Two weeks after finishing rads, I have got a nice pointy square on my chest wall, (had mastectomy no recon), which seams to be getting browner at the moment.
Normally it doesn’t bother me, I’m getting used to the prosthesis, and what I can and can’t wear with it. However I’m going to a ball on Friday night, the dress is not low cut but you can still see this big pointy mark.
Does it ever fade? I don’t want to put make up on it just yet, feel it is a little too soon after finishing rads.
Your experiences will be most welcome
Thanks Helfire
The whole of my left breast was left looking toasted and it did fade after about three months, I also found that the breast went considerably firmer and a little larger than the unaffected breast despite having had a lumpectomy at the time.
Have a lovely time at the ball, it is a pain isnt it the diamond point, I just show it now as I am proud of what hell I have been through, i finished rads about 2 weeks ago and have been gently been exfoliating mine with those glove things you can buy and rubbing on that new vaseline rescue it looks as if it has faded…
have fun at the ball…just say the nhs couldnt afford to give you an all over tan lol…or u were just doing a ‘patch’ test to trial a suntan lol…or practicing for next summer…ooo the fun i could have lol.
Mines looking like a major oversunburnt accident…its peeeeeeeling like no tomorrow…and i havent figured out which bit is the worst bit…the itch…or wanting to itch it!
Firstly have a wonderful time at the ball Helfire. Perhaps you could cover yourself in lots of ‘bling’ to cover your ‘tanned’ area.
Carol you mentioned that your treated breast went firmer and larger. How long did you have this for? Mine is considerably bigger at the moment and I’m wondering when it will shrink again, as I’m not very symmetrical at the moment!
Was a little self consious, but no one seamed to notice.
Had a lovely time, got sat next to a surgeon of all people! didn’t ask what of! changed the subject quickly.
It was a casino night, we were only playing with play money, but it still got the adrenalin going, you can understand how people get hooked on it! other than that I won a big box of biscuits in the raffle, so will have to buy a new dress for the next ball, as I won’t fit into the one I have again! lol
glad you had a great time and see no one noticed - I just think sometimes we see more than others do, I hope you won even if it was play money…new dress it is, glad you are planning another wish we could all come…
Helfire,
So glad to hear you are havinga ball! (Sorry - could not resist)
Pam, r
I read about you scrubbing your chest and was amazd. I am STILL too scared to touch scar or chest 13 months on from mastectomy followed by chaemo and radiotherapy.For one thing I have this illogical fear that I might reactivate the cancer and secondly I cannot bear the feel of scar or rock hard chest wall.
All my radiation burns faded very quickly.
The Institut Marie Curie does not believe in creams and emollients but I would so like to smooth in some E45 like I did after my “English” lumpectomy 2000. Nor did the IC recommend any exercises but have been doing the ones i was told about at Addenbrookes.
Hi Hedgehog no i wasnt scrubbing I use those really soft exfoliating gloves you can buy with the fingers in, they probably dont like you to use the creams as most have parabens in
Yes I think they have them in boots, they used to also have them in the bodyshop,but I get mine from Superdrug they are on the bit where they sell those back scrubbing brushes and sponges etc, they feel a bit rough when dry but when wet the are soft, just dont rub too hard as it is easy to get carried away…
There is a lot of information on the net about parabens, if you just google parabens you should find it , I didnt know anything about them until I came on this site and there was threads about it, I think they are under the complementary therapies section , but I suppose you could do a search on this site, there is so much that keeps cropping up some for some against, you could drive yourself mad with rights and wrongs because as soon as they say something is ok to use or drink or eat, the next person comes along and says exactly the opposite…