28/10/2023
An update from me... tomorrow morning I am heading into hospital for a major surgery. I'm having a preventative double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (around an 8 hour surgery requiring two surgeons). But why?
We all have genes in our bodies referred to as BRCA. Normally, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes protect you from getting certain cancers. But some mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes prevent them from working properly, so that if you inherit one of these mutations, you are more likely to get cancers.
I have been diagnosed with a mutation in my BRCA2 gene.
This diagnosis means that I am at an extremely heightened risk of developing Breast and/or Ovarian Cancer (for males it is Breast and Prostate Cancers). Furthermore, if I was to develop Breast Cancer it is most likely to be a very aggressive form and highly likely fatal.
The first stage of this journey for me after getting my diagnosis was to be cleared of not already having developed a cancer. This process in itself was not easy, in fact for a period of around 8 weeks I had the experts telling me they believed I was too late and had indeed developed Breast Cancer - with one surgeon going as far as to say to me that "as a self-employed single Mum I recommend getting all your affairs in order as a matter of urgency". After more tests and procedures than I care to remember I finally got the news I needed; that I was actually lucky enough to be Cancer free... for now at least.
While a double mastectomy is of course not compulsory, it is the decision I have made to do, after an agonising process. This is the best, and indeed only way, I can proceed to maximise my chances of living a healthy life (after being healed from this surgery, removal of my ovaries will be next).
To say I'm scared is an understatement. This is a major surgery, with what is promised and guaranteed to be a gruelling, long and painful recovery. Made more difficult by the fact that I'm very limited in pain relief choices post surgery as a result of my weightloss surgery. But all I can keep reminding myself of is the state of panic I lived in for 8 weeks, while being told it was already too late, and how was I going to manage to survive this, especially as a self-employed single Mum. I can't live with that fear for the rest of my life.
So yes, I'm scared. Petrified even. If I knew a more descriptive word I'd use that. But as scared as I am, I know this is what is best for not only me, but my son, and our future. Our long future 🤞
So please bear with me over the next couple of weeks while I'm in the immediate recovery mode as replies will likely be slow from me. But please do still keep those messages and orders coming in, as this little business is too important to let this little speed-bump derail it 😘
