Hello everyone,
ive never written or looked at a forum before....surprising really.
I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer that had spread into my lymph glands in 1992 when I was 23, with two small boys. The surgery was pretty bad, thyroidectomy and lymph gland removal and nerve damage was tough, little did I know what was to come. The radiotherapy was tough as I had to stay in isolation for two week periods while getting increasingly tired...when the effects of having no thyroid gland. I never regained all the feeling in my face and neck. I really don't want to sound negative but it's been really tough...getting my levels right and continued fatigue. You live with it and I am alive.
Not cancer related, July 2011 after years of pain and constant bleeding, I was rushed into hospital for an emergency hysterectomy with three blood transfusions. I quickly recovered and I felt amazing, alive...I got a job and was moving forward.
November...I found a lump in my boob...it was quite big and had not been there long. Mammogram...I was sent in to see the doctor and I had multiple lumps in both breasts. When I went in for the results I was told that I had two aggressive malignant tumours in the right breast and I had to start chemo straight away...which I did...during which I made the decision to have a bilateral mastectomy...it was still lumpy, so a worry but also I didn't want to be lopsided...I had big boobs. I wasn't ever given the option of immediate reconstruction but was told of my options. I hospital I was going to is a small one with surgeons, oncologist etc coming in on particular days from the neighbouring big city. I had not seen a plastic surgeon to discuss a plan for post surgery. My general surgeon was so very lovely and I asked no questions, I trusted them. The surgery wasn't bad, I went home the next day, I was going to continue with the herceptin, heal and think about reconstruction later...although I did meet up with the plastic surgeon who top me the pros and cons of implants and the more aggressive making me some boobs out of my stomach...whatever I was told no rush and I was concerned that if I had a recurrence it may not be found if I had boobs...I was going to wait 5yrs. Anyway, I'm boring myself now...so sorry, when I asked if I could be referred back to the plastic dept...I was told that if I didn't have it within 5 years no funding would be available...a new rule?.. obviously I was upset and when I saw one of the plastic surgeons she said I couldn't have implants because of where my scars were....
