My mum got diagonsed with Breast cancer 18 months ago. Since then she has had her breast removed and recontruction. Her reconstruction tissue was taken from her stomach but since then she has had major problems with it.
After the operation she has also had chemo and radiotherapy. However 18 months later her stomach is still swelling up and going hard. She finds it to painful to bend and is very cautious when walking around in case anyone bumps into her.
She has been back to see her Cancer doctor and her plastic surgeon who have basically passed buck and put the blame on each other. She is no furher forward and has never heard of anyone else who has the same problems as she does.
Was just wondering if anyone else has heard of or has this problem? I’d be grateful if you coul write back to me as my mum is not making any further progress with her recovery.
Welcome to the BCC forums in addition to the help and support you will have here, please feel free to talk through your concerns about your Mum with one of our helpliners the lines are open 9-5 weekdays and 9-2 Saturdays on 0808 800 6000
After all that your Mum and your Family have been through this must be tough times and the blame culture between your Mum’s care teams is not helping anyone.
I had recon in Jan 2011 from my tum (Free Flap DIEP/TRAM) and I would be concerned if I was still having the problems that your Mum is suffering. I know we all heal differently but I was okay within a matter of weeks.
Does your Mum have an assigned BCN or PALS at the hospital who can be her advocate to resolve her problems? Perhaps find someone who can see beyond the inter-departmental battles and focus on what is important here - your Mum!
Maybe I have been lucky as the Teams involved in my care have been wonderful. I have seen other Ladies that have emailed the Trust Chief Exec in order to get their attention as a last resort.
Maybe as a further step you could arrange a meeting with your Mum and her BCN and go along to help explain and understand the issues?
My mum has been in contact with her BCN from the beginning but to be honest she has not been much help! She is not attending a chronic pain clinic to see if it is perhaps the medication that is causing the swelling but she has been told again to wait to see what happens.
We were just wondering what the Trust Chief Ex was as we have never heard of it?