hi ladies, may I join you ? I am little behind you as well, had chemo No 5 today, scheduled to have in more in three weeks and surgery a few weeks after that (mid to end July). I do dread the op of course but I also really want these alien bodies OUT of me. I started with two in the same breast, one 5cm and one 2 cm. the manual examination reports a mass of 3cm after 3rd chemo, I am not sure if that’s a good reduction, I was hoping for more to be honest, but only the MRI in mid June will tell us the real situation.
I will ask the surgeon for a bilateral mx because there is possibility of an hereditary origin (my grand father died of it and my aunt had it in her 70s) and therefore there is a big risk of another primary in any breast tissue (and ovaries - I want those gone as well). I am being gene tested but the test is often not conclusive so I will ask for everything removed in any case. apparently in my hospital doctors always agree to do it for women in my situation, and that’s very reassuring to me. I am only 41 so I will be having a reconstruction but probably next year as I think they will want to give me rads I think. I won’t have finished with this whole thing until middle of next year.
I also had to cancel a holiday in April and haven’t planned anything for the summer. I do hope to be able to book a caravan on a beach last minute somewhere in the south coast or wales between the end of the chemo and the surgery, or perhaps between the surgery and the rads.
good luck to all of you.
Hi girls, just reporting back after mx on Wednesday. All went fine. They would have sent me home the same day but I dedcided to stay in for one night. Partly because I felt a bit sick after the anaesthetic and partly as i couldn’t be bothered to get dressed and walk out to the car. Honestly wasn’t too painful at all. They gave morphine for a while after I came round and then Diclofenac and co-codamol. I havent really taken many. I had the dressing changed today and will have the drain out tomorrow. That’ll be three days after the op. I feel absolutely fine and just want to reassure everyone else about to go through this that it’s honestly not as bad as I thought. The scar is very neat apart from a little lumpy bit at one end which was a bit disappointing.
Best wishes to all. Will report any further developments.
Polly
Hi Polly, I’ve just read your message on the forum and I’d like to join the June Ladies group. I have a grade 3 lump+DCIS, HER2 and Oestrogen postive. I also have at least 1 infected lymph node. Scans have shown that there is no spread elsewhere for which I’m extremely grateful. I’m scheduled to have a full mastectomy and node removal 16th June followed by chemo, herceptin and radiation treatments. I only saw my GP 5th May and so it’s all happening too fast for me to take anything in. I’ve been on auto-pilot since the original diagnosis but it’s all beginning to sink in now and I’m starting to feel low. Your message has been a real boost, thank you. I think you are very, very brave. Surgery scares me more than anything else at the moment and I’ve been told I’m likely to be in 4-5 days. I’m having a temporary implant during surgery with a few to full reconstruction next year. Have you had anything similar? Can I ask how you felt when you first saw the scar? I’m sure I’ll struggle with that bit. My youngest is just 3 and a proper little ‘rough and tumble’ so making a quick recovery post surgery is important to me. I really hope you continue on the path you’re on now.
PollyPocket, I am so glad it all went so well for you and that it’s pretty painless. How wonderful for you and how reassuring for all of us on the waiting list !
Is it done under general anaesthetic normally ?
My previous experience of proper surgery is my C-section (with spinal block), which was good. I’ve also had general anaesthetic for other procedures so I feel I am prepared for that part. Morphin didn’t agree with me though (I couldn’t keep anything in, not even water) so I will try to avoid it, co-codamol makes me feel stoned, and codeine gives me bad constipation. With my C-section I did fine just on paracetamol so I’ll try to do the same for the mx.
Hi all
I decided to look at the scar straight away when the nurse changed the dressing. I wasn’t going to at first. It was surprisingly neat apart from a small lumpy bit on the inner part of the scar. That was a bit disappointing. Had the drain out today which I think is a bit soon. Am getting a bit worried after reading other posts about seromas. Hope that doesn’t happen. Still feeling fine at the mo. Was advised not to have reconstruction straight away because of rads. To be honest at the moment I’m not sure if I will go for recon. Have ordered some nice new bras and a swimming costume.
Had the op under general anaesthetic and morphine after but only for a very little while. Was sent home with diclifenic and co codamol but haven’t taken too many. I’m kind of waiting for it to start getting painful which is silly as the initial period after the op is probably the worst and that hasn’t been bad at all.
Polly xx
Hi Ladies
Donna, thank you for starting this thread, please can I join? I’m due to have mx and recon with DIEP flap and having a reduction (and lift) on right side on 16th June after completing 3xTAX and 3xFEC (although having been to hosp on Friday thought that I wouldn’t be getting reduction at the same time due to the length of time of surgery but its all sorted and all being done in the one operation! didn’t want to be lopsided and go for another operation)
I know what you mean about having a bilateral mx as I had the same thoughts and panic after I’d got through the chemo and never wanting to do it again but after the initial panic and speaking with the surgeons on Friday my hospital wouldn’t do mx on both sides as no history of BC in my family. I could have the gene check but that would take too long to come back before the operation and they can’t delay it anymore.
I’ve never had an operation before and until chemo had never stayed in hospital (had 2 days in due to temp with a cold after 5th chemo) so have now stayed in but am really dreading the op. People tell me that I won’t know anything about it which I know they’re right but its the thought of being ‘under’ for 8-10 hours which is how long my op will take :0(
anyway, enough of me for the time being, I hope that everybody that was due to have surgery last week has got on ok. We will be in this together and support each other through.
Lots of hugs
Liz
xxx
Hi Ladies, I’m at home now following my mastectomy and first stage expander implant operation. Apart from first day with morphine and the two days with codeine and paracetamol I now only have slight discomfort under the arm and implant site when I sit awkwardly snd i’m feeling really well. I was in hospital for a week and had both drains out on the 7th day. I looked at my scar on the last day when the nurse changed the dressing and It’s not too bad! Slight puckering at top by arm pit but quite neat suprisingly. I’m not looking forward to going on 16th June for results but I’ll make the most of being waited on for now! I haven’t had to take painkillers since friday so not too bad at all! Jo xxx
Hello all you lovely ladies,
well im back from my break in somerset, had a call on the way home from hospital asking me if i wanted to go in at 7.30 instead in 12, on friday,
im so scared, but reading your recovery posts has helped me so thankyou so much, my surgeon said i will be a day case, and if he does use a drain it will be taken out before i go home on the evening…
i have full support from my family and friends but i so hope i will get over it quickly, im dreading looking at myself, asking will i be able to cope emotionally? how do you cope?
you all take care, and bugs hugs to you
love
Donna
xx
Hi girls.
Jo glad you are home. Take it easy.
Donna try not to be scared. I’m amazed at how I feel. Have had hardly any pain and feel great so far. It’s already a week since my op and I really thought I would be laid up in bed. Instead I’ve been a lady who lunches. I just thought to myself before the op 'today I have cancer and tomorrow I won’t '.
Polly xx
P.s. I don’t look any different in my clothes than I did before. I’ve got some nice mx bras from M n S and a softie thing the nurse gave me. I keep asking people to guess which one I’ve had done ;)) x
PollyPocket, thankyou soooo much, you take care
xx
Morning All
Good luck Donna
I’m in for SNB tomorrow and then mx & recon on 24th then rads. I seem to be the only one having recon before rads, hmmm. I have been round the block discussing the best approach and had 2 separate opinions and both have said it’s doable, even when I’ve stressed that I wouldn’t mind waiting for recon; maybe it’s cos I’m not so big (34b/c). The surgeon is going to make it a little bigger to counteract the effects off the rads, which is fine as it’s naturally bigger anyway. She did say that, once it’s settled down, if it’s still too big compared to other side she’ll even them up. ‘Jordanesque’ by the time I’ve finished!
For those of you who have finished chemo and ready for next part - are you as bored with it as I am? Im getting impatient to get it finished, I think it’s cos I’m expecting to be laid up again and so not able to get on with life, but reading others experiences has helped.
Good luck to all and best wishes, regardless of which stage you’re at. X
Morning all.
Scaco good luck for Snb tomorrow. That’s not too bad. I had mine done before the chemo. They seem to do things differently everywhere. I kind of wish they’d done it afterwards as I kept thinking that things could spread during/ after chemo before the op. At least it gave me the reassurance that things were clear there early on.
It does get a bit boring doesn’t it. When you feel better after chemo you get a glimpse of a more normal life but can’t quite fully join in. Anyway once you’ve had the op on 24th that’s another huge step ticked off the list.
All the best.
Polly x
Morning All,
Glad to hear you had a nice break Donna. Good luck for tomorrow.
SCAC0- Good luck for tomorrow too. I considered an immediate recon with implants (am having rads too) but have opted for delayed recon with tissue from tummy as I want a bigger size. Naturally, I have/had hughe gazonkas(g plus). I’ve been told I may be able to get a dd/e with the delayed recon. I think you’re right about the immediate recon and this being suitable for b/c cup.
Jo and Polly- Thank you for posting about your recovery. I find it really reassuring to hear how well you are both doing. I hope everything continues to go so well for you.
Still got one more chemo to go on Tuesday and still haven’t recovered from the last one. Can’t wait for chemo to be over. Am going to try and fit a holiday in before my op on 18th July. Am off to search the internet for a bargain.
Lots of love xxxxx
Hi All
Jo and Polly, lovely to read your posts, you sound like you are both doing so well, and you help take away so much of the dread I feel at the moment.
I wish you both all the very best and thank you for posting your experiences.
SCACO and Donna, I wish you the very best for tomorrow and will be thinking of you both and sending positive thoughts your way.
Love and strength to all
xxxx
Scrapper
Hi all:-)
Good luck to Donna and scaco for tomorrow.
Polly - good to know you are recovering well.
I had my mx and extended ld flap on Tuesday. I am at home now with 3 drainns in situ. My boob looks awesome!!! It’s so perky and high. In a bit of pain but it’s controllable. I was up out of bed the day after And looking after myself from Thursday. Got exercises from the physic. In bed now, all propped up with pillows and my chemo bell is being rung when I need something.
Kerry xxxxx
Well done Kerry. Boasting already bout ur perky boob !! Keep ringing that bell and have them all running after u.
Take care. Polly xx
Congrats on your perky boob Kerry! 
Hope you are controlling the pain ok and loving the bell! You make the most of it girl and keep em running.
All the best
xxxx
Scrapper
Hi ladies
Kerry, Polly, Jo is wonderful to hear how well you’re all doing post surgery. I think I’m in the minority having surgery first next Thursday followed by chemo, herceptin and rads and am reassured by your news.
I have to say though, yesterday was the absolute worst I’ve had since diagnosis. I’ve been really positive and upbeat most of the time but was bought down to somewhere I really don’t want to be. A relative I hardly know and a casual acquaintance thought it would be helpful to send me advice on alternative treatments. Now I’m all for complimentary therapies and proven alternatives but I’m sure if daily doses of bicarobonate of soda was a proven cure, we’d have heard of it by now despite apparent collusion between world governments and pharmaceutical companies (I’ve been sent a DVD on this subject!). Part of me feels very angry that I should be put in this position just days before surgery but my mood just dropped like a stone and I found myself crying uncontrollably. The only positive was that I finally realised that what is being removed is not just my breast which I’m struggling to deal with but an aggressive cancer.
Many of you seem to be well on the road to recovery whereas I’m taking my first steps. Have you had similar experiences? Did you ever have doubts even though logic told you otherwise?
C8
Morning:-)
C8- we have all had similar experiences with " well meaning" people who know best. There are threads on thie forum about it. All I can say from my experience is that it’s best to ignore people like that. Hugs. It’s so hard, but you will get better. Xx
SCACO - I am having rads after recon, I think, depends on the path results.
Kerry xxx