For me and many other breast cancer survivors, there are two types of life: pre – and post-metastasis. I may say that there are things I know then that I could never have imagined again then, eight months after having my left shoulder removed for breast cancer surgery.
I had no idea that my wound would create a rough line across my left torso just above my heart. It was an elegant, 5-cm reminder of the anxiety I felt when I was first diagnosed and the three-hour surgery I underwent in January.
I had no idea that the vicinity of the surgery site would feel small and numb for months. Or that, in my particular instance, I would gradually experience pinpricks, prickle, and unexpectedly uncomfortable sensations that may keep me awake at night.
I had no idea the scar may turn from deep reds and twilight purples to a softer green. or that the narrow body covering my stomach would allow you to clearly feel my beat.