Interview 18

Age at interview: 59

Age at diagnosis: 58

Brief Outline: Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000. Underwent a mastectomy and was given chemotherapy, radiotherapy and Tamoxifen.

Explains that she is happy with a prosthesis and does not want a reconstruction.

Where they rebuild the breast if you want?

No and I don't want it.

They gave me silicone, silicone to wear in my bra, the hospital.

They call me down the hospital to re-fit my bras, to see what bra would fit the silicone.

So it's quite comfortable. 

Sometimes I don't even remember I've got it on!
 

Comments on her hair loss resulting from chemotherapy.

Well I was worried when my hair started coming out. But they told me before, when the nurse come to interview me, the nurse that used to give me the chemotherapy, she told me that my hair was going to fall out.

But I didn't know that when I start the treatment it would fall out that quick. The first day I started combing it a huge amount came out in the comb. I said' "Oh my God," [laughs] and it went on from that time every day, it went like that.

So my nephew, he's got a razor that he does his sons hair with, trims his son's hair with, so one day he says' "Come and let me tidy up your hair." 

So he take every single bit off it. So there was none of it all. And then, thank God, it's started growing back now, which everybody was pleased, to see growing back.