Hello Lynne
I am so happy for you, and everything went well, at least it’s done and before summer, just take things easy.
It’s lovely that your Husband is caring for you, my Husband is the same he is doing mostly everything at the moment, as I have difficulty seeing out of one eye, with the bells Pulsey, but it’s improving slowly.
We have been married for 64 years in July, and I wouldn’t change a thing, we have three children and we love our family Grandchildren and great grandchildren,
Next Thursday I am having my leg sorted with a skin graft, once that takes I can then have the breast cancer surgery, so hopefully very soon.
Look after yourself and take things easy.
Best Wishes
Ann
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Oh - thank you Ann. I had the drainage tube taken out today by the district nurse, so that’s a step in the right direction. Also heard today that my ‘results’ appt is on
14 March, so will know what treatment I will be having.
Good Luck with your skin graft and then your upcoming surgery…it sounds as though you have lots of family support, as do I. We have four sons, and six grandchildren. We live in Suffolk and our sons are spread far and wide, but thanks to modern technology we have FaceTime and we see/speak to our sons every day at the moment. Like you, I’m thankful for what we have and consider myself very fortunate. Our anniversary is in May, so by then I’m hoping we will be able to do something to celebrate!
Sending you a virtual hug….take care. Lynne xx
Hi - am late to this thread as I’ve only just joined BCN (diagnosed with DCIS a couple of weeks ago). Just wanted to share that my aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer age 84. Afraid I don’t know more detail of her diagnosis (stage, grade), but she seemed to deal with it incredibly well. She was back to her v busy social life within (am guessing from memory) around 6 months and still with us with no further problems (still busy) five years later. Gives some comfort to me (not yet 60) - thought it might to you too.
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Hello Iola
Thank you so much, this helps me a lot, I am 81 was diagnosed on Jan 24th 2024, I have a IDC, I have two tumors attached one is 44mm and the other is 17mm, I have not had surgery yet, but am on tablets to shrink the lump and stop me making any oestrogen, as my type of cancer feeds off it.
I have had other problems hense the delay in surgery, I have a squamous cell carcinoma on my leg, it has to be cut out with a skin graft, supposed to be today but it got cancelled, skin graft surgeon is ill, I also had Bells Pulsey and have been on 10 days of steroids, any any surgery doesn’t heal so until I have been off them for a while no surgery.
I am so sorry to hear you also have breast cancer, it does come as a shock.
Please keep in touch.
Best Wishes Ann
Sorry put the wrong date for being diagnosed, it was the 19th Jan
Hello, I’ve just joined the Forum and pleased to find this link. I’m 78 and was diagnosed with grade 2 cancer with had gone into 2 lymph nodes. Had mastectomy and auxiliary lymph clearance in October - had lots of problems with seromas and two infections but after six weeks healing OK. I haven’t started any other treatment yet due to a delay with my Consultant going off sick but am to go on hormone treatment (Anastrozole) and a daily tablet of Ibandronic acid to reduce the risk of breast cancer in the bones and help prevent bone thinning. Believe you can also get it as an infusion. Is anyone taking this ?
So many stories of side-effects I sometimes feel is it really worth it at my age.
Hoping everyone is progressing well
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Ellen2 
sorry you find yourself here, you might want to post of a few other threads too, others will pop on and share you could also use the ask the nurse section too sending 
Shi xx
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Hello Ellen
I am also going through the same, I was diagnosed in Jan 24 but due to other health problems my surgery was delayed, but I was put on Letrozole 2mg once a day, I took it before bed, I didn’t have any side effects that caused concern, I am 82, I am also on Theical-D3 to try to stop brittle bones, I had my surgery in July this year, a lumpectomy and two lymp nodes removed, I was diagnosed with a grade 2 invasive carcinoma, ER8 positive and PR8 positive, I had two biopsies with ultrasound scan a mammogram and then a MRI and a full body scan, 1 hour in the scanner, my results on the full body scan were good, except I have a problem with L3-4 and L4-5, on m back, I had a operation on my spine, with bone taken from my hip a few years ago, so I didn’t want anymore surgery.
My operation went well, with no pain, and I was told no cancer in my lymp nodes and every bit of the tumor was removed, and after 10 days the scar looked pretty good, then the worst bit, radio therapy, it wasn’t to bad having it, but the after effects nocked me backwards, under my chin and down my neck I had the most awful sore rash, then all of a sudden I had bad sores under my breast, that turned to a very bad infection, my radio therapy was from the 30 Sept to 4 October, I have had a problem ever since, my breast was huge and solid and very red, then suddenly the liquid pushed through my stitches, it soaked the towel, and I was on antibiotics, and ever since it has been leaking, so I have been attending the breast clinic twice a week, for changing dressings, the rest of the week I did it with the help of my Husband, it has finally slowed down a bit, so I am hoping this is the start of my recovery, I have also had anemia for about 4-5 months, taking iron.
One thing I have to say is I have been looked after exceptionally by breast care nurses, wonderful so caring and kind, could never thank them enough.
But I am so grateful that I have got through this, and come out the other side.
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Thank you for replying - you have certainly been through it. I was very grateful not needing any radiotherapy or chemotherapy and recovering well from the op but I just worry about everything, read everything good (but mainly bad) and not very good at making decisions generally. I think I will give the hormone therapy a try at least (after Christmas !) but am undecided about the ibandronic acid tablets/infusion. I agree with you about the breast care nurses being so caring and kind.
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It’s almost a year, I have gone through the mill.
Before I could have my operation I got Bell’s palsy and was on steroids, so this delayed my surgery, in July I had a lumpectomy, and two lymph nodes removed, results came back within two weeks, I was told by the surgeon that everything was removed and no cancer in my lymph nodes, what a relief, the scar healed well and I was able to shower, but told I needed five days of radio therapy, then I developed cellulitis in my leg, so the radiotherapy was delayed, before my breast surgery, I was diagnosed with a sqaumos cell carcinoma on my leg, it was removed but I had to have a skin graft, the graft didn’t take so it took longer to heal.
I eventually got to having radio therapy, I seemed ok until 1 week later and my chin down to my breast I had open sores, it was a few weeks getting better, and then under my breast I had a blister like rash, within days it turned into an infection, my breast got huge and solid, I was on super strong antibiotics, and came out the shower and oh my a place had opened up and I was covered in this brown stuff it just kept on coming, saw breast clinic nurse and they changed antibiotic again, I was fitted with a bag to collect the fluid and was able to empty it myself, I was returning to the breast clinic twice a week, the bag made the wound sore so then I had padded up dressings, the fluid was still coming out from Oct it has continued until now, on Monday the surgeon suggested it had gone on for to long, I have now got a sealed dressing, with a battery operated tube, that makes sure there is no air under the dressing I have to keep it on for a week and then get it changed, the problem is this stuff that’s draining out stinks, I can smell it through the air tight dressing, it’s just awful, makes me feel dirty, the smell is just awful.
So on Monday next week I will be back to see breast care nurses and they will change it, may have to have this for 3-4 weeks.
Has anyone else had this with a stinking discharge, will do an update after Monday
dreadful sore
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Dear Poppy21,
My heart goes out to you, what a journey you’ve had, and so brave,
Thank god you have a good team who are taking care of you. I wish you well with health and well being ahead.
We are all here for you, please let us know how you’re getting on.
Much love Tili 
Hello again @poppy21
I’m so sorry to hear that you have had such a dreadful time - I hope that the vacuum drain is helping as you deserve to feel better . I haven’t had this experience as a patient though I have looked after people who have the type of dressing that you describe. I think it’s easy to become sensitized to a smell when it has been with you for so long , there are professional deodorizers that are sometimes used in medical settings - I’m not sure if you are seeing your District Nurses but they may have some suggestions . I really hope that there’s an improvement as you deserve to have a better year.
With love xx
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Hello
Sorry for late reply, I lost my beloved Husband on Christmas Day, it’s very hard after being married for 64 years.
Before Christmas the breast cancer nurse said when she removed the drain dressing that it was healed, then when I got home I noticed some stuff had drained onto the dressing, I thought I would leave it for a few days to see if it would dry up, but it continued to leak, my Husband was poorly Christmas Eve, so I was dealing with him, then Christmas Day was just awful, I didn’t feel like going back to the hospital, I had so much paper work to deal with, lucky for Family who have done almost everything with my approval.
Yesterday I went back to see breast cancer nurse, who called someone to look at it, he said it is very unusual for this to happen so I have been fitted with dressing with battery again they are going to do it for longer this time, so have to go back next Tuesday 21st for them to replace the dressing and check if any improvement.
It is now 13 weeks I have had the drainage problem, I am hoping this time it will clear up, it’s very distressing, look forward to a reply x
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Hi @poppy21
I’m so sorry that you have had such an awful time , I imagine that the stress and the grieving is probably not helping you to get physically well . You must be exhausted . Its not the same as losing a partner but I was given a CPAP machine for sleep apnea a few days after Mum died and between my grief and adjusting to that there are 3 months that I pretty much just can’t remember even though I did deal with estate . That is horrendously stressful in itself so I’m glad that you have had support with that but I’ve since been dealing with Dad’s estate as well and I will be able to empathise is you just want to vent about being kept on hold or not having correct contact details etc. I will get it believe me.
The only thing I can suggest re your wound if it’s not improving would be to ask that they get an opinion from Tissue Viability if they haven’t already . Also I sadly have looked after someone who had a lot of health problems to begin with and now on top of that has a wound which isn’t healing and they have been referred to a soft tissue specialist in a nearby area . As your Surgeon has said this has gone on for too long so ask them if there is a plan - maybe it’s time for another opinion. I understand you must be feeling very vulnerable right now so if someone could go with you it might help. I wish I could come with you .
I would also like to give you the biggest hug ever Poppy . Xx
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