23 weeks post chemotherapy!

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I can’t believe it’s been 23weeks ago I have finished chemotherapy! My radiotherapy is all finished too! So currently no active treatment! I also got fitted for my proper prosthesis. Was an experience. So I’ll introduce you to Phyllis to start with! 

Phyllis

Meet Phyllis. She is my prosthetic boob. The hospital originally gave me some soft cushion ones to use as a stand by until I had my proper fitting. I’ll show a pic of my cushioned ones before I show you the real deal! 
Phyllis 1
The size difference is insane between these two! And the weight difference! Phyllis 1 weighs like 0g and Phyllis 2 weighs 100g I swear haha! I might actually weigh them both! 
Phyllis 2
The good thing with these is they slot in the bra so easily! The bra I have are from Marks & Spencer! The range they have for post surgery bras are brilliant! Also in the UK you don’t pay VAT on them! 

Periods

So since my last post. I have had quite a few periods. They have been lasting the average 5 days for me. They were kind of in sync but since then have gone a bit all over the place. They haven’t been worse/better than prior to any treatment but they still are as annoying as ever! 

 It does make me feel a bit more human to know that I have periods now. I guess it’s that bit of ‘womanhood’ that I was thriving. Even though I’ve lost my boobs and have a short haircut! 

 It’s nice to know that I am getting them but at the time I hate it when day 1 springs on you! 

Fatigue


Fatigue is still very present. More so that I came back to work! My job is completely different than it was before. I’m doing a lot more walking and up and down stairs! Good for the fitness on my Fitbit but then also knackering. But I am listening to my body and resting when I need too. My work are very considerate to what’s happened with me and extremely understanding and with all the PPE and system our work has, I can’t feel completely safe at work! 

Hair Growth 

Well this is the one. Look at this. How curly the hair is. And this is so light compared to my natural dark colour! Sometimes the new hair I can really dig. But sometimes I look silly and frizzy! Need to get some good hair products to use on this curly hair! My sister in law did get me some hair bands from Trudy’s Boutique which are amazing as they do distract from it! Check them out! 







Nails

Well, I’m so surprised at how quick they have grown! But here is my fingernails! My left hand has almost grown out completely! My right hand has some growth to go! I was recommended the nail polish brand ‘Essie’ to help strengthen the nails and the polish lasts so long! It is amazing! I couldn’t recommend it enough! I got a gel Finish clear polish to go on the top. But one of the colours (A. Cardi) I’m wearing in the hair photo! 

 Here are some photos of my nails before I repolished them! 




Radiotherapy 

Wow this is something else. I thought I had been let off pretty good with this. I didn’t really have many symptoms. I felt tired. Nothing new. But then the skin started changing and changing and changing and then BOOM. This absolute killer of a burn. It’s a massive area they treated. All for my bloody lymph nodes. 🤬 The pain is intense. It hurts a lot. I can’t really explain it but it’s almost like getting sunburn in the same spot every day for a month. It makes it worse that the skin area itself is so tender anyway, post surgery, but also it is so red where my bra is. My bra strap every day rubs on the burn and makes it more angry. On days off, providing I don’t go out, I normally leave myself bra free. Which is a luxury. But on work days, I clearly need to wear a bra. I was concerned about the redness as I was told 2 week before this all started I was at my ‘peak’ so I should be coming out of it. But I absolutely am not! These pictures are not for the faint hearted let me tell you! 




The skin is satisfyingly (don’t even think that’s a word) peeling in bits. But these photos don’t really show it. I just hope the new skin underneath doesn’t take too long to come through. 





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