This past year has flown by so fast, looking back at 2017, I am amazed on where this Breast Cancer Journey has taken me. I took the picture above while on a walk with my nephew and his family in Oak Glen, near Yucaipa. Using my 84x zoom, from where we were we could not see all the nuts he was storing!!!!
My reconstructive surgery was on August 22, 2017. The expanders that were placed were inflated once a week for four weeks following the surgery post op appointment. Four inflation appointments starting on September 6th, ending September 25th. Definitely having this very large needle being pierced into your breast is not for the weak. My husband was with me for every appointment and watched as the Plastic Surgeon took the syringe, and injected the saline into the expander. Was in painful? Hell ya! I felt it more on the left side as the skin on the left was radiated ( 29 times!). The right side ironically, where the PS injected was where my medi-port used to be, so the skin is deadened from the port being accessed for Chemo and subsequent monthly flushes, blood draw etc…….
The three month mark since the last expander inflation is fast approaching. The plan was to wait three months after the last inflation before doing the next surgery to exchange the expander for the implants. It would have been nice to have it done this year as we have met our deductible.
From Bricks to Cinder Blocks
Initially I called the expanders bricks….when all was settled they changed to cinder blocks….they are rock hard! Funny, when I hug someone I find myself apologizing for my cinder blocks! They are really high up on the chest wall. The right side has dropped down some, but the left side is standing tall and proud!
The mastectomies where skin sparring, so when these expanders come out the excess tissue will be removed, the arrow is pointing the extra tissue on the left side. The straight lines are where the scares are, and remember I opted for non nipple sparring….the goal is NO reoccurrence ! I so plan on tattooing either 3D nipples or flowers covering the scars….who knows how adventurous I will get!
My appointment with my Plastic Surgeon is January 12th, at this appointment he will examine me and take pictures of me (without a top on) from the waist up ommitting my face, and he will have me remove my necklace, actually his nurse is the one that takes the pictures. This series of pictures taken are for his use, so that he can plan his surgery on me, pictures were taken prior to this surgery as well. I expect that the surgery will happen late January of early February….I’m anxious…I want to get this done.
Today is New Years Eve, my honey is sick so it will be a low key evening for us. I wish everyone A Happy New Year filled with Joy and Happiness, live life to the fullest, don’t take life for granted…….I would say that I am doing pretty dang good, but I would not wish this journey on anyone! #F*%#cancer (pardon my french)
Mahalo for reading my blog…Pina
My Breast Cancer Journey 