A young mum has revealed her trauma and “constant agony” after a shock cancer diagnosis led to her undergoing a double mastectomy and complicated reconstructive surgery
Chelsea McCreight told Belfast Live how she yearns to play with her children again but is facing a long road to recovery after life changing surgery.
The 28-year-old, from East Belfast, says she has had to endure post-operative complications including breast implants falling out and slow healing large wounds from difficult surgery.
Read more: East Belfast mum fighting stage 4 cancer after developing symptoms when pregnant
The mum-of-two was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in February of this year and says she has experienced a series of complications during her recovery including her breast implants “coming out of her body” after having to undergo reconstructive plastic surgery.
After starting chemotherapy Chelsea, whose two young boys are aged three and four, was told that due to cancer being found in both breasts, she needed to have a double mastectomy in order to ensure that the disease was removed. The mastectomy was followed by reconstructive surgery.
Chelsea says that she hoped that this would be the end of her ordeal and she would be able to get back to looking after her family. But she says that her recovery has been a difficult and painful one.
Speaking to Belfast Live, she says she faced ongoing issues including her body being unable to recover and heal sufficiently to “hold my new implants in place”.
Chelsea says she was reassured by staff in the Ulster Hospital that there was “nothing to worry about”. Later, she says that she had concerns about her wounds becoming infected when they were slow to heal.
She added: “I was also having issues with the implants themselves, as they were moving around into the side of my body and would nip me everytime I lowered my arms. I was taken in for another surgery again, which I hoped would correct everything and I had new implants put in, but then the same problems arose again and my wound was reopening and the implants began falling out again.
“I was given a new dressing which is designed to pull the wound together, but this didn’t work with my left one eventually coming out.
“I am now left with one breast and have had a balloon installed under my muscle that will slowly be inflated over the next few months until my body is in a position to have further implants installed, which will mean that I will be in pain for many more months.”
Chelsea says that the past few months have been a “nightmare” for both her and her family as she is unable to spend the time that she wants with her children.
She added: “All of this has had a huge impact on our family life at home. My boys basically spend all day either at school or at childcare before coming home for a few hours before bed because I don’t have the energy to be able to look after them.
“If it wasn’t for the support from my partner and family I just don’t know where I would be at the moment because there are times that I just don’t want to be here anymore after everything that I have been through.
“I am living in constant pain and I know that I will have to go through this for many more months. This has also had a huge impact on my mental health and wellbeing.”
Chelsea said that she is “a 28-year-old woman who only has one breast” and she cannot believe that she is this position.
The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust said: “The South Eastern Trust can confirm that the patient is being cared for in the Ulster Hospital, but cannot comment any further due to patient confidentiality.
“The Trust is discussing these issues with the patient personally and she continues to receive appropriate treatment. The Trust understands this can be a very stressful and upsetting time for patients and the multi-disciplinary team involved in her care will continue to do everything it can to help her. Our priority is always the care and safety of our patients.”
Speaking to Belfast Live, a source at a breast cancer charity said that while it is rare, there are issues that can arise following breast reconstruction surgery for a variety of reasons.
They added that complications can include blood clots, wound infections, fluid under the wound, flap failure and loss of sensitivity. Chemotherapy can also stop the body’s natural healing process, they added.
In some cases when these issues arise the implant that is installed will need to be replaced by a surgeon.
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