Living with breast cancer in my twenties

Winter is just about over and spring is on its way! Its been a long winter! I am so much happier that we have longer and warmer days. It was heaven to be able to lay out on the grass and feel the sun on my face last weekend. I have spent a lot of this year trying to decide two important things.... What breast reconstruction to have and whether to stay on tamoxifen or not. I am absolutely terrible at making decisions so this has been so hard for me. Its stressed me out no end and really didn't know how I was to come to a decision. I realised I'd had too much time to think about it, asking for peoples help, hearing their stories. It was so nice that so many people wanted to help but in the end it just confused me even more and I got to the point where I couldn't decide between what I really wanted and what other people thought. So many women are understandably scared of BC returning and have another mastectomy. In the cases of women having the gene then its not a question of ...

While I am lying in bed with a head cold from over doing it last week, I thought I would write a short post that BC sufferers can reply to and will hopefully help me make up my mind 100%. I saw my surgeon last week in East Grinstead to discuss my breast reconstruction. I went thinking I only had on option which was to have implants. When we spoke my surgeon gave me three choices. This totally threw me and I could not make up my mind. I should be a Libra as I am so indecisive. I went away thinking of all the options and decided on one, then five minutes later I would change my mind! Friends and family that know me well know this is what I am like..... a nightmare!! Its great to have choices in life but it doesn't half make my life less simple. So here are my choices Back (latissimus dorsi) flap (LD flap) and mastopexy - The skin, fat and muscle are removed from the back but the blood vessels of the flap remain attached to the body at the end nearest the armpit. The flap is then tu...

I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and new year! I have to say mine was miles better then last year! I still can not believe 2009 has gone by that quickly. Thank goodness it did! I thought I would just update you with the last few months. I would also like some advice from previous BC sufferers about my current situation too! As some of you know I deleted my facebook a month ago. Not only is it a distraction but I also wanted to feel more of a sense of privacy. I am a very open person and felt too open to the world on facebook. My blog however I feel is different even though I am being open with my emotions. My breast cancer journey is not quite over yet and think its important for me to carry on with them. Not only for me but for my friends and family, so they can understand what I am still going through and also for anyone going through what I am. I have now been on Tamoxifen for the last 7 months now. At first I didn't seem to have any problems. My periods had stopped...

It's October which means its breast cancer awareness month. It's great to see there is so much about it everywhere. Some of you will know I have been involved in the Samsung- Everybody's doing it campaign. Check the website out http://www.morethantalk.eu/uk/ Samsung's mission is to spread a positive breast awareness message to all women. The 15th October is "Everybody's doing it awareness day". Copy the links below for the viral film and stories of lots of women who have been affected by breast cancer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM3RH447Yag http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFimMHGOJGo You might have seen the campaign while you have been about in London. Its featured on billboards and the viral is currently being viewed every minute in Piccadilly circus. I have been doing newspaper and radio interviews, locally and nationally. It is great to be helping and getting the message out there to women, especially younger women. http://www.thisisleicestershire.c...

It has been a long time since I last wrote a post for my blog and I feel like so much has happened. Where to begin?! Well after I finished my treatment I had lots going on which was such a great thing. If I hadn’t much happening then I think I would have easily got down like I did after my chemo finished. I was going to London every week for the Prima shoot and the Samsung shoot. They both went so well and I enjoyed them very much. Having you hair and make up done and photos taken was a real confidence boost that I needed. I have appeared in the August edition on Prima magazine where you can still vote for me or you can text PRIMA EMILY to 83088 or call 09016555123. If I win I get to stay in a luxury spa hotel for 3 nights. I had college interviews at Leicester, Hastings and Worthing College for BTEC and the Foundation degree in Fashion design. I worked really hard by doing a sketchbook full of drawings and ideas. I really enjoyed it, as it had been a long time since I had sat down and...