfully walked out of hospital. Weeks later I discovered that my breast cancer had returned. I wasn't surprised or particularly phased by the news, I even thought I'd be fine with having to have a mastectomy last week, but the reality following the surgery has I think knocked me sideways far more than I thought it would.
I've been very stoic about it all to my family and friends who've always seen me as strong and able to deal with anything. So I guess I'm still keeping up appearances. But my appearance isn't the same and I don't feel like that same strong person. I'm actually feeling physically, emotionally and mentally drained.
I haven't had reconstruction surgery because I didn't want implants and the surgeon wouldn't do reconstruction from my back muscle due to spinal surgery two months ago and no DIEP surgery from the abdomen for the same reason plus I'm due back in for a partial hemicolectomy for the large bowel!
I hope once this much larger 35cm mastectomy wound than I had envisioned heals, I will regain my strength physically, emotionally and mentally. Has anyone had a mastectomy tattoo? I understand that I will have to wait a year but it's been suggested that might help cover the scarring.
