As you read this, I’ll be recovering from mastectomy and reconstruction at Ascot hospital, just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
On the advice of my breast surgeon, I did more scans when I got back from Denver and the Galapagos, which initially looked great. However a last minute decision to do a mammogram proved to be the turning point when it showed the precancer was a lot more extensive than we had originally thought. As a precaution, we moved the mastectomy forward, because if we catch it at the precancer stage, then no further treatment is required – and with no more breast tissue left, I can then close the chapter on this breast cancer journey (other than a couple of reconstructive ops) and move on with my life – no longer be looking over my shoulder wondering when it’s coming back next. Although it’s an emotional journey as I’ll be losing my other breast and nipple, it’s actually a big relief!
With it being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I did an interview with The Herald about my story, so keep an eye out in the next few weeks for the article! I feel that if sharing my story can help others, it gives it at least some purpose. Breast cancer can affect both men and women, so it’s important to understand how to self check your breasts and know what is normal for you. If there are any changes, see your doctor to have it checked! I have found a lump every time I’ve had cancer – but I’ve also found lumps that weren’t cancer, so be aware that not every lump is a cancer diagnosis, but it’s important to make sure! I’ve been fortunate to catch the cancer at an early stage every time, which means I’ve avoided chemo – so it’s worth checking!
As a record of my body through this journey, I’ve done beautiful artistic photos with @peter_at_photoshoot before and after the first mastectomy and reconstruction, and just last week I did ‘before’ photos for this mastectomy and reconstruction. Once my journey is complete, I hope to do more photos, collate the pictures and artistic shots and stories of other breast cancer survivors into a coffee table book called ‘The Beauty Of Survival’. I’d love to make this into a fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Foundation, and have it available to gift to those newly diagnosed with breast cancer so they can see that we can survive and thrive – and still be sexy – after a breast cancer journey. I’d love to add in hints and tricks for both those journeying with breast cancer and those supporting them through the journey. If you have ideas of what else you’d like to see, don’t hesitate to message me with them, it will very much be a collaborative effort!
Queza, Eve and I had a fabulous weekend in Sydney for the SkinVive launch with Allergan a couple of weeks ago, reinforcing the strong message coming through the industry about the importance of skin quality in getting great results with other treatments. You might notice a subtle shift in our focus over the next few months as we really start to hone in on skin quality, both through our skin team and injectables. You may already know that we focus on improving skin quality with the skin team through appropriate skin care before more invasive procedures such as skin needling, IPL, Exion or Vampire Facial Plus. More and more evidence is suggesting that we get much better results with our injectables if skin quality is improved first – which makes sense as we have a stronger ‘canvas’ of the skin to work with.
Queza has written a wonderful blog talking about the importance of skin quality, and some of the injectable hyaluronic treatments that we can provide medically such as SkinVive, Profhilo and Viscoderm, which all hydrate and strengthen the skin with hyaluronic acid. When we improve skin quality, not only do we improve the strength, but as the cells become more plump and hydrated, we also improve the healthy ‘glow’. What I loved learning at the SkinVive launch is that we can actually ‘tailor’ the glow, and focus it in specific areas on the cheeks and chin, like we would a highlighter makeup. It is also theorised that more hydration in the skin should give better results with EmFace, Exion and skin needling, so combining your medical grade skin care with injectable HA products before moving on to fillers or advanced skin treatments is now recommended.
We are still finalising our trials with Sunekos, polynucleotides (such as Rejuran) and Exosomes, which can also be used to strengthen the skin in a different way. So watch this space, as this category of regenerative treatments continues to expand!
Vitamin A is a cornerstone of excellent skin health and appropriate turnover of the skin cells, so definitely read the skin blog on Vitamin A this month to find out more about this essential skin vitamin!
And we are in October already, so the silly season will roll around fast – Christmas decorations in shops are literally just around the corner, and I saw the first flowering pohutukawa (commonly called the Maori Xmas tree) today! If you want to ensure you get your bookings when you want, make sure you book in now for your pre-xmas treatments so you are not disappointed!
October also signals the end of IPL season until next year, but if you are struggling with redness, pigmentation or scarring, there are other options we can discuss with you, and you get the best results with IPL if your skin is well prepped, so make sure you book in with the skin team to have a chat, an initial consult, or an update!
The team has some gorgeous skin care gift boxes in clinic, so if you’re looking for a gift (or want one for yourself), pop in or order one (or five) online! Have friends or family that have everything? A gift box of skin care and a voucher for a skin consult would likely be a wonderful gift!
I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has reached out with gifts and messages of support over this time, it really is incredible how much love is out there, and I’m beyond grateful to be so well supported, by both our amazing team, and you, our incredible patients.
Wishing you a wonderful October, and please check your boobies!
Love and hugs, Dr Cat 😻
