Kaye: 1 - Breast cancer: 0
A story with a happy ending
Convalescence

Finally clear of dressings
So, five weeks after surgery, I'm finally free of infections, no dressings on my healing wounds, and feeling very happy with the outcome. I'll have to avoid lifting heavy weights for quite a long time, and right now I still don't have my GP's permission to drive the car.

If you look at the picture of my reconstructed breast you might wonder why I'm so happy - it doesn't really look like the other one, and it has a big dimple underneath (which I'm told will disappear with time). It is firm and muscular, and starts from high under my pecs, while my other breast is soft and has long ago succumbed to gravity. There isn't any nipple, and I'll probably never have one made. And if you look closely you will see that they collected a few belly hairs on the skin, so my new breast is hairy!

But...it feels like me. When I get up in the morning I feel normal. When I shower I run the soap over two breasts that may be different in shape and texture, but already they feel more-or-less right. When I go to sleep at night I have the right shape to cushion my body when I turn on my side. My posture and balance are unaffected, my body feel right.

My abdomen feels tight and bumpy, with quite a loss of feeling, especially around the belly button, but I'm getting used to it - a bonus tummy tuck. Because of the infections my doctor has vetoed physiotherapy for my abdominal muscles just yet, but I think that I will start mild exercise to get some strength and tone back there soon, and that will help.

Although the entire procedure has been fairly painless, I do experience some pain at times. There is a tender patch high on my new breast, near the sternum, and some touchy bits at the base of the breast, but they only hurt if I prod them; they don't ache without provocation. I also have very sharp pain from a point on the abdominal wound, mainly associated with sitting in low, unsupportive armchairs - when I get up it can really hurt for a few seconds, until I get straight. The supportive underwear does help to prevent these sorts of aches and pains, and I assume they will ease off over time.

I'm pleased that I chose to have the reconstruction - it was the right decision for me. More than that - I'm a living testament to the value of scanning and early detection of breast cancer. I no longer have cancer.