However, my local surgeon and hospital did not offer many options for immediate reconstruction or plastic surgery so after much research and meeting several other specialists, I moved to The Royal Marsden in Chelsea which specialises in the treatment of young women with the disease. They offered me the option of sentinel node biopsy to help plan for the mastectomy and further surgery. The results suggested that I could have a latissumus dorsi reconstruction at the same time. I went in for surgery but the tumour was over 16cm and the surgeons decided that it would be too much of a risk to continue so fitted me with an silicon/ saline implant to save the skin. After several weeks of nervous anticipation, the pathology results returned and the surgeons decided that it would not offer me much better survival to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I was offered tamoxifen, which I have decided not to take.

Since last year, I have had several sets of surgery for both the valve in my implant, which kept flipping over, and other plastic surgery. Unfortunately, the last round of surgery to make me a nipple was not successful and has deteriorated what was initially a great reconstruction.

Whilst I’ve tried to maintain a positive attitude throughout the last 19 months and have continued to work and live as normal a life as possible, there are days when you just can’t get out of bed. I was very strong and this has meant that the emotional aftermath has hit me a little harder. I was very proud of my breasts before the surgery and was incredibly upset to lose one at such a young age. Day to day, I have come to accept my new breast but sometimes I have lost some of my confidence and self-esteem as I am conscious of the way I look in a society that seems to be obsessed with the way one looks and celebrities.