Category: Josie’s Story

See how far I have come one year after I had my bilateral mastectomy and started the reconstruction process.

Two weeks after my nipple reconstruction the dressings were removed. Here is how I’m recovering and what I think so far.

Are you trying to decide whether to do nipple reconstruction after breast cancer and mastectomy? Click through to read about my experience

I was really eager to see my surgeon again two weeks post exchange surgery. It was finally time to get the dressings off and to discuss where we go from here. Removing the dressings, while not as nerve wracking as after my bilateral mastectomy, still made me a little nervous. I had been so happy… Continue reading Two Weeks Post Exchange Surgery

I only had a few day’s notice that my exchange surgery was going ahead but I wasn’t at all worried or nervous. At least not about the surgery itself, I was finally getting rid of these uncomfortable tissue expanders and getting my implants. I was both worried and nervous that my surgery would be cancelled… Continue reading My Exchange Surgery – From Tissue Expanders to Implants

I’ve been considering writing a post about how the craziness of Covid-19 is affecting my breast cancer treatment, but honestly, I am one of the lucky ones who it is not affecting any more than the average person. For me, it’s just affecting how I am preparing for exchange surgery. One of the big concerns… Continue reading Preparing for Exchange Surgery

I had planned to give an update after my second expander fill, but the appointment was so quick and I didn’t really get any extra information from my surgeon so it didn’t seem worth it. Instead I am going to summarise both expander fills in this one post. The second fill was done about ten… Continue reading Second and Third Expander Fills

I’ve been looking forward to this for a few weeks now. It’s the start of the next phase of this cancer journey. I’m no longer healing from the last surgery, I am now getting ready for the next one – with my first expander fill. It is now six weeks after my DMX when my… Continue reading My First Expander Fill

I couldn’t decide if I was going to write a six weeks update or wait a few extra days until I had my first fill done and post an update then, or do both – but in the end, I was travelling and working on the day of the six week milestone, so the decision… Continue reading Six Weeks Post Mastectomy

Since my last post I have come along in leaps and bounds, improving every day. I am already four weeks post mastectomy – It has gone really quickly. I finally saw my surgeon again for my follow up appointment. He went through all of my pathology results explaining exactly how lucky I have been. Not… Continue reading Four Weeks Post Mastectomy

If, before my surgery, you had told me that two weeks after my mastectomy I would be pretty much back to my normal life I would have laughed at you. But that is how things are. Warning – If you do not want to see my boobs, or post op pics, this is not the… Continue reading Two Weeks Post Mastectomy

This time last week I was still waiting to make my way to the hospital for my surgery. This week I am relaxing back at home, now in recovery mode, one week after my bilateral mastectomy. Yes, it’s been a pretty full on week – I mean, all major surgery would be. But it’s not… Continue reading One Week Post Mastectomy

Nine weeks doesn’t seem like a long time, but that’s how long it was for me (by choice) between my breast cancer diagnosis and surgery. Nine weeks also isn’t very long at all when its the last bit of time with your boobs. Right now I am three days post op, and I am feeling… Continue reading My Bilateral Mastectomy with Tissue Expanders

Clearly cancer is a physical ailment – I mean, my cells are mutating and trying to kill me! But so much of the treatment and recovery relies on the way the whole process is dealt with mentally. Being optimistic and positive is essential. But is is realistic? Am I actually burying my head in the… Continue reading Optimistic, Realistic or Burying my Head in the Sand?

It’s been six weeks since I last saw my surgeon. Today I had to go back and see him for the last time before my surgery, just eleven days away now. I came to the appointment with my list of questions, all ready for a long discussion that would put me at ease. Click here… Continue reading My Pre-Surgery Appointment

After I sat down and talked with my surgeon, I knew exactly how I need to move forward with my treatment. There was only one way in my mind that I could get the results that I want – a life that is cancer-free and worry-free. I committed to it, booked my surgery and was… Continue reading A Second Opinion

Click here to start at the beginning of my story Back in mid-2007 Simon applied for a job within his company that was located in Dubai. It was one of those positions that was advertised world wide and even though he worked for the same company, he had to go through the recruitment process like… Continue reading Perpetually Waiting…

Click here to start at the beginning of my story Ever since hearing those dreaded words “you have breast cancer” it has been all consuming. Barely five minutes goes past without me thinking about it. My way of coping means learning all I can and being as prepared as I can be for all eventualities.… Continue reading Feeling Lucky

Click here to start at the beginning of my story Giving up my breasts was an easy decision, after all, they are trying to kill me. Actually doing it will be hard, and the recovery will be harder, but they are not the only things I will give up thanks to cancer. Before this I… Continue reading A Lot to Give Up

Click here to start at the beginning of my story After getting the results of my lumpectomy, I still had to wait another week before I could see my surgeon again and talk about the next steps in my treatment. As luck would have it, I didn’t have to wait as long as I thought.… Continue reading My Treatment Options

Click here to start at the beginning of my story I’m a type A person, a bit of a control freak really. I plan how things are going to be and run by a schedule. Let’s just say I don’t like it very much when I don’t know what the future holds. Uncertainty is not… Continue reading Living with Uncertainty

Click here to start at the beginning of my story Heading off to hospital for the lumpectomy was a very new thing. The last time I was in hospital was almost 21 years ago when I gave birth to my youngest daughter. Both my childbirths had been natural with no drugs or other interventions. I… Continue reading Lumpectomy and Finally the Results

Oh, boy, where to start! There wasn’t really one day that this all began, but rather a series of days. I guess though this all started sometime over the weeks we were travelling in Canada and the US in August/September 2019. Little did I know I was about to undertake a journey of a different… Continue reading That Day this Journey Began