Living flat and recovery after breast cancer
Being back in hospital for a non-cancer operation recently, prompted me to think about my body and how it has changed over the last two and a half years following my breast cancer diagnosis. I’ve acquired another scar, this time high up on the side of my right buttock, to add to the two across … Continue reading Living without breasts
Growing flowers from seed, following my breast cancer diagnosis, has to be one of the most joyful things that I've ever done. Being able to step outside early on a summer's morning, before the sun has risen too high in the sky, and look at the beauty of the flowers in my cutting patch has … Continue reading Flowers make me happy
I've experienced a lot of physical and mental pain during my treatment and surgery for breast cancer. That pain pales into insignificance compared to the acute sciatic pain that I'm now experiencing in my left leg and the psychological pain that has come along for the ride. I've just come back from my daily dog … Continue reading The one about pain
How a joyous, yet poignant, visit to RHS Chelsea Flower Show reinforced my love of flowers but came at a time when I was experiencing acute anxiety, two years after being diagnosed and being treated for breast cancer. Two years on On Wednesday I spent the day at Chelsea Flower Show with Liam. Nothing too … Continue reading Flower power
How it felt to lose all of the hair on my head and body as a result of chemotherapy to treat breast cancer, following my mastectomy. Two years ago my hair began to fall out. I had a great summer lined up in 2016 - Chelsea Flower Show, Wimbledon tennis, both of my children's graduations, … Continue reading To baldly go
Following my breast cancer diagnosis and mastectomy so many thoughts were whirling around my head. One that kept recurring was, when and whether to be fitted for a replacement breast or prosthesis. Prosthesis or flat chest? - that was the question. There were other questions like what size, what colour, what shape, what weight, what … Continue reading Musings on fake boobs and nipples
“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” Luther Burbank, Botanist & Horticulturalist 1849-1926 Breast cancer and mastectomy are big parts of this blog, but I also want to write more about flowers and seeds and all things horticultural. It’s these little beauties that are … Continue reading Sunshine, food and medicine
How the anniversary of my mastectomy following breast cancer, reminds me that sadness and anxiety are unexpectedly close to the surface. I’ve always thought of myself as a glass half empty person and I’ve experienced anxiety and depression over many years. I’ve also been very good at catastrophic thinking. I mean, why wouldn’t I have … Continue reading Happy Anniversary?
I encourage women to attend their breast cancer mammogram appointments. My screening detected my tumour and very likely saved my life. Research has been published today by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Breast Cancer (APPGBC) in their report entitled "A Mixed Picture: An Enquiry into Geographical Inequalities and Breast Cancer". Compiled by Breast Cancer Now, the … Continue reading To screen or not to screen
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2016. This post describes my treatment, including two mastectomies, and how I decided not to have reconstruction after mastectomy but to live flat. Cancerversaries come thick and fast for me at this time of year. I haven’t written much publicly about my breast cancer, but I feel … Continue reading Two years & two breasts later…
