Thanks Sandra,is it something that is ok to leave for a couple of days to see how it settles then?It’s not really bothering me just causing me to feel a bit anxious.
I think it’s just the after effects of having an incision in a delicate area I had abdominal surgery and used to get a lot of swelling around the scar particularly if I had been standing a lot. I’m just being paranoid I think,I hadn’t really looked closely until today.So many potential complications from the treatments themselves aren’t there .
Yes ,I must admit I keep thinking is this really happening?A surreal experience,very mentally challenging.
Hi blondie and suzie
glad all went well, take it easy, no heroics lol
jill, I’ve still got some swelling in underarm and just started to get the"healing"pains
spoke to bc nurse and apparently all normal
I’ve got my appointment with oncologist on Tuesday to discuss chemo although the initial consultation only suggested rads, when will the worry end
sleep tight
sheena xxxx
I also wonder when the worrying will end. I got to the stage where the wound is good, the seroma drained 7 times and now not too bad really and starting to feel human again post mastectomy. However I saw the chemo nurse yesterday prior to starting my 6 cycles next week - omg completely overwhelmed by it all - couldn’t really take it in regarding the drugs etc.No doubt will become clearer next week.Veins might not be good enough might need a pic line.Fedup of wearing compression sleeves for my lymphoedema. Sorry about the rant - had to get it off my chest!!
Feel free to rant Joyce!I think it is like riding a roller coaster extreme highs and lows,one minute you feel in control and the next you are in bits again.So much for your body and mind to deal with and such a long haul.You sound like you have dealt with a lot so far,hope you feel more positive next week,hopefully you are soon to get off the roller coaster and get you life back.
Ahh blondie, you are being brave, bless him for saying it. I haven’t told my mum anything yet, she lives in new Zealand and I just can’t face the thought of upsetting her
lots of love xxx
Hi joyce
were you given the option to not have chemotherapy or was it a no brainer?
It’s like we stagger from one conveyor belt on to another
have they given you a timetable for the treatment love?
sheena x
None of us has any choice but to get on with it do we? Sheena, I haven’t told my 85 yr old Dad either,my brother says I should as he will be upset that I haven’t ,but he got into such a stressed state when he hadn’t heard from my husband by 8 pm on the day of my op that I think it is the right decision for now.He thinks I had a op for women’s problem, which technically is correct!He doesn’t live locally so unless I have chemo I am hoping to spare him the anxiety.He lives alone and doesn’t really interact with many people so who would he talk to about his worries.Are you likely to see your Mum this year If she lives in New Zealand?
Hi Jill
no, I won’t see her this year unless someone in family wins lottery! We’ve got a standing joke about plane tickets etc
yeah, my son has said that he thinks I should tell her and talk to her as she had breast cancer 10 years ago and she would be able to understand better than the rest of immediate family but I think it would just bring back bad memories for her
I will consider it if I have to go through chemo
your dad is better off being kept in the dark im the meantime, I am sure
sheena x
Very difficult feeling you have to protect other people from the anxiety and worry you are going through yourself.
Joyce - I’m joining you in the chemo club so we can keep in touch on the journey hopefully - I had lumpectomy 3 weeks ago so still quite sore and boob is hard where lump was but have been told that’s normal and not another nasty in there! Think there’s some monthly chemo threads but not one for July/August yet xxx
What a lovely post,thank you ,it really does help both to talk to people who are going through same thing and people who have come out the other end of dark tunnel.You are right about looking back at how far you have come and what you have dealt with already,easy to get overwhelmed by what may come next. Enjoy your holiday # jealous!
Lovely to hear from someone who has gone through all that treatment and come out the other side - I’m HER2+ too (was surprised cos it was a grade 1 stage 1) so will also have herceptin and ER+ so I think I’m in for every drug they can throw at me! xx
Joyce, Carol
well we may well be joining the july chemo thread together, holding hands and mopping tears
hopefully some laughs along the way x
Rollercoaster, thank you, words inspire us from someone who’s made it off the rocky road and planning ahead, well done xx
sheena xx
How is everyone doing with their recovery?Im out and about with my dog again ,will be nice to be able to drive again, hope no further surgery needed and I have to start this healing process all over again.Hope everyone is well enough to enjoy the sunshine.
Hi Jill I’m doing ok a bit sore but getting a bit more movement every day. My house is beginning to resemble a florist shop, not complaining ad I have some great friends who don’t treat me like an invalid.
I too went out in the sun today, some last minute shopping with my daughter who is off on her first girls holiday to Ibiza tomorrow morning (no sleep for a week for me then!!). She’s 18 and passed her test a few months ago is that’s been really helpful this past week.
Got a few things on next week so should be able to pass the time whilst awaiting my follow up on 9th July. Going to genetic test on Monday and dressing change on Tuesday, can’t wait to see what the surgeon’s handywork is like!! Then Thursday I’m meeting up with family in the Cotswolds for lunch, Friday I’m hoping to go to our local outdoor gig and next Saturday is my 3year old granddaughters first dance show, so busy busy for me next week.
Hope everone is doing ok and does anyone have anything nice planned during this ‘limbo period’?
Sounds like you are making the most of your time free from blooming medical appointments Suzie, enjoy the peaceful time before the next hurdle. Daughters first holiday away without you, I have been dreading that milestone with my son,at least girls look after each other lads would be a bit less conscientious!I have eventually had the courage to look at my scar etc and it’s not that bad at all, if I don’t have further surgery I can imagine that it will not be noticeable at all eventually. Hard that you have genetic testing to deal with too.Enjoy the sun and the peace until the next thing we have to deal with .
Hi girls. I’m okay since op on 22/6 like Suzie and await results 9/7…again like Suzie. You’re not Solihull based are you by any chance Suzie? I’m okay. Still very bruised. Underside of boob is black! BCN told me to remove dressing so I did, 5 days post op. Can’t believe how low down my incision is. My lump was at ‘7pm’ …I am panicking a little bit as it was near chest wall so hope it wasn’t ‘attached’ to it. Post op report just said ‘uneventful procedure’ which made me smile as it was a HUGE event as far as I was concerned. Anyway I am back to eating cakes and biscuits, dairy and wine! My diagnosis detox lasted about 3 weeks! My 11 year old daughter has her new school inductions this week so lots on, friends visiting. It’s also my eldest sons birthday today - he’s 29 - but lives abroad. Feeling a little nostalgic for my first born…plus the fact that I’ve told my 3 kids zilch so far! Happy Sunday everyone. x
Glad to hear everyone recovering well - I’m a bit in front as 3 weeks post op and see the oncologist tomorrow. Jill - I thought I had a swelling under my arm nd my BCN said to come in but I waited until I had to go back to consultant and by then it was ok and didn’t need draining so hope yours won’t either. Yesterday I had an appointment with a nutritionist - my son persuaded me to go - and on the way got caught up in the gay pride march which was fun - especially the bus with the slogan “cancer is a drag” which was full of drag queens. My daughter took loads of photos and I almost missed the appointment! Anyway apparently I’m eating all the wrong foods but don’t we all - you’ve got to enjoy something. She’s going to give me a diet sheet and am going to try and cut out dairy, alcohol and not as many carbs - not sure what I’m going to eat but if anyone’s interested I’ll let you know what she recommends. One thing that was interesting was she recommended a high intake of vitamin D - I started taking 1000mg when I was diagnosed - horses and bolted comes to mind, but she said I should take 2000 - 4000mg up until chemo depending on how low my vitamin d count was (it was low about 6 months ago. Btw cesrabbit my friend had a golf size lump near the chest wall and it was all clear and she’s fine 13 years on - did you have an MRI before the op cos if so I think they can tell from that anyway xxx