Hi, im just drained,
I had a double mastectomy with implant reconstruction at end of Sept. The left side is failing - infected and swollen from seroma. Theyve removed the fluid 4 times and given me strong antibiotics, but it hasnt worked so im booked in to have one of the implants removed and will be lopsided for 2-3 months. Then they’ll try again. Im gutted.
Also, the pathology results are in, they’re not as expected.
I waited 3 months for surgery and was assured it was safe, the tumours are larger (2 are doubled) grade 2, (biopsy said 1), and one lymph node is positive. Now, I am waiting for the oncotype test result to see if i need chemo and on the table possible treatment is Auxillary clearance / radiotherapy , depending on the result. Radiotherapy will be on the side of the implant that didn’t fail, so it may affect it.
I am so sorry to hear this. You’ve already been through so much and now more waiting before you know what is to be done. It’s no consolation i know, but many of us on here, myself included, have experienced setbacks during our treatment. The hardest thing is the waiting and once you have a plan of what comes next you will feel more confident and in control.
I had a lumpectomy last january. 2 further operations followed including cavity shaves and axillary clearance. After all that, i needed chemo which im halfway through. But then dr decided i must have a masectomy after chemo.
You can handle whatever is thrown at you, but use this forum, friends and family and other support if needed. Good luck with the forthcoming results. X
Hi @springer5
I’m so sorry to hear what you’re going through. That sounds like a lot to process and a lot to go through at once – it must be very draining.
Waiting on results is a really difficult time and I hope you’re able to get some clarity soon on the next steps of your treatment. As @bluesatsuma said, as a forum we are here for you so please continue to reach out and keep us updated on your treatment.
If you also wanted someone to speak to, you can always call our nurses to talk things through on 0808 800 6000.
Sending you all the best,
Abi
I’m sorry, I know it’s sucks when you don’t get the results you wanted and I think a lot of us on here can (unfortunately) sympathise. When I got my pathology report back after my surgery and it wasn’t what I had hoped for, I think I felt more devastated by that than when I originally got my diagnosis. For me, it helped to talk to someone who wasn’t my oncologist/surgeon because they look at it from a clinical perspective. They don’t really understand how emotionally devastating it can be to have one path in your head and then to suddenly be expected to completely pivot and the finish is twice as far away or there are pits of vipers in between you and the finish line. Sending you hugs.
@springer5 im sorry to hear this and you’re right to feel fed up
Like @kartoffel i found pathology harder to digest than my initial diagnosis
I was told constantly I was clinically node neg and in the end I wasn’t after pathology from surgery
I also needed a re excision for better margins
I never knew things could change from the first biopsy / mammo
Because I had a lumpectomy, chemo & now radio reconstruction hasn’t even happened
The moving plan is hard
Hope you’re next steps are clearer
Oh I am so sorry . . . . . I wish you better days, and am sending you positive hugs. xx
@bluesatsuma thank you for your message, im so sorry to hear that you are going through so much. I hope the chemo is going as well as it can and that you arent having too many side affects x
Thanks so much Abi x
Thank you @kartoffel it really did knock me for six. I think it would help me to talk to someone especially as i have so many thoughts / possible scenarios running through my mind. I hope that your treatment is going well xx
@idcand49 thank you for your message, it is all so tough to digest and deal with. Wishing you the very best x
Hope you are feeling a lot better now xxxx
Thank you, I’m not doing too bad, just in the worry/waiting zone. Not as down as i was. I had surgery on the infected implant side last week and they didnt leave me flat, they are trying to save the implant process by removing the implant and infected skin. My doc said she gave it all a good scrub! They inserted an expander implant and were able to save some skin. They kept me in 2 nights and flushed it with an antibiotic wash several times. Im at home with a drain n have everything crossed it heals ok this time.
Also of course on edge waiting for the onocotype test result. Im trying to prepare myself as best i can for whatever may come next, but the unknown is a hard place to be.
Hope that you are doing ok xx