I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2013, had a mastectomy on my left breast in December 2013 and was told in January 2014 that the cancer was all gone, there was no need for Radio or Chemotherapy. I had a few reconstructive surgeries over the following years but that was all until 2022.
I first went to see the doctors at the start of April 2022 complaining of pain in my back and ribs, it wasn't until June 2022 that I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in the bone, Stage II. I also have cancer in the lymph nodes in my left armpit. I spent the best part of June and July in hospital with my family looking after my two children who are aged 11 and 12 (I'm a single parent). I currently have a compression on my spinal cord and there are five fractures on my spine, so I am unable to walk. My days are spent lying flat in a bed and when I do get out of bed and into the wheelchair, I must wear a back brace to support my spine. I am on oral chemo and lots of pain killers. I had two shots of radiotherapy last year in two different areas of the spine. The MRI in October 2022 showed the cancer had shrunk, February’s MRI showed that it had stabilised. I have not been able to have my bone injection for the past 4-5 months because my calcium levels are too low which is ironic given I was in hospital in June because they were too high!!!
When I was on steroids my appetite increased and I gained weight. I have the moon face that comes with being on steroids and I understand it takes up to 12 months to disappear. I have been off the steroids for probably 3-4 months, but I am still gaining weight. I know it is partially because I can’t walk and can only do exercise lying down, and I have discovered that one of the tablets I am taking is also contributing to my weight gain. My children are 11 and 12 so their cooking abilities are limited. They can use the air fryer, oven, and microwave but they can’t make meals from scratch so it’s lots of ready meals and various frozen chicken dinners. I eat as much salad, fruit, veg and yoghurts as I can during the day, usually pre-made salads and the new pot meals you can get, as it is tricky to get my carers to make me lunch, because of cultural differences. Can anyone offer any guidance on what to do about my weight? My GP is going to swap out one of my tablets for another and has suggested dropping carbs and maybe eating ready meals made by a well-known diet brand. I have a lady that comes fortnightly to exercise with me and gives me a new set of exercises each time.
Last year I was told twice that surgery on my spine was out of the question but on the 1st March I had a private consult with a spine specialist who has advised that surgery is an option (I have movement in my legs and my prognosis is more than a year) and he would be happy to see me either on the NHS or as a private patient. I have now commenced battle to get the surgery done asap as time is of the essence. I have already lost months. All being after surgery, I would need some rehabilitation and whilst I know I won’t get back to running 5k 3-4 times a week, I should be able to start walking again and get back some of my life and enjoy living the years that I have left AND lose some of this weight!!!
I have never reached out to groups like this before. I always felt that it wasn’t the right space for me, listening to other people’s problems when I didn’t really feel I had any. I felt like a fraud as I had never been ill, just a diagnosis, surgery and then sent on my merry way. This time around, I both want and need the help and support of those in similar situations.
I’ve totally just brain dumped in here, as I do with my FB updates. I guess this is therapy for me, to get it all out in the written word. Plus, I’m procrastinating, I have some studying to do (I’m continuing with my Open University teaching degree)!!!
