This is my first post and I was diagnosed with breast cancer on the 11th of July this year. I recently turned 33 and honestly find the whole thing so hard. I have two children (11 year old diabetic son and 2 year old daughter).
I am having a lumpectomy with some node removal on the 27th of January. I have spoken to a nurse to prepare me for this but I was hoping to have some advice on how to prepare for it. I have never had an operation so I’m quite nervous going in.
I also wandered if there is any advice on things I need to have ready for the op? I have bought button down pjs, a v pillow and a post surgery bra. Is there anything anyone found useful to have?
I completed EC-T chemo Monday the 15th of December, I had 6 cycles. I find my brain doesn’t work like it used to so apologies if none of this makes any sense .
Sorry you’re having a rough time - I can’t imagine how difficult it is to deal with this and look after children.
I had a lumpectomy and 5 lymph nodes removed last week and have honestly found it a lot easier than I thought it would be, but everyone is of course different and has different circumstances.
Recommendations for prep from my experience are rally round as much help in advance as you can. Do you have people who can potentially take a bit of time out to help with the kids etc.? Get the housework, shopping, laundry etc. done as much as you can ahead of time. Think about sleeping positions. I didn’t consider this and the first couple of nights were a problem until my sister came round armed with a v pillow, which made things a lot easier. And I’d definitely recommend starting those arm exercises now!
Well done on completing your chemo and I hope the surgery goes well.
Bless you what a journey you have had already . Moisturise your skin to make sure it’s in good condition to begin with . As someone has already said practice the arm exercises you have been given - that way you will know how well you can do them so that afterwards you know exactly what you are working towards. Try your post - op bra on to make sure it’s comfortable - I found that having quite a bit of support was helpful in keeping pain and swelling at bay , but it’s not the same for everyone . I only took regular Paracetamol and a couple of doses of Ibuprofen . Some people seem to be being given Codeine or Cocodamol - I know this isn’t the practice in my Trust for lumpectomy so I bought some of the weaker strength Cocodamol from the chemist but never needed it. I also bought a couple of extra dressings in case of leakage and was given some to take home but I never needed them.
For the first couple of days I wore a crop top that I stepped into with an old M+S secret support vest on top. I’m a side sleeper and luckily my preferred side is left and my surgery was on the right so I had no problem sleeping , I didn’t have a drain though - did they say if you are having one ?. However due to bad shoulders and a bad hip I sleep with a pregnancy pillow to support my hip and top arm / shoulder . You may not need the hip support but a lot of people buy or are given a little heart shaped pillow for support and use it when sitting as well as lying down.
Make sure you take some sturdy slippers / indoor shoes as well as your outdoor shoes into hospital - I walked to nuclear medicine and then to Theatre . To come home I wore an edge to edge jersey cardigan with thumb holes ( not essential ) over my secret support vest and my winter coat just slid easily over that . Nothing fiddly . Hope it goes well xx
Hi Firstly well done for finishing your chemo treatments!!! I’m the opposite way round to you, I’ve had my lumpectomy last week and now awaitinf for results to see if I need chemo.
Its so normal to feel nervous before your operation, I’m 34 with 2 young children (2 and 5) but it’s not been half as bad as i expected it to be!!
I took a button up pyjama top with me, soft bra and slippers plus some little snack bars as I felt abit shakey when i woke up and I think the snack bars helped! I just put a coat over pj top to leave hospital and have been wearing a soft no wired bra since. Take something to do whilst waiting too that will keep you distracted. As others have said too do your exercises and keep up with pain meds.
I would say definitely get as much help as possible for the 1st 3/4 days I was really tired but day 4 onwards I was up and about just abit slower than usual! I’m self employed and typically its our busiest season so on day 4 i had work booked in that i went to but only did light stuff and absolutely no heavy lifting.
Do you have somebody who can help with the children especially the younger one? Thats been the hardest thing for me not being able to lift my 2 year old up, I’ve told them I have a poorly arm though so they’ve been fairly gentle and not jumping all over me at least!!
Hope you have a fab christmas and feel free to message me at any time
I have stocked up on paracetamol ready, I would prefer to stick to paracetamol and ibuprofen so knowing they should be enough is one less thing to worry about.
I asked if I was having a drain and they said no, I wouldn’t be.
I have a v pillow ready, I am a front sleeper so worried sleep may be a little difficult for me. Going to start trying to sleep on my left as it is my right breast that the cancer is in.
Slippers! Thank you! That’s not something I even thought about or walking to the theatre.
I was hoping to avoid chemo but my lump was on the larger side so they wanted to shrink it down before using chemo. Hopefully you get your results soon!
I didn’t think about snacks either! That’s a good shout!
I have my husband who is taking a week off work for my first week so he can look after the kids and make sure things still get done.
That’s amazing you being up and about on day 4! That’s what I am hoping to be able to do.
I think that is going to be the hardest for me is not holding my 2 year old daughter, she is a ball of energy and doesn’t know how to slow down .
Thank you! Going to enjoy Christmas then start the exercises and getting ready .
Hope you also enjoy Christmas and thank you for reaching out! Xx
Can you teach your daughter to climb up beside you or get her a little stool so that she can sit with you?
I had a left side lumpectomy and node removal on 10th November - it was driving again that I found difficult and needed to take more time with. It was the road vibrations and changing gears that took time.
Hi - I had a WLE and SLNB on Monday afternoon so I am on day 2 now. Not been too bad pain wise - more itching and tugging for me. Perhaps most difficult thing has been the sleeping or rather lack of (I’m wring this at 4am). Seems like I can distract myself from my discomfort but when I lay down to sleep it becomes more of a thing. I am taking co-codamol every 6 hours too. Also I too am a side sleeper and finding it hard to sleep on my back. I read something today (too late) which suggested practising sleeping on your back to try and adjust. Might be worth a try. Good luck and I can do more than I expected.
Hi. I’m day 10 post lumpectomy and nodes removed. You have got this and sound organised. Take your pain relief and rest but a gentle reminder to do your exercises for sure. The v pillow is fab, I snuggled in and managed to get some sleep on my back at first. I’m now able to side sleep again. My dressings are off today and 4 more days for the surgical stockings. Make sure they give you a space pair which are ok in the washing machine. I’ve not taken off special bra yet apart from changing over to a clean one. The support is comforting. Surgeon said 7 days but I’m keeping with what feels better for me. Take care of yourself
.
Firstly well done for finishing your chemo treatments!!! I’m the opposite way round to you, I’ve had my lumpectomy last week and now awaitinf for results to see if I need chemo.
.