Emily Ranoble: I feel positive and like me again

Two generations of women on the maternal side of Birstall 26-year-old Emily Ranoble’s family have been affected by breast cancer. She has had radical surgery at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield to stop her developing the disease and is writing a weekly blog for us.
Emily Ranoble.Emily Ranoble.
Emily Ranoble.

It’s been 10 days since my double mastectomy and it is astonishing how well I am recovering.

For the first few days I was in a lot of pain, moving in any way required a combination of lip biting, willpower and a hydraulic hospital bed.

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Since then I have improved daily, particularly once all of the drains were removed and I could move around more freely.

I returned to Pinderfields this week for a consultation with my surgeon. The strapping was removed and the dressings changed.

This was the first time I had seen my breasts following the mastectomy and it was so reassuring.

They looked brilliant – I mean they were a range of shades from yellow to purple with the bruising, but that will soon go down, and the scars which stretch across the front of both breasts are nowhere near as bad I had envisaged, and they too will improve with time.

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This means I am now able to do two wonderful things – shower and wear a bra. It’s incredible how much better I feel now getting up, showered and dressed.

There is a lot to be said for spending all day in Harry Potter pyjamas and fluffy leopard print socks, but as I have more energy it is nice to be able to get dressed and get an hour or so of fresh air.

I wish I’d known I would feel this good 10 days ago.

Yes I still tire easily, and I’m uncomfortable at times, but I’m feeling positive and feel like me.

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