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My breast cancer 'timebomb'
Sunbathing on a Spanish beach surrounded by scantily clad young women, Maggi Morris laughingly told her husband it was the only time she would allow him to ogle their breasts.
She had just discovered she would need a mastectomy to remove her breasts and had decided she wanted simultaneous breast reconstruction.
As she and her husband enjoyed a break in Ibiza, she teasingly gave him permission to look at other women's breasts so they could decide what size her reconstructed breasts should be.
Maggi, 53, who has recently returned to work as public health director for NHS Central Lancashire, says: "You have to try to find humour in these situations as if you didn't laugh, you would cry."
Maggi, who is married to John Ashton, the former regional director of public health and now Cumbria's public health director, first underwent breast cancer treatment two years ago.
Maggi, who lives in Cumbria and has two teenage sons as well as a five-year-old son Che with John, was invited to her first breast mammogram in 2006 as part of the NHS programme which screens women aged between 50 and 70 every three years.
The mammogram detected tiny specks and further investigations revealed cancer at such an early stage, there was not even a lump but just an area of calcification.
Maggi underwent surgery to remove the affected breast tissue. As the cancer hadn't spread, she didn't need any radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
She and her family hoped her ordeal was behind her, but a follow-up mammogram showed a change, so she again underwent investigations which revealed cancer in one breast.
Maggi recalls: "The consultant told me they had not quite got the cancer by the scruff of its neck and that my breast was like a timebomb. My first thought was that I had a young child, a husband and a family and that I would do whatever was required to stop this thing in its tracks."
After consideration and advice, Maggi felt the best way forward for her was a mastectomy, but decided from an early stage she wanted reconstructive surgery at the same time.
Maggi explains: "When you have breast cancer, there is no scope for denial and you have to be realistic. I tried to take a pragmatic view of the situation.
"I thought that if a mastectomy was my best chance to live a life free of disease, I would go for it. I was fortunate as I didn't need radiation and treatment before the surgery, so was able to have reconstruction done at the same time.
"This was the best scenario for me, but it is a very personal decision and there is no right or wrong answer. Some women choose not to have reconstruction, but I knew I definitely wanted one.
"For me, it was an important part of my femininity. It was partly about being a mother and partly about being a woman.
"My husband said he would love me whatever, but I still felt reconstruction was something I wanted for me."
Although Maggi had cancer in one breast, she was concerned the other breast was at risk of developing cancer. After talking to her consultant, she decided to have both breasts removed.
Maggi had reconstruction using implants and recently had the surgery to insert the silicon implants.
Maggi explains: "You actually get to choose the breast size you want to be. I had three expansions, then you have an operation to take the expanders out and they are replaced with silicone implants.
"It was quite funny as the surgeon brought out an array of implants from his briefcase. I didn't get to choose – my husband and my surgeon decided for me!"
Maggi now feels very positive about her decision. She says: "I have now gone from being a ticking timebomb to having a risk of just 3% or 4% of developing breast cancer. People used to feel that breast cancer was a death sentence but it can be successfully treated and the earlier it is picked up, the better your prognosis.
"As a result of my own experience, I feel strongly that women should be breast aware and take up breast screening."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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