Hi,
This is my 1st post.
I found a change in my breast at the end of October and it all moved very quickly from there having scans etc. I got the bad news on Tue 30th and had a mastectomy with sentinel node biopsy on the Fri 3rd Dec 2010. It will be 2 weeks tommorow. I was treated at Hillingdon Hospital and they were wonderful.
I got my results this Tuesday and thank God they were all good. I had 3 lumps,10, 5 and 3 mm all stage 1 and no spread to my lymph nodes. All removed with clear margins.
Taking in the good news is almost as hard for me to accept as the bad news. I still can’t quite get my head round any of it. I am 40yrs old with 2 teens at home.
I will see an oncologist in the new year but have been told it is unlikely that I will need chemo but will almost def need to take hormone treatment Tamoxifen for 5 years.
I am definately looking toward having a reconstruction but have been told it will be a year away.
Has anyone got any advice for me on how I cope from here?
Can I have a drink at xmas? (I have given up smoking) Prosthetic boobs and what clothes to wear? Tamoxifen, are the side effects bad? Going back to work? ( I’m a Nursery Nurse) Lymphodema?
I’ll appreciate any wise words you can give me if you are or have been through similar situation.
Clumsymoo
Hiya - glad your news was good xxx
I was gobsmacked to be signed off for 6 weeks after mx, but actually, would have needed most of that to recover properly. Unfortunately, now started chemo, so will be off a while longer… I work in a kitchen at a school, and there are just too many bugs about to pick up whilst immune system is taking a hammering. Otherwise, I’d have gone back in - so if you feel well enough, go for it.
I am 41, with two teens and two primary school age kids xx
You can have a drink now if you want one 
Christmas drink certainly no probs… go for it. Well done on giving up smoking, that’s something on my to do one day when not stressed list…
You might want to bear in mind that you won’t have a decent cleavage, even with the proper prosthetic boob, so low v-necks are prob. not advisable. Otherwise, providing you have a good, well fitting and full covering bra (ie, not a balconette type thing), then you should feel fine in any outfit. Layering is always good at this time of year, and gives you a good opportunity to get used to the falsie!!
I’ll be on tamoxifen post chemo, I know that the se’s vary considerably from person to person - if you look through these threads, you will find some useful ones.
Lymphodema was the big scary, didn’t want to do anything with my left arm for a couple of weeks, but gradually starting to use it as normal (though it’s still not quite fully mobile… should do exercises more often). Can’t bear to live rest of my life worrying - so whilst I try to avoid carrying heavy bags with left arm, other than that, just carrying on as normal.
Sophie xxxx
Hi Both,
I am definitely going to have an Xmas drink, there is a bottle of Baileys with my name on it:) as for smoking, i started champix 3 days ago in the hope that i am off them by op time on Xmas eve but if they don’t work am not going to worry, thinking about it, may have to hold the Baileys till Boxing day otherwise may be in a coma Xmas day as its day after op, well maybe just one tiny glass
As for work I too have been signed off but may go back in January part time, will see how all goes & how i feel, am a Travel Agent & work for myself from home so no fear of germs, could really of been working last cpl of weeks but head & heart just havent been in cheery mode to send folk off on their hols, should of left 3 days ago for Gran Canaria myself for Xmas but seem to have swapped it for a day in the Royal Bournemouth Hospital 
Glad to see you chirpy Sophie
Sarah.xxx
I think with those results and very large xmas drink is in order. I know its really hard to deal with, I can remember back to my masectomy and I was 35 and very large chested and really struggled, now Im struggling with a temp expander before my 2nd masectomy and double recon.
I really struggled at first with softie and things but once I got my prosthesis i was proud as punch, however I do dress different and have to look at clothes different, however now with a semi softie cos of recon I struggle even more, however, scarves are in fashion and I have a vast array.
In terms of hormone treatments, Im on arimidex and although i dont like it, I dont have all the side affects and the “tropical moments” have reduced…
I unfortunately got lymphodema and i followed my instructions to the tee but i have worked hard and after wearing that horrid sleeve for 2 years I have been told that it has gone down soo much that i can try not wearing it.
so… there’s hope, good and bad things and that’s just my view. Hope you manage to have a nice christmas and recover fast… its amazing how well we recover once it starts xx
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Hi Clumsymoo
Your story is spookily close to mine.Although a year apart, diagnosed Oct 2009 - Surgery 30th Oct four tumours, no lymph node involvement, no chemo/rads and hope to have my recon any time soon. And I trained as a nursery nurse!!!
Im older than you at 52,and have an 18 yr old son.
Actually. seeing what Ive written, makes me still wonder how we do it.
Diagnosis and treatment seems so scary at the beginning, but its always amazed me how resiliant we can be when its all thrust at us.
It IS do-able, albeit with many alterations to what used to be the norm.
I absolutely get what you mean about accepting the good news is a hard as hearing the bad. I had to get the BCN to repeat the result!!-twice!!
I was actually chosen by BCC to be a model at the annual fashion show a few months ago and it was an amazing uplifting and happy event. We wore some fabby clothes I wouldnt have thought Id get away with, so it boosted my confidence hugely!!
Getting used to one boob, as well as dressing a bit differently, are just a small part of adapting. As Lisa says, scarfs and layering are fabby ways of minimising the effect of the prosthesis until you get more confident bout it. I go without mine a lot and if anyone’s noticed, its never mentioned.
Im on Tamox too and after a rocky start,(I changed to APS brand and found less side effects, though they are hard to find now)
There are loads of us who manage quite well and not all experience sweats etc, but there are lots of ladies here who can offer support if they do kick in.
My best advice would be to do your arm exercises to keep your mobility.
With your job, lifting could be a problem(lymphodema) do do check this out with physio.
Id say try to enjoy Christmas, have a glass of bubbly-or six!!
I hope you get your referral soon for the recon, but be realistic as the timescales can be quite long in a lot of areas.
Many best wishes.
Cathie
Thanks for replying girls,
Having more good days this week but lots going on at Christmas and kids home from school now which keeps my mind and body busy.
I battled out through the snow to my sons martial arts awards dinner yesterday and wore my softie for the 2nd time. Haven’t quite adjusted the stuffing for exact match but felt confident enough and only a few people know. I told a couple of the other Mums and they were shocked obviously but both said I looked great before I had told them so that boosted my confidence. I had a bloody good cry that morning when I had a bath tho as my scar looks so damned ugly. I know I will get used to it, I am barely healed yet. still scabby.Up and down emotionaly still but I know that is normal.
Sophie I agree about the Lymphodema, I definately need more info on that, I wasn’t told much. I have just been trying to use arm normaly but I cut my finger half an hour ago and had a meltdown. I get a tingly arm at night which spooks me sometimes.
Cathy and Sophie how spooky to hear such similar stories. You give me strenghth and hope.
I’d better put scarves on my Xmas wish list…Hermes prederably!
To all you girls fighting the good fight I will raise a glass (or two) to you all over xmas.
Thanks
Emma x <3