those drains sound awful, its like adding insult to injury isn’t it, having all this crp to contend with and then that as well.
Having been very low last week, I have had a much better weekend and am feeling more positive. I seem to get through the day and then collapse in the evening with some teary moments as it all hits home again. Sleeping has been dodgy though. Have been out and about a lot more, had my hair cut on saturday on basis that firstly the cold cap may work so best for it to look good, and secondly if it doesn’t work then it might as well go out smiling. Didnt have it coloured though this time as thought it might not give the cold cap its best chance??? so grey roots all the way now.
The hairdesser was amazed at how much my hair had grown since its last cut and said it was obviously because i had a healthy lifestyle and was fit and healthy…i didn’t disillusion him!
Am bit in limbo now waiting for mdt meeting and to confirm treatment plan. My surgeon has also got to confirm if one of my margins is alright or could be improved ( it was 3mm but the bit between the tumour and my skin so she might have taken all she could?,whereas others were 5 mm and rest 10mm).
Linda, I’m glad you had a proper day for the birthday party, makes you feel more like yourself to do your usual stuff and not be the patient doesn’t it? Well done. And happy birthday Annettte, hope you enjoyed a sunny day.
Take care everyone, i am off to the park with my boys to enjoy the sunshine and try and be normal mum!
Hallo everyone
Sorry, I do not know the names of al the lovely people on this forum yet, but just be patient…I am still “fairly new” on forums.
You see, I am a “silver server” and do not know all the wonderfull things you can do on forums, like to speak out of this big-C and all the wonderfull info and tips and advise!
I am diagnosed with IDC on the 17th March 10, and had a WLE and x4 lymph node resections on the 30th March 10. Developed seromas and had this drained x3 times since my op.
My big C-day with all the pathology reports, etc, is this Thursday coming.
I feel so confused today, and all the info I accumulated so far, is racing through my mind…And suddenly realised I am also scared to hear the report with all the planning of my treatment(s).
Please think of me …
Thanks
MCT
Welcome to the BCC discussion forums, I hope you’re getting some good support as the users of these forums have a wealth of information between them and will answer your questions what ever it may be.
If you need a good listening ear and would like to talk to someone in person then please do use the helpline here, the staff are here to support you through this. Calls to the helpline are free, 0808 800 6000 lines open Mon-Fri 9-5 and Sat 9-2.
Sorry to hear you’ve had to join us all here. The waiting for the results is so scary - probably the worst bit of the whole thing because of all the thoughts that go through your head.
I hope it goes well for you on Thursday. I will be thinking of you.
I had my op just after you did - April 1st - and will get my results on Friday. The nearer it gets to the day, the more scared I get! It feels like a HUGE punctuation mark in my life at the moment (probably a question mark?) and I feel unable to make any plans until then. Weird.
I hope it goes okay for you on Thursday. I’l be thinking of you.
Has anyone else got the ‘tight band around the armpit’ sensation and tight sore strip all down the under-arm? Is it cording? I’m doing all the exercises but it feels so sore and tight.
How are you all doing, especially those who were getting results this week? Hope the news was good for you.
I’m still having to have fluid drained a couple of times a week but it was a bit less yesterday so I’m hoping it’s starting to reduce now.
I saw my oncologist yesterday (a couple of weeks earlier than originally planned as he was due to flu to Peru today -oops, poor chap!) and now have an ongoing treatment plan. Next step for me is radiotherapy - planning on 10th may and starting 17th may - then another 3 cycles of FEC. The additional chemo is just precautionary, may not be necessary as my initial chemo cleared my lymph nodes but onc thought it was worth doing some more and I agreed.
Can’t say I’m looking forward to the rads, he’s going to blast the skin as well as the chest wall and neck, and as I’m fair skinned there’s a good chance the skin could ‘break down and weep’ - I might well do the same if it’s too uncomfortable!
Ah well, bring it on and let’s get it over with!
Hope you’re all having a good weekend and enjoying the sunshine.
Linda
xx
p.s Annette, have you still got the tightness? It does sound like cording but I have no experience of this myself so can’t say. My arm is ok but I do have some tightness across my chest though it feels a little better today.
I hope your fluid is on the retreat now - I still have a bit of swelling that looks very oddly like an extra boob under my arm! But I was at the hospital Friday and they weren’t too worried about it. Keeping up the exercises to try and get the arm working properly again - still very tight and sore.
I think it was pretty good news, though sometimes it’s hard to process all the information and details and decipher stuff. I was relieved to have got the day over with and spent the rest of it in B&Q buying 250 garden flagstones. Planning to have the garden spruced up majorly - but needing to recruit some beefy guys to lift the stones. Unfortunately my dear son is not exactly the muscle-man type!
The two lymph nodes they removed were clear, the tumour was 2.4cms - part high grade DCIS and part invasive - and they were not totally sure there was no spread beyond because sadly the tests on the samples didn’t work properly which meant they were unable to grade it accurately. They have had to stick with the initial core biopsy result of Grade 2. I’m not sure how this will impact on the assessment for chemo - now waiting a few weeks to see the oncologist to discuss potential etc. But I do feel happy to have a few weeks to recover without so many hospital visits and hope to get to visit my mum who is 91 and lives 200 miles away. I haven’t got to see her since my diagnosis at the beginning of March. At least the mastectomy cleared the margins completely.
What great weather, though. I am loving these sunny evenings and the lack of aircraft noise over London!
Halo Akfilm
Results : IDC/DCIS Grade 2/14mm and then 5mm Ca removed - clear margin/No lymph nodes involved.
I saw Oncologist on Mon 19 April 10
Will have planning session for Radiotherapy next week Thursday
Quite fearfull at present, but try to be positive
How are you now?
Marie
Your results seem similar to mine - I was glad that the two lymph nodes they removed were clear and the mastectomy removed all the tumour (IDC/DCIS 24mm), but unfortunately the biopsy tests on the actual tumour didn’t work properly so they were unable to give an accurate grading. The original biopsy test was Grade 2. I suppose this will affect the calculations for chemotherapy. So I am now waiting for an appointment with the consultant and see where we go from there. Do you have to have chemotherapy as well? And hormone treatment?
I am still recovering from the operation - trying to take it as easy as possible and doing the exercises to free up the muscles and tendons in my arm and chest. I am very lucky to be able to go to the Haven Centre for shiatsu massage and other treatments - it’s a wonderfully calm place - even though the journey to Fulham takes over an hour each way.
I hope your radiotherapy isn’t too awful on Thursday. How long a course is it?
hiya. I was 32 at diagnosis last year with a 9mth old and a 2 yr old. I had a WLE (lumpectomy) chemo (FEC, theres also different types) and radiotherapy and am now on taxoxifen.
In terms of feeling well enough to do family stuff i did but found the steroids they gave me made me crash in exhustion when i stopped takin them. I found each cycle you find what works for you and the first is the worst as you dont know what to expect.
In all reality it sucks. No two ways about it but its doable and doable with kids. If i am honest i have been worse since it all ended with the “what ifs” and worries for the future.
Grab all the help you can and dont try to be superwoman!
Hi I was diagnosed on 22nd October and am having a mastectomy on 24th November and have not come to terms with it. I really want to run away from it and pretend it is not happening. I could cope with lumpectomy and radiotherapy but not this. And they think there is cancer on the other breast too just have not found it yet… there is a living hell after all!
Oh shadow, I really feel for you. This is just so horrid isn’t it? One minute lifes normal and then out of the blue this huge unbelievable truck hits you and nothing feels right. You have found my thread from when I was first diagnosed back in march. It was a truly awful time and even though I have since been through an operation, Chemo and radiotherapy, I have not felt as bad as I did when I first posted this as the shock and horror of diagnosis was for me, and many many other women, the hardest bit. But it is true that once you have more answers from your medical team and more idea of the plan of action, your mind seems somehow to become more used to it And the constant horror subsides. I didn’t have a mastectomy but many ladies on here have and it might be worth starting a new thread with a title which will let other ladies know the support you are needing as you will get tons of help. Your post might get a bit lost here as this is a bit of an old thread and people may just think it’s me chatting on again rather than someone needing support at the worst time.
Take cAre of yourself, contact me any time you need
Hey shadow, I have just read a few of your other posts. Why not give the helpline a ring this morning as they are really good at helping you understand the medical stuff and in supporting you emotionally. It has got ne through lots of times. Also why not go back to see your breast care nurse and take a friend with you so you cAn really understand what’s going on as you’re bound to be terrified even more if you don’t understand it. If you have two lumps in one breast, itmay be that the position they are in may mean that a lumpectomy would be peoblwematic just because of how it would look cosmetically afterwards. It’s probBly nothing to do with the type of cancer etc, just where it’s happened to find itself. Your nurse will have all this info so give her a ring, her job is to helpYOU!
Welcome to the Breast Cancer Care discussion forums, I hope you will find them helpful.
As tors has mentioned BCC do have a helpline where you can share your concerns with a trained member of staff who will offer you emotional support as well as information. The number to call is 0808 800 6000 and the lines are open Monday to Friday 9 to 5pm and Saturday 9 to 2pm.