thats FANTASTIC that your results cam back clear…i’m really pleased for you!!
it seems that i will have to do some digging into the family history!
No i’m not trusting at all of my mom as she tells so many lies and forgets the ones she has told so nothing adds up…but, she claims to have had double breast cancer, ha a double mastectomy and recon surgery where as i bellieve she hasn’t had cancer but had the preventative surgery!! Her mother and her nan both had cancer and then another relative (i cant remeber who she said now). I am only 24 and am currently undergoing tests for ovarian cancer…and with the history (even if my mom didnt have it) is still pretty worrying.
I just spoke to somebody on the helpline and she said to go to my GP is my best bet to get the ball rolling…
I’m just not sure if it is necessary??
hi all,
Just wanted to update really, i’m just recovering from my prevenative mastecomy with tissue expanders and choose to keeping my nipples. Surgery was booked for 17th or so i thought only to get call from hospital the 2 days before asking where i was, as i had got the dates wrong… But hey, off i went 1 hour drive to Exeter, which was prob just as well as i had no time to think about it. I can’t belive how easy it all went compared to how bad i thought it would be. I came off the morphine within 24 hours and just onto paracetamol every 4 hours, was up and about the next day too. I have just had my 2 week post op and things are looking good. As soon as the nurse took my dressing off i was up to look in the mirror for the first time, and pleased at what i saw. They inflated me in surgery with 150ml but already i have shape, the cut which i had underneath the breast crease was hardly noticable. But one side did have a sore bit (like if you graze your knee) and one nipple was badly brusied and will loose a few layers of skin while healing but will look normal in the end, so i have been told. I do feel very tight chested and stiff with my arm movements and one side i can feel like an air pocket which moves around, which is a weird feeling, but in all i’m smiling and it is a relief that i’m on the down ward road. I’m booked for my first expansion in 2 weeks, will keep you posted.
Welcome back.Really glad it went well. The relief is great isn’t it? I posted you a good luck message on the other forum.
I had mine done 31st Dec.
Wow you must have been shocked and panicked when you realized about the dates!! It is better to have it happen quick though. Mine was at 8.30 am and was all a big rush which suited me!
I am 4 weeks on and all my scabs have fallen off. I can do just about everything I could before and was up and about very soon after my op too. I have been into town and gone out for lunch and am fine. I got a bit frustrated when they expanded me so soon after (a week and a half) as it really hurt and felt too soon. I ended up buying 2 bras from M&S which has helped with the nerve tingling feelings. Not sure if you get them? I have found the support helps. I got a crop top and a slightly padded non wired bra in a 34b (normally a 32b).
I have my next expansion on friday so am going to try taking pain killers 1 hour or so before and see if it helps.
I too brought 2 sports bras from M&S 34b and like you normally a 32b. I already feel bigger than i was before. 2 weeks post op and i have no feeling on my breast skin, but feel bruised around my breast edges , but now not sure if it is the nerve tingling feelings. Not sleeping to well, awake every 2 hours, I take a tramadole at night but this is the only pain killer i take. i stopped the paracetomol on day 10 as i wasn’t sure if i needed them or not, and so far just feel bit sore sometimes but nothing to cry about. Did you have much scabbing like i said more like a grazed area? my breast nurse has said they wont expand me in 2 weeks unless I am completely healed. I have today brought some bio oil to rub in as i can see stretch marks coming on. I have been told to take painkillers 30 mins before the expansion to make it more comfortable. Good luck for tomorrow, how big to you want to go?
Not sure what tramadole is? I just had paracetemol but like you didn’t really need it. I hated having to sleep on my back as I woke with back ache every morning. I now wriggle around and can sleep on my sides a bit too! Mine did all scab over but they have all fallen off now.I felt bruised around the edges too. My surgeon told me not to use oil based moisturizers and recommended aqeus cream twice a day. I was using coco butter before. I will double check with the expander lady as I don’t want stretch marks either. I wondered about bio oil.
I found travelling in a car over speed bumps uncomfotable and buses too bouncy.
I am hoping to be a full b cup or ideally c cup. I don’t want my skin to go too thin though. I currently am filled to 225ml including what they put in in the op. I am hoping for 350 to 400ml. I am hoping to brave at least 75-100ml! Depending on the pain though.
Hi Katie, I’m a newcomer ie just being diagnosed with bc. I have used tramadol in the past for my other complaint Fibromyalgia which is a chronic pain illness. Tramadol I believe is a type of morphine. It does kill pain but I found it made me feel sick, but we are all different and i am sure it works for some people. Anything is worth a try.
Sorry you have just been diagnosed with bc. Good luck with all your treatments and I hope you make a good recovery ASAP. That other complaint sounds horrid.
hi,
Yes Tramadol Hyrochioride is a pain killer not paracetamol based, so you can take it as a back up if paracetamol is not enough. But it is morphine based. I find that 50mg tablet is not enough for good night sleep but 100mg makes you doppy for the following day as well, but had no sickness with it. Cant win really.
I suppose whatever works for you. I seem to sleep well after a few glasses of wine!! I got scared of getting addicted to pain killers!
It went well thanks. Had 80ml in each so now about 305ml. It didn’t hurt as much as last time but I seem to have back ache. Sooo excited that I can actually fill my string triangle bikini! That’s a first for me!!! Biggest i’ve ever been. Still small compared to everyone else!
Hi Katiekat and Nadiya,
I am braca1 carrier. My mums side is riddled with cancer[breast and ovarian] Although the geneticsts give 85% chance .its too high risk to take. so well done katiekat.Unfortunately due to lack of communication one of my distant aunt who had blood test done, failed to communicate to us.I ended up having BC last year in january… I had hysterectomy and ovaries removed in nov last year. Foe katiekat…what age did your aunt have ovarian cancer. Its that age should direct your ovaries removal I think! I am saying this as my mums sister had ovarian cancer when she was in her mid thirties. saying that I did not get ovarian cancer in my thirties.its so confusing.
I’m so sorry you got the information too late. How are you now? did you manage to pass on any of that info successfully to the rest of yor family? You had a really bad response last time we spoke I think. Have any of them come to their senses yet?
I think my Aunt got Ovarian Cancer in her early forties. I am going to be trying for my family as soon as my body has reovered from my second operation. Once I have had 2 kids I will have my ovaries removed. The sooner the better!
I too tried on my bikini that i only just filled last summer and it looked fine, looking forward to my first expansion, just to see what a difference it makes, but even my partner, who i dont live with has had a feel, and said i’m already bigger than before my op. He stayed over for the first time last night since my op and it was my best night sleep slept through with out waking up, and i took no painkillers, but did have a couple beers, so maybe thats what i need to do, like you i hate the thought of getting addicted to any kinda tablets.
When i have my replacement implants but in (hopefully they had said april/may) i have asked to have my ovaries removed at the same time. Have they given you any idea of when you will get your replacements?
Glad you did the bikini test too!! haha makes you feel better. Apart from the fat I seem to have put on in other areas of my body!
They said maybe may/ june but it depends how they are. Sounds like a great idea having them both done at the same time. I want my family first but hope to have mine out after.
I found that once I relaxed and had a few drinks sleeping was much easier. I now move around alot and can sleep on my sides without worrying.
It is hard to compare sizes as my expanders are so much higher and rounder than my real ones were. I’m glad your partner is supporting you. My husband has been fab. It is much harder for all the single ladies doing this I think.
I was on the other forum and a 33 year old that used the forum died. It really makes me so sad but so reassured that I did the right thing having surgery. Do you use that forum too?
I don’t know if you are aware that Breast Cancer Care are providing Telephone Support Groups (TSGs) for those people with an increased risk of developing breast cancer because of a significant family history.
Family History TSGs will be staffed by genetic counsellors & BCC nurses. The groups will focus on different aspects of family history & the following 4 groups are planned:
* Gene Carriers who have had breast or ovarian cancer
* Living as a gene carrier, but have not had breast cancer
* Under 40 with a raised risk - never had breast cancer
* High risk - no gene identified/unable to be tested - never had breast cancer
If you would like to know more then please contact the helpline on 0808 800 6000
There is no need to wear a sports bra until the permanent implant is put in. I just found a cotton back fastening crop top more comfy during the day or a padded non wired bra. I think just do what feels best. Maybe even a vest top is fine.
At night I vary between my zip up pj top, vest tops or t-shirts. Just whatever feels comfy.
Thats strange, coz my hosiptal insisted that i wore a sports bra for surport from the day the dressings came off. But all hospitals work differently. Just not the most comfortable of things to sleep in.
You did not say when you were hoping to have permanant implants fitted?
Sorry thought I answered that. I’m hoping to have mine exchanged early summer, maybe may or june depending on how they get on.
Every hospital is different. I know with implants my surgeon advises sports bras 24hrs a day but isn’t bothered about the expanders. He recomended aqeus cream to masage in twice a day but my expander lady said any moisturizer. Not sure whether to use aques cream or bio oil? What were you advised?
Hi Katiekat and Nadiya,
and everyone else who is in the same situation,
I have found out that I am a faulty BRCA1 carrier 2 years ago at the age of 34, and opted for screening rather than preventative surgery, as I thought since the earlies Breast cancer apperared in my family (my maternal aunt) was at the age of 47, and my mum and her mum both had ovarian cancer at 55-56, than I should be ‘‘safe’’ until at least 40 and after that will have an ovarectomy and think of mastectomy.
But I was diagnosed with BC early this year and am currently going through my chemo.
What I want to say to everybody is do not think that if the other memebrs of your family had it at the later age, then you would be fine until that age-unfortunately does not work that way…
I really admire the bravery and right decisions of everybody who went for the preventative mastectomy.
After I have my chemo and bilateral mastectomy this summer , I will also have an ovarectomy and then hope for the best.
Take care evrybody.
Irina.
I am so sorry you got BC and I really hope all the chemo works well. I hope that you can fight this dreadful disease fast and manage to keep as positive as you possibly can. The best of luck with your mastectomy and oopherectomy.