just had mastectomy (25/11/08) and going out of my mind with boredom.(my partners at work tell me it was only a minor op as i was only an a cup!!) early days as not yet had full pathology report but have been told unlikely to get back to work for several weeks. all i know so far is high grade dcis. will know on wednesday if any invasion. had 5 lymph nodes removed.
there was a delay in diagnosis. went to my gp in september who referred me by ‘the 2 week rule’. had ultrasound at wythenshawe nightingale centre and told normal. reassured and discharged. i knew it wasn’t right. left it a few weeks and decided to pay for a private opinion as felt silly asking for a re-referral. and here i am!
anyway, if anyone out there lives nearby, has a good sense of humor and fancies killing a bit of time here on the web or in costa coffee, give me a shout!
(a bit about me: i am a 34 yr old gp. i have a 2 yr old daughter but have decided to keep her in nursery even though off work as want her to keep her routine. she is the best medicine! )
Hi gabster.
I’m afraid I don’t exactly fit your bill - haven’t been 34 for a long time, and don’t live in W Didsbury(!), but I do come to W Didsbury often for treatment at the Christie, and I can identify with how you are feeling. My experience also sounds quite different to yours - I was diagnosed in June, but am having neoadjuvent chemotherapy at the moment, with a mastectomy planned for January (my cancer is lobular, 2 tumours and 2 positive lymph nodes). I’m 49 and have three children, 14,11 and 9. We live in the Middle East, and the rest of the family are carrying on with work, school and life out there whilst I am living in what is usually our holiday home for the duration of the treatment.
Happy to chat and send support!
Julie
x
thanks jetowler. wow, that must be hard being away from your family. how are your children coping? i think my little girl has picked up that things aren’t quite right. her favourite sentence today has been “silly mummy got an ouch and can’t pick me up”. must be much more difficult at their age. do you have skype? that’s how i communicate with my sister in new york.
(and am i silly to think 49 is still young?)
gabs.x
Hi gabs,
Thanks - and yes, despite everything, I do still feel young (although thanks to the Taxotere my knees feel like about 90 at the moment!). Your daughter sounds lovely. My three (girl,boy,girl) and other half are heading back to Britain on Thursday, and staying for 4 weeks, so I can’t wait, although I have quite a few appointemnts during that time working out exactly what the surgery will be in January (definitely mastectomy, but not sure on whether to go for reconstruction immediately or delayed, or even at all - lots to think about and decide).
How are you feeling after the op? And after the shock - it’s not much time to come to terms with everything is it?
I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow - hope the results are good
Julie
x
the actual op is nothing. i was home on paracetamol after 2 days. so don’t worry about that. i didn’t really have time to think about reconstruction and to be honest i quite like the mastect side- weird i know but it’s incredibly neat. was expecting lots of bruising and swelling. (and they weren’t great after 7 months breast feeding anyway!) maybe i’m speaking too soon.
will probably opt for prophylact mastect on the other side in due course but suppose i should wait for results and see what she says.
the worst bit is my sisters are only 2 yrs younger and now they have a significant family history (our paternal grandmother died of breast ca age 34 and now this). so my greatest fear is that not only are they having to endure worrying about me but they will also need to make these decisions themselves.
thought i was coping ok but haven’t slept for 3 nights so guess i must be worried about tomorrow. everything happens for a reason.
glad your family will be with you soon. nice to have company at the appointments. (which surgeon will you be under?)
x
hi gabster, just thought would say hello just been reading the thread, im 4 weeks post op for high grade dcis had masectomy but with immediate reconstruction thankfully lymph nodeswere clear and just dcis although there was 6 cm worth, also have a little boy who will be 2 in jan and boy of 7. im young as well nearly 27 (thats the bit about me hehe)
waiting for the results are the hardest and your bound to be worried as early days im still like a yoyo up and down and still up all hrs of the night but like you i think the same, things happen for a reason im dam sure
sorry to go on feel like im going on about me what i really wanted to do was wish you lots of positive thoughts for tomorow and hope you get good results
i always like to chat so feel free any time always up for a laugh hehe
lots of postive thoughts going your way
take care and be nice to hear how you get on tomorow
xx
faith, that’s ridiculously young! so nice to hear from you. what do you think of the reconstruction? wasn’t really offered to me because i think they are expecting me to need radio at the very least and something to do with tissue damage/ effectiveness of further treatment. (even though i’m a gp i’m totally clueless about all this. don’t remember anything i’ve been told after 5 minutes, a real eye opener!)
as i said before, the reconstruction is v low down on my priority list. i just get excited when they discuss it as it means there is hope for a future (yuck, that sounds pathetic, bit tired right now and not expressing myself well)
you are SO “me, me, me”!!! only joking, really want to hear other experiences, guess that’s why i’m on here. so happy there are kind generous people like you who reply to posts. think i might have cried if no one responded!
so what follow up are you having? no further treatment? was it in your family? how is your 2 year old behaving?
my appt at 2.30 today so will let you guys know results tonight.
(o, and how long did it take for you to be able to lift your arm above your head. i could do it straight after op but really painful to do now. really want to get back to my dance class after all this is over! how selfish am i?! )
xx
Hi Faith - its dreadful how we are all pulled into this breast cancer thing regardless of age or circumstances, but you sound so together and realistic about it all - mind you, with two boys you’ll have to have your feet firmly on the ground!
Just a quick thought Gabs (can’t believe I’m offering medical advice to a gp!!) but it may be worth asking if the pain on lifting your arm is cording - I had that after my sentinal lymph node op and really thought something had gone drastically wrong, which of course it hadn’t, and some stretching sorted it.
Best wishes
Julie
x
thanks julie, all advice appreciated. have been asking all my docs to treat me as a patient and talk to me in lay terms as suddenly forgotten all my medicine! (hope none of my patients are reading this!!- funnily enough bumped into quite a few of my patients on the ward who i had referred in! was hilarious)
off to hair dresser now for a wash and blow as can’t do myself and don’t want to get the steristrips wet. feeling like a ‘lady who lunches’.
(o and boiler just packed in. felt guilty but pulled the “i’ve got breast cancer” trick to get them to come today! so many advantages to this stupid diagnosis!)
xx
Hi,
Gabs - I had a mastectomy on my left side in Jan and they removed all the lymph glands on that side plus some of the soft tissue as well. The scar is fab & there was no bruising or swelling at the time. I did my exercises like a good girl but after 2 weeks I got a very stiff shoulder with loads of what was more like muscle ache. Went to my bcn & she sent me for physio which helped so much so I would say see if you can get it early. Unfortunately I then developed a touch of lymphodaema in my neck area (have an extra rib there so it’s always been a bit of a sensitive area) and under the arm so have kinesio taping that is just brilliant. I’m still at the physios every week to 10 days but they are really lovely so it’s more of a social occasion !!
PS I had chemo first for 5 months, then surgery, then rads. The physio helped loads in getting my shoulder & arm to go in the correct position for the rads without too much pain.
PPS I’m in Morecambe so nowhere near Didsbury but thought I’d add to this post ! And Morecambe is sunny today - yay !!
hi there lizcat. would you believe even manchester is sunny today! had a v low day yesterday but just had hair done, walked home in the sunshine and everything feels positive again.
what did the physios do? was it just excercises or did they use anything else?
how are you now? apart from the physio are you having any other treatment?
(boiler now fixed. apparently breast ca + broken boiler is a true emergency!! think the engineer thought i was pulling a fast one when she arrived and i was off to the salon!)
xx
Sunny here in Leek too, but still lots of snow on the ground so looks gorgeous. Have to admit I’ve pulled the bc card too, and my friend used it when stopped in security at the airport for having so many lotions and potions - apparently they couldn’t stuff everything back in her bag quick enough!
J
x
Hi Gabs & Julie,
Look at tomorrow’s forecast !!! I have views over Morecambe Bay & the Lakes & it is absolutely gorgeous…I always feel much better in the sunshine & would do after a hair cut but that’s going to have to wait til about Feb - first post chemo etc hair do will be so exciting !!!
Gabs - the physios did a bit of manipulation,pulling & pushing plus gentle massage techniques on the scar so the tissue underneath didn’t stick together or anything and they gave me exercises. I can’t do any lifting or raise my arm too high (that can come in very handy at times !) in case it aggravates the swelling & hampers the fluid drainage. I’ve had my next lot of kinesio taping this morning & that works so well - apparently I’m a textbook case for its use !!
Apart from the physio, I am on Arimidex & monthly Zoladex as an alternative to tamoxifen which was horrendous for me and monthly Zometa drip for my small bone mets & chemo/menopause induced osteoporosis so I don’t rattle yet. I’m ok for doing little things but have been off work since diagnosis in July 2007 apart from a very brief attempt to go back in Aug 08 which was awful - I just couldn’t cope. I ‘sailed’ through all the treatment & thought I would be ok back at work after a year off but all the side effects & after effects hit me later. My bcn was brill and assured me this was so common so I didn’t feel quite as guilty & she told my surgeon about everything & he was an absolute star, so understanding (even if he made me cry he was so nice!) and said he would write to work to tell them I wasn’t fit enough. I’m off to the docs this afternoon to get another 3 month sick note and I’ve applied for retirement due to ill-health as a long shot. Part of that is down to the fact that my 10 yr prognosis is somewhat poor (25% survival with treatment but I plan to be in that 25% !). I’m fine really & don’t feel ill so that’s ok.
I hadn’t used this site til recently but have found it very useful in realising the after effects like tiredness, lack of concentration, no patience, hot flushes, anxiety attacks, can’t cope in crowds with lots of activity going on around are all normal and just represent my strong reaction to hormonal therapy ! It can appear scary to a non-medical person at first so you’ll probably be ok but I just take out of it what I want & try and be ‘positive’ although I hate that word !!
I have played the ‘I’ve got cancer’ card a couple of times and won’t hesitate to do so again if need be. Ironically it’s usually been when I’ve needed a docs appointment !! I also do the ladies who lunch (well have a brew) with a couple of friends who work part-time and who are very supportive - there are some good things to come out of all this !!
Hope today went as ok as it can with this disease - I will keep checking this thread.
Catch you later,
Liz
Hi Gabs & Julie,
Look at tomorrow’s forecast !!! I have views over Morecambe Bay & the Lakes & it is absolutely gorgeous…I always feel much better in the sunshine & would do after a hair cut but that’s going to have to wait til about Feb - first post chemo etc hair do will be so exciting !!!
Gabs - the physios did a bit of manipulation,pulling & pushing plus gentle massage techniques on the scar so the tissue underneath didn’t stick together or anything and they gave me exercises. I can’t do any lifting or raise my arm too high (that can come in very handy at times !) in case it aggravates the swelling & hampers the fluid drainage. I’ve had my next lot of kinesio taping this morning & that works so well - apparently I’m a textbook case for its use !!
Apart from the physio, I am on Arimidex & monthly Zoladex as an alternative to tamoxifen which was horrendous for me and monthly Zometa drip for my small bone mets & chemo/menopause induced osteoporosis so I don’t rattle yet. I’m ok for doing little things but have been off work since diagnosis in July 2007 apart from a very brief attempt to go back in Aug 08 which was awful - I just couldn’t cope. I ‘sailed’ through all the treatment & thought I would be ok back at work after a year off but all the side effects & after effects hit me later. My bcn was brill and assured me this was so common so I didn’t feel quite as guilty & she told my surgeon about everything & he was an absolute star, so understanding (even if he made me cry he was so nice!) and said he would write to work to tell them I wasn’t fit enough. I’m off to the docs this afternoon to get another 3 month sick note and I’ve applied for retirement due to ill-health as a long shot. Part of that is down to the fact that my 10 yr prognosis is somewhat poor (25% survival with treatment but I plan to be in that 25% !). I’m fine really & don’t feel ill so that’s ok.
I hadn’t used this site til recently but have found it very useful in realising the after effects like tiredness, lack of concentration, no patience, hot flushes, anxiety attacks, can’t cope in crowds with lots of activity going on around are all normal and just represent my strong reaction to hormonal therapy ! It can appear scary to a non-medical person at first so you’ll probably be ok but I just take out of it what I want & try and be ‘positive’ although I hate that word !!
I have played the ‘I’ve got cancer’ card a couple of times and won’t hesitate to do so again if need be. Ironically it’s usually been when I’ve needed a docs appointment !! I also do the ladies who lunch (well have a brew) with a couple of friends who work part-time and who are very supportive - there are some good things to come out of all this !!
Hope today went as ok as it can with this disease - I will keep checking this thread.
Catch you later,
Liz
hi gabs and every body else
what a cold but sunny day down here in devon so gabs dont think im any were near were you live, hope every body else had some sunshine after the amount of rain we had yesterday i feel lots better with the sun out hehe.
hope all has gone well gabs i have been sending positive thoughts cyber thoughts then hehe.
i love my reconstruction not sure how i would of felt not having it done they seemed to thinbk i had invasions and told me all the risk which made me very upset but come to a conclusion i wanyted to have it done thats the way i felt i could deal with it maybe slightly selfish with the risks it could have caused delaying possible treatment it worked out in my favour in the end but this was my personal feelings and we are all different which is a good thing realistically (sorry bad spellings hehe)
I will be 5 weeks post op on thursday and i cant straightnen my arm fully because of the pain and i cant lift my arm above my head and it does feel llke a cord under my arm pit which seems to be restraining my arm movement been tryin to see my doctor but cant get an appointment with him so will have to see somebody else tomorow which get nervous about silly really,
wow cant belive your a gp what a fantastic job to be in very exciting i imagine somethink different everyday i bet
my little boy is ok thankyou very tiring nd in to everythink to be honest he keeps me on my toes from the time he wakes up to the time he goes to bed which is good in some way as i dont have time to dwell about all this bc stuff. They are testing the removed breast for estogen to see if they decide to give me tamoxfin so waiting to hear back from consultant she wants to see me in 12 weeks from the op
As far as i know it does not seem to be n the family anywhere but i never say never just bad luck i guess
well i think i have answered a yur questions hehe on me me me ive never been the one to talk about me but since this has happened to me i have telked very openly about it funny really.
i d hpe your little girl is ok they do seem to pick up on it but loke you say they are the best medcine
hope all went well today.xx oh and hope your boiler ok now wat a pain if it aint one thing its another.
hi geewizz
im not really tough just my way of dealing with it i guess you right thoe saying having my 2 boys sure do keep my feet on the ground that is for sure hehe hope you are well xxxx
faith, i could tell immediately from your post that you are not a “me me me” person. could also tell that you would get my (stupid) humor.
yeah, i’m lucky, i LOVE my job and can’t wait to get back to it. had appt today. will need radiotherapy but meeting oncologist on friday for a proper briefing. relieved i don’t need chemo. i’m so lucky. (although i was slightly excited at the thought of no waxing for a while!! and have been secretly looking at wigs for the past 2 weeks!)
hope you have lots of help with your little boy. even though they are great medicine they are also exhausting little monsters!
geewhiz and lizcat, thanks for sharing that you have also played the “i’ve got bc” card. i now feel no guilt in using it to my advantage in the future!!
Hi Gabs (and everyone else!)
Great news that you don’t need chemo, must be such a relief, not only in terms of the diagnosis and treatment but also in the time span to getting back to work and back to feeling something like normal. With good news and new hair do you must have floated home!
So advice please - I’ve got a new fridge coming tomorrow: is it too much to pull the “I’ve got bc” again and ask if the guys can manoevre all the furniture in my kitchen to put it in place for me?? Feels cheeky, but hey, we need some perks!
Take care all,
Julie
hey there julie, you confused me with the name change! absolutely use the “bc card”. and get them to do any other odd jobs/ house hold chores while they are at it.xx
Rumbled! I’ve been reading the thread about why people don’t post, and one of the main reasons is that your username can be googled or whatever, and as I had naively used my initials and surname, thought that was perhaps a bit obvious!
right then, off to google you now!!! (tee hee).x