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February 2010 mastectomy ladies
Hi, Just wondered whether anybody else having mastectomy around this time would like to buddy up! I'm due to be having bilateral Mx without recon next Wed (17th feb). This will be my 3rd op in as many months - started off with IDC found by my first routine mammogram at end of Oct 09, and each WLE (Dec & Jan) has revealed more (and more) DCIS. Had SLNB first time round so not expecting armpit surgery next week. I've found all the posts on here very helpful - especially sustaining me through what has seemed an interminable wait - it took 'til today to get the results of my second surgery on 13th Jan (over four weeks)as the slides were sent away for second opinion. I'm very sad about needing mastectomy, but feel its the best option now for me.... I know from all the ladies who have posted that its recoverable from... Thanks and good luck all of you
Maggy
Going in for mastectomy and shoulder flap reconstruction on the 15th with level 1 lymph node clearance. 45yrs old diagnosed last month.
I have invasive lobular carcinoma with two tumors so I felt mastectomy is the right choice for me. Good Luck! I think we deserve it!!xx
Hi, I'm having a mastectomy on Thursday 18th. Decided to go down the MX route as the lump is quite central and near my nipple and consulant said that cosmetically a lumpectomy wouldnt give good results, and also I feel that I'd rather get it done now rather than risk having to have it done later anyway (luckily I've never been much of a "boob girl", so not really emotionally attached to them!)
I've been told there's no evidence (on ultrasound & mammogram) that there is any spread to my lymph nodes, but I'll be having the SNB on Thursday as standard. I wont be having immediate reconstruction as they said it's very likely I'll need chemo and rads and that the rads can affect the feel of an implant.
It's all happened quite quickly, I only went to my GP on 20th January and have now been offered a cancellation appointment for Thursday which means I'll have the op 2-3 weeks sooner than first thought, so now I'll be on the road to recovery when I would have still been on the waiting list.
I know the next fews months are going to be hard (that's probably an understatement!), but I'm trying to stay positive. I've had a few little down moments but have lovely supportive partner, family & friends around me to help me through all of this, and the BC care team at the hospital have been really positive and reassuring and I feel like I'm in very good hands.
It would be nice to buddy up with you both as it looks like we'll be going through this journey at roughly the same time and it'll be good to have someone to share it with.
thinking of you both during your ops this week and looking forward to hearing back from you,
take care
xx
Hi there, just wanted to wish you well for the op on the 18th and to say you're sounding very positive, well done I'm sure it must help. I'm always amazed (sometimes alarmed) at the different advice that we're given. I had an MX with immediate recon on 28th Jan (tissue expander implant )and despite not knowing whether or not rads would feature in my treatment, was told it was fine!
Happy to talk at any point and share experiences to date. Wishing you lots of good thoughts for next week.
Kind Regards
Lynn
Just wanted to wish you all well for your ops. I had left mx 6 months ago and whilst I can't say it was easy I am now getting used to the new me and feeling well.
Hugs to you all
Clare X
Good luck to everybody this week - just think ... this time next Sunday it will be over (although we will probably be very sore). And thanks Clare/RhodaBee for your well-wishing - it is good to be reminded that its going to be so different 6 months down the line.
Sometimes you just can't see past the op date...
love
Maggyxx
Good luck to all of us this week!! xxxxx
Good luck everyone, I had mine 1.5 weeks ago on 3rd feb. Had a double mastectomy and temporary implants and sentinel node biopsy. It's not going to be easy, I'm still very much recovering, but just got to grin and bear it for the next few weeks.
Good luck again.
Paula xx
Meggy, Tina and Fab Forty
Good luck to you all. I hope your ops go well and you recover quickly. I had a mx last June for widespread DCIS. It wasn't fun at the time and I went through a range of emotions, but I now feel very well and lead an active life. Your ops will soon be over and you will be on the road to recovery.
Paula - I hope you are recovering well.
I will be thinking of you all.
Liz
Hi this is my first time posting. I'm due to have a mastectomy on 24 February and would love to also buddy up and share your journey if I can.
I was due to have a WLE on 10 February but after MRI scan they found the lump to be slightly bigger and DCIS and said a mastectomy would be better. The waiting has been terrible as I had got myself all prepared for the op on the 10th and then everything changed. I have a really supportive family and friends and know these next few months are going to be tough but would like to wish the other ladies all the best for their ops this week.
Thinking of you.
xx
Hi Barneyb - sorry you're facing this too. I can guess how thwarted you feel having to wait another two weeks for treatment to start. Good luck with the wait & the op - I'll be happy to answer any questions you have after this week, when mine has been done...
love
Maggyx
My surgery is on the 20th...good luck to all of us. Personally I love my boobs so finding this terrifying and just sad all the time.
My surgery is on the 20th...good luck to all of us. Personally I love my boobs so finding this terrifying and just sad all the time.
I love my boobs too. They are such a special part of a woman's body - i've been in floods of tears today just mourning them in advance!!! I feel like writing them a poem to celebrate all they've done - all the enjoyment & nurturing... etc etc. Its going to be hard to get used to the new me.. more hard work....
Thank you meggy for your good wishes.
Had an appointment at the hospital today and discussed what is happening, I'm having left mx with immediate reconstruction and SNB. Signed the consent form and it all suddenly feels very real and quite scary now.
Good luck to the ladies having their ops this week, will be thinking of you all.
Beverley x
Hi barneyb
Welcome to the BCC forums.
I have posted a link below to our new resource pack which you may find helpful, it has been designed for those newly diagnosed, just click on the link to access the order form. You can also order more information publications on the same page by clicking on the links on the same page under the 'quick order list'.
http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/healthcare-professionals/publications/quick-order-list/*/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/82/
If you would like to speak to someone in confidence please do call our helpline on 0808 800 6000, the line is open weekdays 9-5 and Sat 9-2, our team of specialist nurses and trained helpliners can offer you further support and information. Hope this helps.
Best wishes
Lucy
I'm really sorry to hijack this site but I've had my mastectomy 2 weeks ago and I feel so feeble that I can't work out how to post a new question! Sorry!
I just wanted to ask is it normal to have a dead chest and a very uncomfortable area where they took the lymph nodes with an arm that is a dead weight! Thoroughly dependent upon painkillers and Ibroprufen and feeling pretty rubbish! I do so little and yet feel totally exhausted...
I've had two lumpectomies to compare with in last seven months so thought recovery would be similar...
Oh dear, this is not what I expected and no one (surgeon or BCN) nurse warned me... Can anyone advise or provide any reassurance?
PS I am doing my exercises very gingerly...
Welsh girl
PS I sincerely hope I'm not frightening anyone due for mx in next few weeks, but I probably am! I am so very sorry to disrupt this site.
Hi Welsh girl,
I had MX almost 3 weeks ago and can confirm all symptoms you describe. I am starting to feel slightly better but only in the last couple of days. Hang on in there, I hope you start to feel better soon.
Kind Regards
Lynn
Hi to those others just been done and good luck to those just about to go through it. I'm back home after one (sleepless) night in hospital. Ops went as expected. Worst thing is pain at drain sites and knowing how to cope with these great long tubes hanging down either side!!! Which look so gross!!! Ah well.....! District nurse was due to come today to check on me but can't come due to blanket of snow & ice over us again.
Keep warm & take care
Maggyx
Hello welshgirl,
Yes it is normal to feel the way you do. I had a mastectomy, nodes taken,and immed recon with implant.
Rest as much as possible and continue to do your exercises that is very important, your body as gone through a trauma and it will take time but in a couple of weeks you should feel so much better, all the best ann x
Great that you are home safe and sound Maggy... and thank you for the heads up re the tubes, hadnt realised that you go home with them!
Take care.
I get my op tomorrow and hoping that I will be home on Monday.
Marguerite
Hi ladies, I had my op on Thursday afternoon and was sent home on Friday lunchtime as I felt fine. They removed my left breast and two lymph nodes. I still have a drain in (YUK!) and the district nurse came today to check and change my dressings, and will continue for the next week or until the drain can come out.
Pain-wise it's not too bad, just a bit achey when I move (like the feeling you get if you've had a good work out at the gym when you've not been for a while!), and I'm not using any painkillers except a couple of paracetamol before bedtime just to help me through the night.
I'm hoping it won't get any worse, but who knows what will happen, when the bruises start appearing! But then I've got stronger painkillers if needed.
Family and friends are being fantastic and I'm just resting as much as possible and doing my exercises as ordered by the physio.
Going back to the breast clinic on 3rd March for results and details of next treatment.
Good luck & loving thoughts to all of you going through this at the mo, lets all take it one step at a time and we'll be better before we know it xxx
Just wanted to say hello and glad that you are home to Meggy and FabForty and all the best to oscarbailey who I think should have had her op today.
Mine is on Wednesday, going in Tuesday evening at 4 so hopefully will be back home and on here next weekend.
Hope you all continue to do well.
Beverley
I am due to have a mx and full lymph node clearance and an immediate reconstruction, haven't got a date yet as they are fully booked for the next 6 wks but my bc nurse is trying to get me in much sooner. It will be great to buddy up with others going through this as I feel quite scared now. Before I was worried about scans etc but now I have got the all clear I'm worried about the surgery!
catrina
Hi there
Hope all you newly post op ladies are doing well and that those of you facing surgery this week (or the next few weeks) are holding tight and not worrying too much. Easier said than done! I'm just getting into 5th day post bilat Mx. Worst thing still is pain from drain sites, and not getting comfortable in bed for sleeping. But its not overwhelming. Noticing quite an unusual & unanticipated band of tightness round my chest - really weird feeling - coupled with numbness & pins & needles. Still taking painkillers but not on them all the time. However its a huge relief to have got this far - once the drains are out and I know the pathology of what they took this time (this was 3rd op) I think it will be manageable. I don't know whether my drains are exceptioanlly long but they certainly dangle down to mid calf & when I pack them into the little shoulder bags supplied by the physio, they then stick out hugely - nothing discrete about this at all!! I haven't ventured out yet.....
Best wishes for feeling better and lovely spring days ahead
Maggyx
Hi Meggy - sounds like you're doing remarkably well for only 5 days post op. I'm coming up on 4 weeks post op and can confirm I had the tightness on the chest - but no pins and needles. Most of my residual pain comes from the expander implant - really unpleasant but not unbearable. Wish you all the best for your continued recovery and treatment.
Lynnx
Yipee, back home!!! Had right side mx, full lymph node clearance and ld flap reconstruction on the 15th! Came home yesterday! One drain of three still in my back. Lost a lot of blood and fluids through op and drains and had a faint couple of days ago so had to stay in longer than anticipated, back on Thursday 25th to remove 27 staples on my front (not looking forward to that one!). Can confirm the pins&needles and numbness under arm. Also, where my new boob is my former back muscle, it twitches when I reach or lift my arm, quite funny really.......Staples on my back out next week.
Doing my exercises and eating healthy diet. Having paracetamol and using V shaped cushion to get comfy in bed.
My drains were really long, too. Was advised to take a large strong cardboard gift bag with me to carry them around and hide them from the kids. That worked well for me.
Best Wishes for all of us recovering, keep smiling!!xxx
Glad you're home Tina45 - its amazing what can happen in a week. Hope you were comfortable in hospital - I was only in one night and only slept in snatches as it was so noisy and busy. I was on a day case ward as a 23 hour admission!! Hope your recovery continues well at home - its nice being back with family but there's always a temptation to do too much. I tried to fill the washing machine this morning and had to give up...!
Cheers xx
Got my kids ready for school, PE bags, lunchboxes etc, stacked dishwasher and then had to sit down, feeling a bit spaced out! Glad last week is over, everyone at hospital was so nice and helpful but I was tired, like you said there is no sleep as it is so busy! Loved being in my own bed last night! Take it easy everyone. xxx
Hi ladies, glad to hear we're all back in the comfort of our own homes. The hospitals do a fantastic job, but there's nothing like the comfort of your own bed is there? So how are you all doing?
I still have my drain in but looks like it will be taken out tomorrow as it's down to just 30ml a day now. It will be nice to be able to wander around without "my shopping" as I call it!
My next appointment is on 3rd March for results of the op, and treatment plan.
Take care, & keep rested xxxx
Sounds like you're doing really well FabForty! My drains are still each producing about 50ml over 24 hrs. They are due to be taken out on Thursday but District Nurse warned of slight possibility they might not (not sure I could bear that!!). Hope you're finding a comfortable position to sleep in...
Cheers xx