Welcome Gennie, we’re all V.I.P.'s on this site, and don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. I do feel for you, those first few days are horrendous, I can only describe it as if being smacked in the face - constantly - by shoal loads of wet, heavy kippers that hurt! I’ve been a grumpy old woman for years over Christmas - and am enjoying totally ignoring it this year - with a vengeance! Annie, I know I wished you good luck for Monday’s results, but I’ve just realised that you’ve been very secretive about your participation in this illness - how very saintly of you! So spill your guts … what results we talking about here?! And where are you hiding Lyn, I hope you’re not propping up a bar somewhere, doing your bit to aid any pending redundancies in the alcohol industry? Love to all, night night. xxx
P.S. Finished with the kiddies today, 'til 8th January. Utter bloody bliss! Nearly 3 weeks off, am gonna sleep for the whole weekend! x
Yes, whoops Jackie, you got it right. Work night out yesterday and had to do my bit for the alcohol industry (I sense a New Year’s Resolution coming on), and a fair bit of bar-propping happening. Well, a girl has to celebrate the end of rads somehow, eh?
You won’t believe what I’m doing tomorrow…it doesn’t involve kittens, roses, kettles and hopefully not too many snowflakes and raindrops. But the words Harley and Davidson come to mind, and camping in a field in Essex. In December. Just how daft is that?
That is SUCH good news about the bone scan, Jac! I hope Mr C is doing his stuff.
Hey Gennie; there is no “good” time to be diagnosed, it’s such a huge bunch of cr*p that we all have to face. But I can’t imagine a worse time than the madness of Xmas. You take it easy, take your time, get your head round it as far as you can, take a big deep breath… a step at a time. Cliche but true (or for me anyway). You’ll get loads of support on this site and I promise I won’t sing the greatest hits of The Sound of Music at you.
There, you can all heave a huge sigh of relief!
Annie, hope the results on Monday go your way. All the best, girl. Keep us posted.
G’nite, all, and have a good ol’ snooze, Jac! I will also. Umm…in a field…
L xxx
You ole rogue … you’ll catch your bloody death! But heh, good for you! Chelmsford is it! Well good news for everyone re: The Sound of Music - that’s my son-in-law’s fave film and I sometimes worry about him - but I do have a new baby granddaughter to vouch otherwise for him! lol xxx
Actually I rather like the Sound of Music…
Well. It’s not like my favourite film or anything, but I’ve heard worse.
Feeling very fragile today. Not sleeping well, op on Monday (WLE and I think node clearance - I’m getting the lingo already!) which I’m really scared about. I’m so rubbish at medical stuff, I hate being meddled with by strangers. I’m going to be a very stroppy and grumpy patient. Lucky them eh?!
I know Gennie, but you just have to grit your teeth, put your head down and go for it. You won’t be able to be grumpy for long with the nurses, they’re little, shining diamonds. Don’t worry, you’ll be just fine. Which hospital are you under? x
Welcome Gennie, jump on our winter wonderland train to insania. Monday will have come and gone before you know it.
I had my op on the 8th and get my results tomorrow, if or how far its spread, i think, I tend not to think too far ahead Im a believer in whits fur ye il no go by ye.
Yes Jac Im 53, Scottish live in England because of my husbands job, not secretive as you sugest, just like you Id rather give than be on the receiving end of kindness
I havent shed one tear yet because Im strong if no one is nice to me if someone were to say somthing simpathetic to me Id cry for a week, so being on my own down here helps (I think)
When you start getting the lingo it makes it feel real Gennie. In the beginning we were all saying thingy majig and thingy mabob and then we all become experts over night (amazing)
The sleep thing becomes the norm after a while thats when this site comes into its own, but be warned! there a couple of Julie Andrews sound alikes loose and they will get to you if your not carefull.
Every step and every question is answered if you look back on these threads, Jac and Laterna have been a great help to me hope you find someone on your wave lenghth too. Enjoy the sleep tomorrow. Annie x
Just done a lovely load of typing, looked back at something, and the whole bloody lot has vanished - for the upteenth time! Annie, there you are, you secret squirrel you! Me? - on the same wave length as somebody like you and Lanterna (Lyn - another Scot)? - God help me! Afraid it’s true though - still can only be a good thing - anyway, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it! I’m with you, Annie, on the kindness and sympathy thing - I’ve alienated numerous ‘friends’ who love to use the doom and gloom tone with me, and even the bloody funeral voice - I just tell them that I can’t be doing with that attitude and put the 'phone down on them. It’s amazing what you can get away with when you tell people you have cancer. I’ve always been blunt - but now people quake in their boots when they see me coming! lol - Wicked I know, but I love it! You’ll be just fine tomorrow, Gennie, not in Bart’s are you? If you are, I can do the Lyn thing and visit you when I’m up there. Speaking of ‘swamp thing’ - anybody seen a middle-aged, motorbike-riding delinquent, probably wearing just a helmet with a touch of tinsel here and there?! x
I’m under West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds which a very helpful poster on my own newly devastated thread has kindly informed me is utter crap and the doctors are terrible so I’m avoiding responding that comment. Not what I need to hear and I’ve been told by more than one person that the chap who is slicing and dicing me tomorrow is one of the best in the biz so I’m focussing on that.
My 6 year old son has just hugged me and said “I’m scared you’re going to die at hospital mummy”. Amazing the strength you can find to say “NO that’s NOT what will happen. People have operations every day!” when at the back of my mind I’m wanting to say “actually mate I’m a bit scared about that too”.
Don’t go there Gen. I’ll be back posting on here in a couple of days saying it wasn’t as bad as I thought and singing “The hills are aliiiiiive” ;o) At least I’ll have lots going on over Christmas to distract me from the wait for the dreaded results and Santa is hopefully bringing me lots of books which I’ll have an excuse to put my feet up and read without feeling guilty!
I know what you mean about not wanting too much kindly meant doom and gloom. My sis in law had this evil illness a couple of years ago and she was so prickly she was cactus! I can see her point though - be nice to me and I’ll go to pieces. I need to be positive and, as you say, get my head down and just take each step as it comes until I get to the other side.
My hubby is a middle aged motorbike rider Jacq, but I’m sure he’s upstairs at the moment. Where exactly would the tinsel be placed…? 
Dear Gennie, Have had the same op as you are going to have, [but only 4 lymph nodes]2 weeks ago and it was fine! I was really scared particularly about the anesthetic but it was much easier that I expected. My op took an hour and a half and i then went home about 4 hours later. Didn’t have much pain and didn’t need pain killers!! The wound has healed well and boob looks the same as before except a small scar above my nipple and feel great now apart from tiredness. Good luck the waiting is the worse bit!!!
I dread to think, she may not have even bothered with any. Perhaps just a big smile! x
Hello all,
I was let out of hospital today from first stage of BC treatment. I had single mastecotomy, axillary clearance and expander implant fitted (filled with 100 mls of saline during surgery to start off expansion!). Apart from asthmatic attack and pain in drain sites I got through first day after surgery relatively easily. I slept well and was comfortable - and was out of bed the next morning. My hand was really aching from drip - so glad they took cannulas out by following lunchtime. As skin sparing operation did not leave much blood supply - there was a really danger my skin was going to dye - it was going really purple and tired looking, and was cold by second evening. There was a chance that I would need further surgery and skin graft… but luckily nitrate patches (normally used to treat angina) - worked to open up the blood vessels. Even though at one stage I was about to tear of patch due to side effects - gave me worst headaches and nausea of my life, I did manage to perserver - after using every headache treatment imaginable - and two days later my skin revived and although still looking very bruised it is warm and feels soft like normal skin.
Jackie - your experience with the drains sounds horrendous. I am worried myself as I had my second and last drain removed this morning - despite it still draining 70mls in 24 hours. Worried that I am filling up with fluid inside - but nurse told me to panic. As told all along that drainage needed to be 30 mls or less to be safe… were you still draining when your’s came out? Hope your wound continues to heal.
I am home now, and just feeling tired. Looking forward slightly more to xmas, but my follow-up apt with clinic is 31 December - when I get to know results of histology etc - and fear of spread…
Hope you re recovering too annie - scary thinking about the results isn’t it!
Bright x
Hey there Bright, you’re out early - well done! Your lack of drains should be fine - my one was still filling up to 100 mls after 19 days, and when it was taken out I was dreading it filling up inside me - but it didn’t, so I think your body just naturally takes over and flushes it out naturally. You’re all done now, just take your time to recover properly. Best wishes, Jackie. x
Thanks Jackie - about the drains - I have been thinking just that about filling up inside me! Going to stop worrying now. Will write more tomorrow.
Bright x
Oi, Jackie! “Swamp thing?” You be careful girl, sense of humour like that will have you recruited straight into the East London Harley riders. Tremble in your boots!
Hi all, back from the wilds of Essex, got home, hosed the bike down and immediately crashed out on the sofa. The tinsel will no doubt turn up in some forgotten crevice sometime soon…I dread to think…
Glad to hear you’re back home, Bright, now relax and let Xmas take care of itself. What a bum time to be waiting for results.
Hey Gennie, chin up girl. I’d never been in a hospital before all this cr*p started, except for the occasional visit, and actually was very pleasantly surprised by the professionalism, calmness and cheerfulness of nurses, surgeons and hospital staff. I hope that’s your experience too!
Anniemac: whit’s fur ye’ll no go bye ye…ah’ve no heard that fur ages! Good luck the morra, and let us ken.
I know EXACTLY where you and Jac are coming from, about other people’s reactions. There’s a couple of good threads on this site about what people say. I’ve recently had a big prob at work with a freelance we employ from time to time, who keeps trying to grab camera cases etc to stop me lifting them. Which makes me feel like she’s treating me like an invalid, (I’m not, full use of right arm since surgery) and makes her feel like I’m rejecting her attempts at good deeds. So we end up glaring at each other. I had to say something the other day, and it wasn’t appreciated.
I swear there’s some folks out there that would prefer me being “ill”: I’ve learned this last year to let people in and help sometimes, but there are others who try to link in 'cause they want to feel needed. I think they have stuff to work out, but I’d much, much rather it didn’t include me.
But that’s life.
Glad to have a couple of weeks off to let everything settle down. Blimey, this getting well business isn’t as easy as I’d thought.
Good night all, and good luck to all of us.
Lyn x
…ummm…I think I’ve found the tinsel…
Hello ladies and Jackie in particular. I have followed these discussions for many months and have finally decided to register and post myself. I was diagnosed in March this year at the age of 49 - Grade 1 invasive ductal carcinoma. No family history of b/c etc…Have just been through the mill and finished my treatment, starting with mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with SNB, followed by chemotherapy and then axillary clearance, then radiotherapy. Phew! What we have in common is that we share Mr C as a consultant - he diagnosed me originally but while his colleagues kept saying: “Grade 1 - Excellent News!!” he was much more guarded and told me not to hang out the bunting until after the surgery. There was spread to the lymph nodes which was certainly not good news. I have been lucky enough to have been treated by him privately (have a good private medical insurance scheme through work) and I think he is brilliant. He has kept me on track in my darkest moments. I had a bit of a wobble at the end of treatment, then my world collapsed when my darling Mum died at the end of November. I had been visiting her in hospital even when having chemo, though with my oncologist’s advice. This has taken my mind of my breast cancer, I can tell you…! I can’t offer any wise advice here, but just wanted to say that this site has been a great support to me, and the peer mentoring scheme has also helped a lot. Good luck to you all you lovely ladies and I hope you all have a fab Christmas. I will be back!
Same as me then Becky - still early stages for me on this journey. I am waiting to go back for my results post surgery (chemo and rads to follow). I also have grade 1 invasive ductal carcinoma and SNB is positive - so expecting other nodes to show signs of C. I am trying not to think too much about the results - and what else they may find. I am just pleased at this stage to have got through the first hurdle of the mastectomy (and in my case recon with tissue expander). I am panicking this evening as I have tingling (not pain) in ribs at the front below where I had the mastectomy in case it is a sign if spread. Just hoping it is transferred pain from the drain site - but I shall find out the reality on New Years Eve - when I have first meeting post op with doctor who will then have results back from the lab.
I went out shopping today - don’t know where I found the energy given I only came out of hospital yesterday. And I also cooked supper from scratch - chicken pie, and still seem to have enough energy to go on the fora tonight.
Hope everyone is well.
Bright xx
Be careful Bright, I was up and running straightaway and then the proverbial hit the fan! Try to slow down, I wish I had 'cos then my back might have healed better. Always think I’m invincible, well obviously I aint! Thanks for your words of wisdom Becky, are you ok now, had it spread anywhere else other than the lymph nodes? I’m terrified of tomorrow re: spread, 'cos I’m going for my CAT scan. Was yours ok when you had it done? Best wishes, Jackie. x
Becky, how bad of me not to say how sorry I am for you on the loss of your lovely mum. I know I’ve never met you, but it was terrible of me not to at least say that to you )(- I’m getting very ‘me, me, me’ lately). You must be devastated, life is so cruel a tkicking us when we are already down. Hope you find some peace over Christmas. xxx
Lyn, I fear ye not, nor do I tremble! Please forgive me … I can’t do anything about this sense of humour, it’s just getting worse … I know it but can’t help it. At least I’ll die laughing! x