Today I had my catch-up with Dr. B, my Oncologist. Laura came with me this time as we would be getting results on the CT scan, but also to find out if I have the BRCA gene, etc. Dr. B was lovely as ever, nice and friendly and smiling us into the room.
The conversation started great – The CT scan showed no cancer anywhere other than the breast on my CT scan. They didn’t scan the whole body, just from my neck to my pelvis, but I was very happy with this result. If the cancer is just limited to one place, which can be removed, fabulous!
Next Genetics. The test has come back confirming that I am BRCA 1 positive. So this means that I have a faulty gene which is the cause of my breast cancer. This is a hereditary gene that will have been passed from either my mum or dad. What this essentially means is that anyone with the BRCA 1 is more likely to develop certain cancers. 60% of people with BRCA 1 develop ovarian cancer and 70% develop breast cancer. For me, as I have already had breast cancer, there is a likeliness that this will return.
Okay, I said (once again), what are my options?
Laura and I had already discussed previously what I would potentially do if it did come back positive – so she was less shocked in this meeting at how I was taking the news and being very pragmatic about it. She was distressed, now having it confirmed that I am going to have to go through surgeries again, but this time she was more prepared.
Dr. B explained that I had a few options, but the most important thing was to get rid of any breast tissue by having a mastectomy. I could have just the 1 boob done to get rid of current cancer, but this would reduce the risk of it coming back in the boob. She also explained that when I have the mastectomy, I would be able to have reconstruction surgery at the same time, so I wouldn’t have to go without breasts at all if I wanted to.
Surgery options following the Mastectomy were as below
- No reconstruction, just remain without breasts going forward.
- False Breasts made from silicone etc ( Like normal plastic boob enhancements)
- They can take fat from my back and make breasts from this
- They can take fat from my stomach and make breasts from this (DIEP FLAP)
As soon as I had previously heard that essentially I could get a tummy tuck, which they would then make my boobs from, I was well up for this! Who wouldn’t want a tummy tuck, especially after all the weight I had been putting on through chemo!
She explained that this surgery was a lot longer, about 10 hours, and they didn’t do this surgery in Poole, so I would have to go to Portsmouth or Salisbury Hospital. She went into a bit more detail about the options and ask what I wanted.
100% double mastectomy, and I am 98% sure about the Tummy Tuck Surgery! Laura nodded with me in agreement 😊 She asked if she could use the fat from her belly to make my boobs, but apparently that’s not possible! Ha!
Now, this may all seem like doom and gloom but it’s not. It is very common for people to have this surgery after breast cancer and recovery doesn’t have to be that long! The best thing about having the mastectomy is that I DO NOT NEED TO HAVE RADIOTHERAPY!! This is the bit I was dreading! I feared radiation more than I feared chemo. The stories I have seen, the burning, the tight skin, etc, the restrictions! Nope, not for me! I would 100% rather have the breasts removed than go through radiotherapy.
D.r B also explained, that in the future (around the age of 40) I would then need to have my fallopian tubes and my ovaries removed to stop the risk of developing ovarian cancer. That is a problem for me in 5 years to worry about, so that’s fine! 😊
D.r B asked me the normal follow-up questions about symptoms, and then we left. Laura had a worried look on her face and was asking me Are you Okay? Etc, but I was fine. 100% fine. I thought I would have the faulty gene, so I was prepared for it. I came away from the meeting happy as I knew what I had to prepare myself for, but also, I wasn’t having radiotherapy.
Additional to all of this information, I was also informed that after my 12th session of chemotherapy with Paclitaxel and Carboplatin, chemotherapy drugs will be changing. So from the 18th March, I will be having a different set of drugs, I will only need 3 infusions, and these will be 3 weeks apart!! I may have been told this at the very beginning of this whole process, but I had completely forgotten!
What this means is rather than 21 infusions, I will only be having 15! Winning! She explained that I will have an Ultrasound and Mammogram in a few weeks to check the progress of the tumour, and then will change onto these new chemotherapy drugs.
Amazing news 😊