When I had exchange surgery in February, I had hoped it would be the only surgery I would need for reconstruction. For those who need a refresher in the surgical progression of things, first comes mastectomy. I had a bilateral mastectomy in February 2017. As part of mastectomy, I had expanders placed. Expanders are placed to create a pocket, over time, in order to place a permanent implant. Over the course of a year, the expanders were slowly filled up with fluid injected through a needle at a monthly visit to the plastic surgeon's office. In February of this year (2018), I had exchange surgery. That surgery removes the expanders and replaces them with permanent implants. It was at that surgery that I contracted MRSA internally, in my reconstructed breasts. My left breast has been painful for a long time... as long as I can remember since this process started. That's also the cancer side, so it was the side most manipulated, "cleaned out" more closely to make sure...
After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 37 years old, my life has been redefined in so many ways. I am here, blogging, to share my story.