Boob jobs and breast cancer THE FACTS!!!

Hi Girlies

A year ago I was getting ready for my surgery to go from a wonky 34A/AA to B/C and in preparation became a bjsf addict sharing my concerns and excitement with the other December girls. Can't believe a whole year has gone past!!!

I had my op and loved the results, healed well and boobs were so much better than I ever imagined I reallly was on cloud nine!! At 32 I had my dream boobies and just wished I had them 10 years earlier.

I was doing the daily massage as recommended by my nurse and after about 4 weeks I noticed a small lump about the size of a pea between my nipple and armpit which I thought was strange so I told my nurse about it at the 6 week checkup and she said oh well its probably nothing, and its not related to the surgery so try not to worry, but just to be on the safe side she gave me the number for a private clinic and recommended that I have an ultrasound- just for peace of mind. I just wanted to get it sorted incase it was surgery related so I went the next day and had an ultrasound.

At no point did I think it might be cancer, I have no history of breast cancer in my family and no lumps or bumps pre-op, it never even crossed my mind that I might ever get it. Never. Not once, even for a moment did I contemplate it.

The consultant undertaking the ultrasound was very quiet. He checked both breasts and armpits and I was expecting him to say a 'its a cyst, fatty tissue, scar tissue'.

He switched off the machine and said ok well I recommend a biopsy because we need to find out if it is malignant. When they think its cancer they don't mess with their words. Thankfully despite my mind going into free fall I made the right choice and allowed him to punch a hole in my perfect new boob leaving a massive bruise and to be honest it really hurt. 4 days of freefall ensued followed by a voice message on my mobile from my GP saying we have your results and we need to see you extremely urgently.

The moment of realisation was unimaginably awful. But good news came quickly after. Because of the implant was pushing the lump forward I had found it at the earliest possible stage. It was low grade meaning slow growing and the outlook was good. How long it had been there they could not say, but the fact that I had the implants and was massaging them daily meant that I probably caught it 6-12 months earlier than if I'd not had the boob job. There was no connection to the boob job at all. Infact if you do lose a breast they undertake reconstruction with implants so there is no debate, implants DO NOT give you cancer.

I got referred to a specialist unit within 2 days, and 7 weeks after my implant op I was booked in for op 2. In expectation of losing at least part of my breast and my hair and more importantly my own sense of femininity I booked in for a naked glamour photoshoot before the op. The photographer was great and the photos extremely flattering. She airbrushed my scars and bruises and made me look amazing. There was one unexpected side effect of the photoshoot which in my head was me saying farewell to the old me...I looked at the photos and realised that I was a gorgeous girl and even if I lost a whole boob I would still be gorgeous. I vowed never to criticise my body again.

I had an amazing surgeon. He managed to keep my implant in place (in fact he said it made his job easier) and he made a small incison around the edge of my nipple and removed the lump and about 25% of my breast tissue on that side. I woke up expecting a horror scene and in reality I had a tiny scar, much smaller than the incision in the crease. My boob was a little smaller but still nice and round and perfectly normal looking.

The best news came two weeks later, the cancer was contained in my breast tissue, it had not spread to my lymphatic system (they take a few lymph nodes from under you arm as to check) and the tissue around the lump was healthy, so no chemotherapy required!!!! I was totally relieved and delighted. I don't have kids and chemo can play havoc with your fertility so it was one major thing less thing to worry about. Plus I got to keep my hair!!

I was going to have radiotherapy though. 6 weeks of going to hospital every day for a painless treatment, which unfortunately leaves you with a big red burn in the shape of a square, a bit like bad sunburn. It was depressing being in a waiting room fully of old people and I felt so out of place, the newly more glamourous me sat in amongst retired men with prostate and lung cancer and the odd 50+ lady with cancer like mine (or worse). I spent a lot of time shopping and the new clothes and treats to myself were the best antidote to those depressing daily trips.

My trusty implants helped me again. Because my boob was now 70% silicone it did not absorb the radiation as much as if it were solid tissue. My radiation burn was not nearly as bad as it could have been. I was told to expect capsular contraction on that side, and although I think it has happened a little bit, its really not that bad. My boob still looks 1000% better than pre-op.

It took me around 4 months to recover from treatment fully, but throughout I kept my business running (I'm self employed) and two weeks after finishing radiotherapy I went to Ibiza for a wild weekend and partied on the beach in my bikini to show off my lifesavers!!!

So my cancer avoidance / survival check list is this:

1) If you find a lump go straight away to your gp. If you're under 50 don't accept a mammogram as a check, they could not see my lump even after taking 6 mammograms as in young women your boobs are too dense. If in doubt pay for a private ultrasound which is around £200. If you are at high risk why not have an annual ultrasound privately. Think of it like having your car serviced.

2) Check yourself regularly - I never did this. Cancer lumps tend to double in size every 100 days, one month there is nothing there, the next month you might find something- hence why none of the three boob job surgeons detected anything in their breast exam. - Dr Khan didn't noticethe lump during surgery.

3) Why did I get cancer? Well as there is no genetic reason I have looked to other causes. There is no definate reason but for me I think that 5 years on the pill, a poor diet- ie ready meals, lots of choc and several spells on the Atkins diet are the most likely reasons. The surgeon said it was down to lifestyle and environment?! I have never smoked and am not overweight but I did consume a lot of dairy ie latte's and milk with cereal, cheese, cream etc. There are lots of studies to show that high dairy consumption makes cancer more likely to grow and a poor diet makes it less likely that your body can kill it off.
A great book on the topic is Jane Plant 'Your life in your hands' which I recommend for anyone interested in making sure that they protect themselves from cancer. Only around 10% of cancers are family history related, which is very different to the common perception of cancer. ANYONE can get it.

4) Get some life insurance with critical illness cover. No one ever wants to think that they are going to get cancer or any other illness. Thanks to some good advise from my mortgage broker I had a sum equivalent to my mortgage insured with Legal and general in the event of death or illness to pay out a lump sum. It paid out in full, and I the financial security has been an immense support during a really tough year. Do it for your family and friends as much as yourself. It was the very first thing I thought of when I got diagnosed and the best safety net you can throw yourself.

What does the future hold? I have 95% chance of being alive in 5 years and a 25% chance that it will come back in the next five years. There is no cure. There is no clean bill of health. I will need to go any get screened every six months for the next 10 years. But I know I'm doing all I can to stay well, my diet is now 95% fresh fruit, vegetable and wholegrains, and I eat organic when I can and filter my drinking water. I feel and look very well and I work out every day. I don't get stressed about little things anymore.

So although my story is depressing in parts in reality my boob job may well have saved my life. Awareness of your own boobs and taking good care of your diet and lifestyle will help to save yours.....

Lots of love Katy

xxxx

Wow how positive you sound, your story is inspirational actually rather than depressing, Im not so sure I would be able to deal with a situation such as this as well as you have. Best of luck to you for the future xxx

Oh katy it is soooo good to hear from you sweetie .

Thank you for posting such an informative and valuable thread even if it did make me cry a little! I can't belive it happened to you at 32 so young! but I am so glad you caught it early and you are still happy with your body.

My OH and I are about to buy a house and were umming and arring whether to bother with critical illness cover but your stroy has clarified that it is definitely worth it!

I hope you are feeling well right now and I hope to god it doesn't come back.

Would be great to see you on here again but if not take care of yourself beautiful xxx

Thank you so much for the wonderful post. I am so pleased that you are happy and well a year down the line. BIG hugs x

Katy -Fellow Dec buddy!!! I was only thinking about you the other day. I am soooo pleased all is going well. Its great that you have posted your story to help others. Breast cancer is in my family & i questioned this before my boob job & each time it came down to the fact that you would detect lumps sooner esp when having overs as it pushes the breast tissue forward more. It was a big factor on me deciding to go for it & your story just proves me right.
You are a truely special lady & i hope your story reaches out to everyone.

Massive love & hugs xxxxxxx

Hi Katy,

What a great story to share, thank you. I'm so glad you have recovered so well.

Also being a Financial Adviser I think its excellent that you highlighted the importance of protecting yourself financially. Its great to hear a real life story where an assurance policy has made a difference to you.

Wishing you well,
Jem

Hello Katy -- thank you for a wonderful and inspirational post. I've also go a history of breast cancer in my family, and have also just had a BA. You've given me a very helpful checklist and the comfort of knowing that you've been through it and come out the other side. Many many good wishes and all the best.
xxx

Thank You Katy for this brilliant post.
I found all the information very helpful as there is a history of Breast Cancer in my family and I recently had my BA. It's reassuring to confirm that implants aren't causes of Breast Cancer.
All the very best to you. x

Thank you Katie .. really emotional and inspirational story !!
SO glad your so positive and managed to catch the cancer early. I am only 20 but am already aware I need to keep vigilent as my mum had breast cancer and luckily made it through too. Also good to here the implant has had its benefits. Good luck for the future ..
xxxx

Thanks for posting your story Katy, it is so fab to hear you so positive about everything.
Wish you all the best for the future xx

What a wonderful, inspirational story Katie. I could feel your pain and heartache - and your indomitable spirit in facing and overcoming this terrible condition.
Thank you for sharing hunnie and I truly hope that it never comes back to make you face this situation ever again. Good luck
xx

What an amazing story, thanks so much for sharing it with us all! xx

I was thinking of you recently and so, so pleased you are well and have such an amazing attitude to your experience. Ive got breast Ca history in the family and am gonna buy that book and check my boobs monthly from now on. Thanks so much for your post and being such a strong girl.

xx

So glad to hear that you are ok, what a very strong lady you are. xoxoxoxoxo

What a truely inspirational woman you are Katy. Thank you so much for posting such valuable information and for sharing your positive attitude with us all hun.

Stay strong and stay positive babe.

That is a truly positive post Katy and thank you so much for sharing it. You sound such a strong and positive woman. I know that feeling when you find a lump and you have to be referred by your GP to the hospital. You really feel swallowed by despair, everyday you feel like your falling into a deep dark hole. It's truly awful. How you stayed positive through that and everything that followed shows your strength.

To come through all that and share your story is wonderful. I'm glad you went away and partied and I'm glad you had the photo's done, looking at yourself with new eyes and seeing what everybody else probably sees you as is a gift. I can see by your avatar that your a real beauty.

Thank you again and I hope to read lots of posts from you for the next 5,10,15 and 20 years to come.

They say diamonds are a girls best friend, they were wrong. Implants are xx

Wow hun, that is a lot for you to go through. Your story is truely inspirational and I am so glad you are better now. You take care

Katy, my lovely December Buddy I'm so pleased you've come through this hun, and with such a positive attitude, a true inspiration to us all. Take care hunni and don't be a stranger. xxxx

Thanks so much for all your kind words ladies!!!

My december buddies helped me a lot in the first few days when I couldn't bring myself to tell anyone, so I told them first. It was easier to tell them as we'd shared the process of getting our new assets together and I knew only they could really comprehend the nightmare of having got your perfect boobs and then finding that out!!!

I will try to be on here a bit more often but if anyone has any concerns or finds a lump that they are worried about then feel free to pm me...

xxx

Thank you for sharing such a well written, heart warming personal story. I felt quite emotional for you as well as for myself. Your story puts a lot of things into prospective. Thank you! x x

Thank you for such a informative story, you are one very brave lady take care and all the best for the future xx

wow Katie what a amazing woman you are to deal with such a hard situation in such a positive way!.............Thank you for sharing that valuable information for all the girls as its someting we should all be very aware of.

My cousin aged 25 has breast canser........she found a pea sized lump in her nipple & she is still undergoing treatment.....they say ohh not at your young age but im seeing more & more young ladys with breast canser & feel that sometimes this ' not at your age' attitude dosnt help!

I had a found a lump the same time my cousin did & the 1st thing i did was go to a local breast screening van to which i was told ' we only do older ladys as its not likely to be canser at your age!' & that if i was that worried to go see my G.P.....He was fantastic but again said at my age i should be fine but he refered me as a none emergancy but i was seen a few weeks later in the breast clinic.


They said mine was slightly abnormal tissue & they said any changes & i have to go straight back but it has since dissapeared. My cousin is 3 years younger then me was not so lucky so To me it counts no matter the age group.
I did find it quite hard as i spoke to my mum about it & had the attitude that she would be ok because i had been told soooo many times that it was unlikely to be canser in my age group so just thought given that fact she was only 25 she would be ok like me..........
I relied on that'not being in the correct age group' as a kind securitie blanket but i now realise that its very much something that effects girls of all ages.

Thanks Again Katy...............

What an amazing post, you sound like an amazing woman to take on such a challenge with such a positive attitude... I am so happy to hear you are now well and healthy and enjyoing your boobies!

Wonderful words, full of good advise and inspiration!

Best wishes for a continued cancer free and boobie full future!

Thank you for sharing your story katy. It's so inspirational to hear you being so positive. Good advice and wise words.

Hope you continue to be healthy!

A touching story thanks for sharing. Your positive attitude is truly inspirational. I wish you well for the future x