I am sorry for encroaching on your forum, but I really don’t know what else to do. In essence, my wife to be (next month) was diagnosed with breast cancer yesterday. She is under the care of the staff at St John’s and, having only recently moved into the area, I am looking to see whether the level of care I hope she will get is something that St John’s can deliver.
She is my world and this is something that has come out of the blue after a few months of upheaval (new job, new house, new location - wedding planning etc etc). We were finally getting round to looking forward to our lives together when we’ve been floored by this.
Any help or advice you can give will be more than appreciated.
Welcome to the forums, this is a very worrying time for you but you have come to the right place for support from our experienced users who I’m sure will be along to support you soon.
In the meantime maybe you would like to talk things through with a member of our helpline staff who are there to offer emotional support as well as practical information. The free phone number is 0808 800 600 and the lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00 to 5.00 and Saturday 9.00 to 2.00.
I have just got an appointment thru to see the ps at St John’s at Livingston. This will be my first visit but after reading all the other posts I am hoping it will all be over within the year.
HI Richard… SJH is just as good as any hospital… its the only lothian hospital offering plastic surgery facilities for major breast surgery eg tram flap or LD reconstruction.
if its implants only then they can usually do that at the western.
BB as far as im aware the theatre at the western still isnt open yet so there is still quite a long waiting list for the major procedures as they are still going to st johns.
but i think the WGH theatres should be opening again soon.
My surgeon at the local hospital thinks it will be Lipofill that they use with me but I dont know how long the waiting list will be for that. I stupidly thought that I would be able to get it done in my lunch hour (no, stop laughing at me please), I really did!
What does WGH stand for Lulu? I had my rads up at The Beatson which is fantastic.
Ah, I know that hospital, my mother had a back op there many years ago.
Good luck for Thursday and do let us know how you get on and how they do it. xx
Just dropped in to say I finally gor my appt for my breast reconstruction, it is on Tuesday 14 dec. I have been for my pre op check today and all went well. I have been waiting since Feb 2010 and it is almost hear, hard to believe. Quite nervous but ready to go.
Just read through this thread so I am pleased for you Carolyn after all the waiting you have done.
I am due to have a double mastectomy at the Western General Edinburgh on the same day as you after my lumpectomies last month failed to get clear margins. I am not having reconstruction however.
Good luck. I am nervous too. Will look to see how you got on when I am home from hospital.
Just thought I would let you know I had my Tram Flap reconstruction at St johns, Livingstone on Dec 14. Now 4 weeks later I am feeling very well, it is a big op (10 hours) and its a big op to get over, but I finally feel I am getting there. Reconstruction looks good and breast and tummy scars are healing very well. Good luck to anyone going through ops or treatment.
Hi everyone,
just another update to say I had my tram flap at St John’s on the 18th Jan and all has gone well. Got discharged 1 week later (3 days ago) and getting better each day. Able to walk about (a stick helps to take the strain off my back) but sleeping and healing well.Nice to have a boob again and to feel human after the morphine haze!
Gill
I was supposed to go to St Johns in Dec but due to the snow just been to Edinburgh on Friday. It sounds like LD flap is the best for me and I was told it would be 18 weeks. Anybody got any info on this? How long in hospital, how long off work, how long till back to normal? I dont need the skin just the muscle to make up 2+ cup sizes.