Sorry you’re suffering…it’s probably the worst part and very miserable. I had a mx and immediate DIEP recon and had lots of bits to worry about…didn’t know what to do to make it more comfortable. I got an infection in my boob and a Seroma though people didn’t use the word or do anything about it. It felt like a hot Cornish pastie under my arm, as you say, an extra boob. putting a rolled soft flannel under my arm seemed to help a bit…I admit I also used a cold bottle of coke which I rolled against the swollen hot bit as it seemed to help.
The last thing I felt like was the exercises, but the more I did, the more it seems to help relieve the discomfort and reduce the seroma. A BCN also suggested I massaged my arm, the side of my back and up to my shoulder upwards in small circles using moisturiser. This seemed to help the numbness too. Maybe this might be of help to you?
Maybe one of these ideas might bring some comfort…it seems never ending at the time but it will get better…best of luck,
Nonsuch xx
thankyou nonsuch i will give your ideas a try still the same this morning although my son brought me a sports bra yesterday so i have that on but not doing much good.whether im uncomfortable or not im going for a walk today dont think i can stand another full day in lying around. i diid read that activies can make the fluid build up more is this true. ive been sitting around for over a week now grrrrrr.
hope your feeling ok nonsuch and thankyou again for your advice hugs jane xxx
Hi Cackles, results are good:::)CT scan showed no evidence of cancer 16 lymph nodes removed all of which were free of cancer. Got rads on the first of March.
hi all still full of fluid girls desnt seem to want to go its feeling tight and uncomfortable.why does t go tight like this. im having second thoughts about chemo now dont think i can handle it. i see my con on thursday with results from the op i know im her2 pos and its lobular grade 2 she said it was between 2 and 4 in size.
i,ll take rads and tabs for five years but i dont want the chemo.
im terrified of it really terrified.
i hate all this wheres is my life xxx
Just to say that I know at times it does all get too much, but the pain etc after mx does settle down and you do get back to normal eventually. Chemo is not as scary as you imagine, and they can give you meds for any side effects, you just have to keep asking. I had several times when I felt like giving up treatment, but somehow you do find the strength to carry on and you can get to the end. I had lumpectomy last march, chemo, double mastectomy end of September then rads until December, so am now 3 months from end of treatment. I am back at work full time and feel fine, hair growing etc. It is a long, hard road but you will get to the end. Lots and lots of love, hugs and whatever you need
Rachel x
morning girls i recieved my results from op yesterday and the size went from what was thought as between 2 and 4 cm and it was actually 9cm. mine is lobular and are her2 neg. im told i have to go for bone and body scan now is this usual. ive read that the size of it is of concern as my onc said im now high risk… high risk what does this mean. you mean to ask so many questions but do miss some.
is there anyone who,s have been as large as mine being lobular. when i went yesterday i was going to refuse chemo as im terrified of it but i have 5 lymph nodes involved so thats not an option.
ive been reading about bone mets but dont quite understand what this all means.
im scared girls help jane xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Hi Janeypaney,
I know it’s a really scary time right now. I was in the same place as you a year ago and I wish I could give you a big hug as I can really understand how you’re feeling. The scans you will have are routine. I think when lymph nodes are positive, scans are done. I didn’t have lobular, I had ductal but the size of mine was bigger than the initial scans showed. They initially though 5.5 cm but it was 7.6 and I also had 9.6 DCIS. So it was massive what they took. They tried to save my breast but I had to have a mastectomy in July and all of my nodes taken. I actually started chemo In Feb 2011 So 1 year on, I’m back at work full time and getting back to normal. The last year was hard but I got through it! I remember when I was first diagnosed, my consultant said to me it’s not going to be a nice year but you need to go through this so you can have the rest of your life! Abd i krot telling myself that. I was terrified of chemo too and buried my head in the sand about it until it actually happened. It wasn’t easy but not nearly as bad as I thought. There are some ladies that manage to work all the way through it (I worked about 1 week out of 3). You’ll get medications to help with the side effects. The nurses said that if I was suffering with side effects, they weren’t doing their job properly!
I also had fluid build up after my mx too. My surgeon didn’t use drains either. It felt like a squishy hot water bottle and I could hear it sloshing when I moved. I think you’re body has to learn how to drain away the fluid. It did settle down, I think it took about 3 weeks.
I’m thinking of you and sending you lots of hugs and positive vibes xxxx
Hi janeypaney, mine tumour was 7.7cm not as large ad yours but also lobular, i have 1 node affected.I have my chemo assement on monday but still have a big seroma being drained every few days so they won’t start the chemo until this had gone.
I was like you really scrared about the chemo and didn’t want it byt don’t really have a choice if i want to get well.will let you know how i get on on monday but have to go again today for my seroma, its really gtetting me down now.
Have a great weekend and try not to worry, we are in the same boat so we can rant together debbie xx
thanks lisa and mollie for your posts every morning i get up now i feel low im not coping very well with this at all im scared of the next scans… my seroma again is tight today and doesnt seem to be going down at all.i just keep thinkig to myself im not taking the chemo but i know i have too. its a beautiful sunny morning this morning and think back to the times ive sat in the garden feeling normal.ive been following the february threads on the girls who have started there treatments and think crikey i dont think im strong enough to do it.im ashamed to say im a smoker still but the more i try to cut down to stop the more i smoke i feel so scared and down most of the time.mollie and lisa perhaps we can exchange mobile numbers and we could tex each other.
i feel like just running away from it all and pretend it never happened but where would that leave me… my con said i dont have to take chemo its my decision but being high risk whatever that means its strongly recommended. i wonder if there are people out there who had lymph nodes involved and didnt take chemo it would be an interesting read. i hope you are both ok and are feeling strong i send my love to you both xxxxxxxxxxx jane
Hi janeypaney, i know how you feel, i have got my oncologist appointment tomorrow and am really scaed.I know i have to have it but don’t want to.My seroma is still huge having it drained again tomorrow, just counted that will be the 9th time.We can get through this together i will pm you my mobile number.I saw my daughter and grandson yesterday and oliver is making me a bit stronger, he has just started walkiing and tros over and puts out his arms for me to pick him up, he then gives you a lovely slobbery kiss. Don’t feel to down the sun is out.Iwill let you kmow how i get on tomorrow debbie x