Cancer diary: Back at work post surgery
As you forge ahead, you must remember to count your blessings on a daily basis and never take anything in life for granted
During my recovery, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, where the thyroid is underactive and is another explanation for all my tiredness and lack of energy. So more pills to be taken each day, to add to the rest. Honestly, I’d rattle if you shook me.
I was back at work four weeks after the surgery, whereas most of the ladies in the DIEP Flap (procedure where the tissue and fat from your tummy is used to create the new breasts) group seem to be taking six to eight weeks off work, but I’ve always coped better when distracted and busy.
Now as I’m writing this, just more two months after surgery, all my wounds have healed, there’s no pain, and the swelling in my tummy is subsiding. Eventually my tummy will be flat – definitely an upside to the DIEP Flap as you get a tummy tuck as part of the process. It’s good to look on the bright side! I’ll need to have a phase two procedure in a few months to tidy things up a bit and make the breasts more even, but it will be a walk in the park compared to phase one.
If I look at how much my life has changed before and after cancer, it’s like a total transformation, I will never ever be the same again.
And in many ways, it has saved my life. I don’t take anything for granted anymore. I feel so grateful, every single day, for all the many blessings in my life, and so many wonderful things have happened to me since I said goodbye to my old self.
Of course, I am covered in scars, have no sensation in my breasts, have been catapulted into early menopause, gained a ton of weight, and am riddled with aches and pains.
But all of that pales into insignificance when you consider the alternative. I’m alive, I’m loved, I’m surrounded by friends and family all the time (where I had felt quite alone and sorry for myself before cancer).
I’m spending lots of time with my eight-yearold son, making memories and seeing him grow into the most wonderful, funny, infuriating, cheeky, loving and talented young man, who understands so much more than I ever would have thought possible.
As in all things, perspective is king – by focusing on the positives, I’ve never been happier and the universe is being extremely good to me.
It’s as if it knows that cancer is a big enough beast for any human being to deal with, and you are only ever given as much as you can cope with.
“I’m alive, I’m loved, I’m surrounded by friends and family all the time (where I had felt quite alone and sorry for myself before cancer).”