Had my mastectomy with LD flap and totally aux. clearance friday and home monday evening. Feeling surprisingly well and the op was uncomfortable more than painful.
Find I am sore and tired and if I do too much feel sick and need to rest. Husband making sure I do very little.
Feel like Jordan!!!, But hopefully when swelling subsides it will all look good.
Have to go back wed for full results and hopefully treatment plan for chemo. What about you?
I am sorry I have only just found your message. Really glad your op went well. Like you I feel like Jordan (think if they were both like that I could get used to it!). Like you I haven’t felt much pain it is all just a bit strange. I went in on the Wednesday, op on Thursday 8 1/2 hours and then I got home the following Tuesday. I was in a side ward during my stay and had 1 very emotional evening when I started to think about chemo and then didn’t sleep well that night and felt awful the next day and was still a bit emotional - but then got myself together and getting home was great. Called into the hospital today for them to have a look and the breast nurse said no fluid to remove yet but maybe pop in again next Wednesday and she will check. Like you I feel a bit tired and first full day out of hospital had to get horizontal by lunchtime as I couldn’t sit or stand comfortably. Stupidly tried to use the hose from the vaccuum today but felt as if my breast was getting cramp (very strange) so stopped very quickly - no point in doing anything stupid to wreck it - and have decided to really take it easy.
I have my next appointment with Consutant on 26th and will then organise chemo. I was speaking to the nurse today and I decided I am not going to go with the cold cap - not sure what chemo I am getting but I think it is FEC then 5 years of tamoxifen. Asked nurse about bio oil for scars and she said if I wanted but not yet as it is too soon maybe after a month if I want. I am booked (23 October) to go on one of those healthy living courses which was organised by the breast care nurses - it lasts for 6 weeks and covers nutrition, relaxation etc. I also popped into our local Maggies Centre and have booked to go on one of their nutrition sessions - it will be great to meet people face to face going through a similar experience - because so far I don’t know anyone and although everyone around me is really great and understanding I guess it is hard for them to truly understand.
Good luck with your results on Wednesday - will be thinking of you - I will check the thread over the weekend to see how you are getting on. Take care.
You should be resting not hoovering!!!
I too was in a side room for my stay - the staff were fab.
Hope the wounds are healing well - mine seem to be. Looking forward to getting the clear dressings off and having a decent shower though and sorting my under arm out too!!! lol
Not really though too much about chemo - although dreading it. Have decided against cold cap too - what to be in and out as soon as possible. Have two young children to organise.
I am hoping my surgeon will be able to give me some idea of my chemo on wednesday. Although I think my oncologist appointment will be the week after. Have been told that providing wounds healing well will start chemo end October.
We may be having chemo the same time. Not sure what type yet it will depend on my results wednesday.
Have managed to get onto a look good feel course for the end of the month - so looking forward to that, but know what you mean about meeting other people going through the same.
I will have to ask about any other courses - want to do whatever I can.
Just wondering how you are getting on - and wish you luck for Wednesday with your results and getting the dressings removed also. I am going to go in on Wednesday too so I can get some fluid removed that has built up on my lower back and am hoping the breast nurse will remove my dressings also. I was told my results won’t be ready until 12th but I am happy to be ignorant of them until I get to see the consultant - just don’t want to have to think about it for a while which I suppose is stupid because unfortunately it isn’t gong to go away.
Glad you have got on to one of the ‘Look Good, Feel Good’ courses - I think it will really help - my husband works away for two weeks every month and I was in my second week of a new job when I was diagnosed and I gave that up straight away so I want to fill in some of the time with relaxation, yoga etc.
The children have got two weeks off school now which is lovely although they are at an age where as long as I feed them each day they are happy to be doing their own thing.
How did wednesday go?
I am really pleased with my surgery - scars healing well - had to have some fluid drained off as well - but only got about 15 mls.
Results show that i had dcis as well as invasive dc - ist lump was 3cm but that included all the dcis as well, but thankfully I went fot the big op as they found 1.5mm invasive dc quite away from orginal - this did not show up on any tests. Also 11 out of 28 lymph nodes were affected
Oncologist had cancellation so saw him Thursday - starting chemo Friday. Oh my!!!
Having 3 FEC and 3 tax. Then a month off and then 6 weeks rads.
Hi Gill (sorry I automatically type Anne sometimes)
I am so pleased your healing well - like you I had fluid drained but not a lot and I am going back on Monday to have it drained again and hopefully the shower proof plasters removed - for some reason the breast nurse left them on last week. Sometimes get a bit of back ache and some sharp pains that only last for a second but apart from that it seems to be going ok.
I hope all goes well with chemo - I am trying really hard to be positive about it and trying not to think about the down side. Have you seen the top tips for chemo, I mentioned them to someone on this site I was talking to but I loose track - anyway they are worth a read! I bought those travel bands for sickness not sure if they work but I thought I would give them a try and I got some ginger biscuits - they will come in handy even if I don’t feel sick Have you got any head gear organised in case you loose your hair - I have always had quite dark eye bags and suspect I will look like uncle Fester if I loose my hair - but it is amazing what a bit of makeup can do?
How did you feel about your results - I should be able to get mine on Monday not sure what they will tell me - when they did the WLE they took a sample from another area of breast and found a 3mm lump totally separate from the 2cm IDC - not sure if it was also IDC.
Sometimes I completely forget about having cancer or maybe I am just getting used to it.
Did you get your results today - hope is was all ok.
I am trying to be positive about chemo - but dreading it. Have ordered some scarves today - not sure how it will look - usually cannot tolerate anything on my head - will have to see. Have an appointment for wig fitting to.
Had a bone scan today and awaiting full body ct - obviously looking for any other C. Could really do with a bit of goos news really.
Felt my results were ok - better than I thought - as I presented with arm pain - so was convinced that however manylymph nodes they removed - all would be affected. They took 29 in total (including snb) and 12 were affected - so quite a few - but taking this as a positive.
As for hair loss - i suppose at the mo - people who do not know me - know no different - but when the hair goes - everyone will know.
Any way enough of me, me, me.
How are you? when do you start chemo.
Take care, Love
Anne x
ps My user name is anne - did not want friends to look on this site and read my posts, but my actually name is Gill. Do not mind what you use. x
I was at the hospital today and all went well they drained a bit from my back and removed plasters and it is all healing well - wasn’t sure how I would feel about the look of the breast but it looks fine and the shape is lovely - what a pity you don’t get to keep the nipple and areola - but I think I will go ahead and get a new nipple and the tattoo done the breast nurse said they look really good. Results were that apart from the main 2cm IDC and the 3mm they found at the WLE there was more throughout the breast but it was DCIS. Won’t know when I start chemo until I get my appointment with my consultant - I think it is 26th.
Anyhow, it is good that you are feeling positive - I think being positive makes all the difference!
Do your children know about the possibility of you losing your hair - it is amazing the way young children accept things - I suspect my teenagers will not go out in public with me if I go bald. Celebs all seem to be wearing scarves and bandanas just now so very soon we will be the height of fashion - but joking aside I think no matter how prepared we may be it will still come as a huge shock but after what we have already been through we will cope purely because there is no other alternative.
It is good that they are checking you out thoroughly with the scans and I hope all the results are good. I hope you have plenty of help lined up for during the chemo seemingly even if you get no side effects you can be tired and need to rest - I have a sister who lives close by and she is great to have around.
Started typying this this morning - he phone has not stopped ringing.
Glad you are pleased with surgery - me too - isn’t amazing what they can do. Your Cancer sounds a bit like mine. Did you have any lymph node involvement?
Still awaiting for the appointment time for Friday - have spent today chasing. Apparently Consultant always does this - gives us the dates then hopes it will sort itself out. No-one at the chemo suite new anything about it. Trying to emphasis the need to know as have both childcare and transport to arrange - as still not driving. Mind you do not think I would drive post chemo anyway. The hosp. I have to go to for chemo is about 50 mins away - so really do need to know these things.
Bloods booked for early tomorrow am - do not want them taken if not starting chemo friday.
Just making a stressful time more stressful -I think when this week is sorted - the others will fall into place as hoping I can pre-book the arrangements. Never having had chemo before not sure on how things work.
Yes, both children now about the hair loss and are coming to choose my wig next week - my daughter wants me to get a bright pink one!!!my son a blue one!!!. I have to say i think my age children are probably the most resilent they just take it in their stride. My 3 year old has been very naughty for me - but no-one else but suspect that is his way of punishing me for being away and not doing all the fun stuff we usually do.
How old are your children - I seem to remember teenagers (have a terrible problem with memory since diagnosis - used to excellent!!!0
Unfortunetly my family do not live near by - but havve had many offers of help - will have to learn to ask for help. (find that difficult).
Before I start if I waffle it is only because I was a typist so apologies for the waffling.
I had twelve lymph nodes removed and only 1 affected - when I was speaking to the breast nurse the other day I got her to go over my cancer with me again and it was Grade 3, Stage 2 IDC and DCIS - oestrogen and progesterone positive. The lump that I found didn’t show up at all on the mammogram and after finding out how widespread the cancer was I worry about the ‘good’ boob. I had two lumps removed from my good boob when I was 16 and they were benign - you would have thought the cancer would have had the decency to invade the boob that already had scars!!
I hope your consultant and the chemo suite get their act together it must be difficult getting things organised at short notice and you have a fair way to travel. Do you have to travel to the hospital to get your blood done the day before your chemo?
I think it would only be right to please both of the children and have the wig half pink and half blue!!! My children are 11 (son) and daughter is 15. I still feel quite tired sometimes - it must be quite hard going having younger children to entertain if you feel tired or emotional. It must be hard if your 3 year old decides to not to play ball - parenting can be quite a guilt trip sometimes and it doesn’t change when they get older.
I would definitely keep an open mind about asking for help - sometimes friends feel quite helpless in all this and to be able to help in a practical way probably helps them as well as you - and if you are having a bad day it will hopefully take the pressure off.
Well, everything came together. MAnaged to get bloods done at local hospital - then went to the oncology centre. Loads of waiting around but got my chemo at about 1300 - after being their since 0930. Had fec - need 3 of these then 3 tax. Do not feel half as bad as I,thought I would. Feel very tired but manageable - sickeness seems tobe kept at bay with meds, the worst thing at the moment is my mouth - all drinks taste foul and have a metallic taste in my mouth all the time. Food tastes ok - but can not prepare it or cook it. Whether I am in for worse over next few days will have to wait and see.
Not sure about the half and half wig!!! I think sometimes having younger children may be easier - they only want to know the basics - although energy can be an issue. Managed a nice work to the park today - it was lovely.
How are you doing? Hope you have a lovely week- end - rest and relax.
I am so glad your chemo went well - the waiting around seems to be par for the course. I got an oncology appointment through for a week on Tuesday - I just want to get it started and then the fear will go away.
One of the things the breast nurse said was that it is good to get some sun before, during and after chemo - so getting out in the fresh air is a really good idea.
Are there any do’s and dont’s during chemo - I was thinking specifically about red wine!!!
Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend, speak to you during the week.
Haven’t heard from you for a couple of days - I hope things are going well with the chemo - we had lovely sunshine up here today hope your getting the good weather too! I went to the first ‘Look Good, Feel Good’ today and was suprised to see 4 ladies that I knew - met a lot of lovely ladies - damn disease.
Chemo is not as bad as I imagined although feeling rough today and yesterday. Feel like I have the flu. The meds seem to keep the sickness at bay - but wonder if I have done too much. Kids on half term so have been busy.
Glad your course went well, I am doing one next week. Got my wig -went for something different.
Re chemo - I was told to ensure I washed all fruit and veg properly and make sure things were cooked well - apart from that - nothing.
When do you think you will be starting chemo. Their seems to be a few of us this month.
Will be of-line for a few days as off to my mums for some looking after. Have a great week - the weather has been good so far.
Feel great - lots of rest obviously helped - managed some xmas shopping today. How did you get on at the oncoolgists? When do you start chemo - and what type.
There seems to be several of us just starting or about to start chemo - we will be able to keep each other company - and make use of any handy tips.
I used Kellys handy tips and they have been great.
I love my wig - it is very different to my usual - so have decided to make use of being able to do a radical change (not sure will feel like this when hair actually starts falling out1)
Are you feeling better - I think are whole perspective on life has changed and many simple comments can be hurtful - we are at a very vulnerable place. Keep your chin up.
Before I forget have you seen the thread ‘Insensitive or what?’ it is so funny and worth a look.
Glad your weekend went well - the rest will no doubt do you the world of good - how brave of you to start Xmas shopping - but with two wee ones I guess you have no choice but to be on top of things - Santa has to come regardless! How are you feeling now after your first FEC?
Had my onc. appointment today and it went really well I start next Tuesday and it is 6 FEC - I asked why no tax and they said because their was only one node involved - still trying to get my head round this - all the research seems to say combination of both is better and I think I will talk to her again to put my mind at ease.
Got my prescription for a wig today - did you get a wig with a different style or colour to your norm or both? I was wondering if you get fitted before or after hair loss but you already have your wig so that answers my question.
I still feel emotional at times - OH is away for two weeks so I think I just miss his emotional support and the children have been back at school this week. Plus my daughter and me are not as we were before - it is hard to explain but I think she feels left out and angry about it all - she wanted to come to my first chemo but I don’t know how brave I will be and I don’t want to put her in that position so I asked if she would keep me company for the second one - we have always had a really close relationship so this is really hard and I don’t for one moment know how she must be feeling.
I hope if/when hair loss happens it is not too traumatic - sorry I should know what to say but I can’t imagine how it will feel but my thoughts are with you.
It will be really good to see how all the other girls starting chemo are getting on - I have said it before but this site is a great help.