I’m wondering now if I should take my steri strips off. I’m a week today post surgery . As far as I am aware I don’t have a designated BCN. Just someone who is there when I see the consultant and a phone number on a leaflet. We shouldn’t really have to asking any of these questions. We should be informed. Without you ladies I would be in the dark altogether. We matter, we should feel cared for and not left to our own devices. Cancer is cancer and we have it despite not wanting it. Rant over !!! For now !!
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One of my best friends is a nurse and she advised me at the start that the strips should stay on for at 10 days as that’s generally how long it takes the wound to heal shut but no longer than 14 days.
I have taken the strips off now and had a shower. The scars are a lot worse than the one under my arm and very lumpy around them, I’m hoping this is normal 
. There’s a lot of yellow too which I can’t get off so im guessing that’d bruising rather than the iodine from the op.
Feel a bit emotional and overwhelmed and I know that’s silly cos we know there’s gonna be scars and I have a huge burn scar all the way down one arm so these are nothing in comparison but still it’s a lot.
My friend also suggested Superdrug own brand vitamin E cream, the one with the pink lid so I will try that too
You are right Sheelagh, without all these amazing ladies helping and advising we would not have a clue would we and the honesty sometimes has made me laugh out loud 
Hope you’re doing okay a week on
C xx
Hi Alison
Everything is now off and wow things are different. The scar under my arm is nice and small but the two tumour scars are lumpy and quite big despite my tumours only being small though I know one was quite deep. There is a yellowing around the wounds which I think could be bruising rather than the op iodine as it didn’t fade after the shower!
I’m gonna use some vitamin E cream that has been recommended to me to help with the scarring healing. Now I guess it’s just a matter of time to heal. Hopefully the surgeon will be happy on Monday
C xx
Great news! Well done. The yellowing is the same as mine- definitely bruising. Most of my effected breast is still tinged yellow. I had a LOT of bruising, which considering how much old blood was drained yesterday, it’s hardly surprising. It’s so much better today btw. The lumpiness should flatten out much more over time.
It’s still early days for us all and yours, like mine, were deep.
I’ve been using a lovely cream called ultrabase (rec from practice nurse). You’ll be amazed what a weekend of tlc will do. Your boobs will love you after some moisture 
. Mine were tinder dry…
Welcome back boobs!! 
Onwards and upwards …
Meant to add: my lump was tiny too but they need to take a good margin around it to give you best chance of getting it all in one go. My surgeon explained that it would look like large incision given the size of it, but it’s better to get a decent margin. Your surgeon, given the two areas, was doing his best for you too. Let’s keep both of our fingers crossed for each other that they took as much as the needed to.
Deep breaths. It’s not easy to see the changes but it’s saving our lives and we still get to walk around fairly well balanced… for us big girls, it means a lot 
Today, should be as bad as it gets… you coped. You took off your own strips!! Respect!!
It will get easier and it will improve down there… get moisturising!
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I quite agree. It does seem to be a case of “here’s your cancer pack, good luck”… thankfully my bcn id the same lady that was there on diagnosis. And, in my case, my MDT had already had their team meeting the day before I got my initial diagnosis. So I’m guessing that’s why my nurse was assigned from day 1.
She was the one holding out the tissues and getting me a glass of water, while my world just fell apart… it might be worth calling the number on the green Macmillan card that they gave you. My card has two ladies on it, but Vicky is specifically assigned to me. Give them a ring and ask to speak to your nurse. If you’ve been assigned, they’ll know. If not, I guess that whom ever you speak to, you may get assigned to them from then just for continuity??
Re your steri strips, mine came off on day 7 and all looked healthy. That was my surgeon’s instruction. It seems each one has there own way. That said, how do you feel about them? Do you feel ready to try?
Only you can answer that.
What I would say though is that it’s much, much easier without them, especially the lymph area
Xx
It sounds like each county/district has different systems (why FFS??). I don’t have a MacMillan card but a dedicated phone number and multiuser email address which the 4 BCNs share. First one there answers and usually within a couple of hours around clinics, definitely same day. They said to me not to go to GP for anything but to them in the first instance.
Bravo Charlotte! It’s not an easy step, it’s definitely emotionally challenging, but you’ve done it now, well done. Onwards 
Bx
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Funnily enough, that’s exactly what mine said yesterday Bella “forget the gp. Call me” I call a local number that gets triaged with the MacMillan breast team at our local hospital. From there, they pass messages, book call backs (am or pm) and they’ll usually tell you what number you are on their list, so that you an idea of how long she’s likely to be. That said, when I called twice yesterday and explained what happened with the gp, she called back really quickly and I was in the car with hb within 10mins. So I’m definitely lucky.
It’s a shame that these services aren’t all the same. You’d think it would make it easier all round 
X
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Awww thank you 
Hubby came over for a visit so we looked at the scars together. I still cried but he said that they looked amazing and proof that we can fight against cancer so they are battle scars to be proud of. I cried even more, what a wet wipe
There’s a big dent in my poorly boob but it’s still there so that’s a plus cos I don’t look as lopsided as I could have been! The surgeon has done an amazing job all things considered and I’m thankful that he acted so quickly.
Hopefully the margins will be clear and the fight to good health can continue
Sleep well, tomorrow will be a brighter day xxx
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I think my clinic works like yours as I don’t have a Macmillan card either. I have a contact number and an allocated nurse which I have only seen once when I was first diagnosed. I’ve had a different nurse in for every other appointment who has been amazing both in face and on the phone but I know that she has most of the most difficult cases allocated as that’s who a few ladies who I know with more aggressive or advanced cancers have been allocated. I’m sure my BCN didn’t mean to upset me with her comment but I feel that she shouldn’t have just passed my off as trivial just because I was fortunate enough to have found a lump early.
It’s been an emotional day but as you say we do these things and tomorrow is another day to enjoy
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There was a nurse in the room on the day I was diagnosed. She took me to a room afterwards to make sure I understood everything. Luckily I had a friend with me as it all went over my head. Since then I’ve not spoken to any nurse. They left some leaflets on my bed while I was in surgery but didn’t see anyone other than the consultant. I wasn’t given a McMillan card just a hospital leaflet with a number on it. Feel very unsupported in this regard. I’m 70 so maybe they think support is better allocated to people with potential long lives ahead of them. What no one knows is that a year ago I left a 37yr marriage . This allowed me to be me for the first time in my life. It was tough but I did it and looked forward to learning to living alone . Then bang Cancer struck and here I am. Thank you for listening to my off load. This group has been my main support and I am grateful to you all. United we stand
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Hi Sheelagh
Sorry to hear about the tough time you’ve been having. I’m sure the lack of information is nothing to do with your age, it’s probably just the way the system operates where you are.
It seems to be policy where I am that there is a nurse with the consultant at every meeting with all patients as it’s always a nurse that comes up the door and calls the names then I don’t see them come back out so I assume they have stayed! The cancer nurses here wear a burgundy uniform so I kind of knew before I even walked into the consultant what I was going to be told Like you I was taken to a room by my “dedicated” nurse (whom I’ve never seen or spoken to again!) I was given a plastic wallet with a few booklets in along with the number of the breast unit. Most of the information I have has come from this site and this forum. There are some excellent easy to understand resources on this website if you haven’t already taken a look.
Have you heard of the “Someone Like Me” option from Breast Cancer Now as they are very good too. I have watched a couple of online speakers too which have been very informative.
I hope you have a good day today and remember you are not alone
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Hi Sheelagh,
We are most definitely turning into a close-knit group and you’ve ably demonstrated this by bravely revealing your very personal circumstances.
I’m so sorry this has happened to you but I have a feeling we’re all going to be hanging out here, sharing virtual hugs and tissues, for some time yet x
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Evening ladies! Sorry I’m late, I’ve had to go and have another 90mls drained 
Came up like mount Vesuvius overnight
Saw my surgeon and all is ok. Much more comfortable 
Sheelagh, You brave lady. Your awesome!!
Utmost respect for making such a life changing move to be able to breath freely in your own skin.
I’m so sorry that you ended up here but you are definitely in good company. And 70 is not old these days lovie!!! You’ve still got a lot of living to do. I married an older man and he’s not far off your age- he’s got more energy than me
Anyway, Just because the path isn’t straight, doesn’t mean it won’t get you there this cancer, that we are all grappling with, is another hump in the road but we’ll help you. We’ll help each other 
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How are you doing today Charlotte?
Are your wounds ok?
Xx
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Hiya, so far so good It’s nice to be able to move around freely though there is a bit of pain so might have done too much or it could just be my mind playing games now there’s no protection there! Felt so good to sleep on my side last night though I still felt a bit tender.
I’m surprised how small the scars are considering the incisions that needed to be made. These surgeons and what they can do to help us is amazing.
You’ve had a nightmare day haven’t you!! Hope they’ve drained it all now and you can concentrate on getting better xx
This was so well said Bella and I couldn’t agree with you more.
Sheelagh, you are amazingly brave and I admire you for your openness and honesty
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They sound like mine (minus the hematoma of course). I think, given 6-12mnths, they are going to be so fine, that most folk will never even notice them.
I think I will have a bit of a dent but, as your husband said, it represents getting rid of cancer. It’s a part of our recovery.
Of course, I wish none of us had to go through this process in the first place. But, if this forum has taught us anything? It’s that cancer doesn’t discriminate, it touches everyone, one way or another.
We are lucky that we can let loose on here with friends that understand- we are all in this together.
I’m going to sign off early tonight ladies. Another day of ‘stab ‘n’ suck’ has worn me out. But at least I’ve got a boob that almost matches the other one now - well, minus the multiple bruises and needle holes and dressings 
… at least it no longer resembles the circus side show 
I think I’ll get an early night…
Happy chatting catch you tomorrow
Nite nite xx
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Goodnight Alison, hope you have a restful nights sleep and a hospital free day tomorrow
Speak in the morning
Good morning everyone. Thank you for your kind words yesterday. I am definitely joining you in the ‘dent’ club. Although my steri strips are still in place I can see that where there was once a 32mm lump there is now a sunken space which I’m happy about. Our surgeons are just so clever . All our consultant dates are coming up and I’m hoping for all of us that we can smoothly go on to our next stage of treatment. Knowing us we are bound to have a ‘blip’ but we can see each other through . Charlotte let us know how you get on on Monday. Will be thinking about you. X❤️x
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