Hi Im 69 and found out in August I had bc after a routine mammogram at end of July .
I had lumpectomy on 6th Sept and 3 negative lymph glands removed as well . I felt great after -didnt affect me at all-full of bounce -kept forgetting I wasnt supposed to lift etc with my left arm .
BUT I have been taking Arimidex for 5 weeks now and my joints have been getting worse and worse day by day . I also had my thyroxine dose increased and had to stop taking HRT all in such a short space of time so I expect its a mixture of all these thats making me feel so blearh
I certainly havent got much bounce at the moment !!
I start Rads next week - Ive been told for 3 weeks or so . My husband plans to take me -but he is 77 and has had 2 heart attacks in the last couple of years so im more worried about him than me really
Sorry Ive gone on a bit but youll all have to forgive me as its my first post . ( and Im not au fait with all the abbreviations )
I’m 53 and was diagnosed with a 4cm invasive ER+ ductal cancer in August. I had node sampling, and fortunately they were clear. I’m trying to avoid a mastectomy, so currently taking Femara/Letrozole and also having Zoladex injections (I was almost post-menopausal) to try and shrink it.
I feel like I am in limbo at the moment, waiting for the tumour to (hopefully) shrink. I am not well enough to work at the moment, mainly because of the side effects of fatigue and aching and weak muscles. I can put up with this until my operation, but I really hope it improves afterwards as I am likely to be on hormones for 5 years, and I want to go back to work. I’m just so glad that I seem ok with driving, so it means I can get out under my own steam.
I have a daughter (23), who lives only a short drive away, a son (21) still at home and my husband. They are all a great support. My parents, despite their age and various health problems, are also wonderful; my mum helps me with the gardening and some of the housework and my dad drives me to hospital appointments as it’s so difficult to park. I am very thankful that I have so much support and do not think I could cope without it.
I was diagnosed at 53 in May 2008 with DCIS. Had mastectomy and reconstruction. Sample of 5 lymph nodes removed during the first op showed cancer spread. Another clearance op discovered a further 8 infected nodes. Travelled the chemo road and had 15 radiotheraphy treatments Finished the herceptin treatment in Dec 2009 after starting it Oct 2008 with a break of 3 months inbetween because of heart problems. First mammogram Jan 2009 was clear and I have now started having lipo fill on the reconstruction and during the first op I got a new nipple. I am aware that the lippo fill procedures can take a few attempts to make the breast look ‘normal’ but I was fortunate as the surgeon also uplifted the good breast. I am going to see the plastic surgeon tomorrow to for the first time since the op to see what happens next. I went through the menopause in my late thirties and took HRT for a number of years. This I blame for my B.C.
Lyn
Greetings to all the Golden Oldies!
I’m looking for some words of wisdom and advice. I’ve read many of the posts on several threads and can’t quite find what I’m looking for. BCN’s are always busy and I thought it might be best to get the info from those of you who have first hand experience. I will be having my surgery (WLE & axillary clearance) on Dec 3rd and would like to know what is the best /most comfortable, clothing to wear. How do you accommodate drains? If you go home with drains who removes them- do you go back to the hospital or does the district nurse visit? At what point do you wear a bra again? What is the most comfortable clothing post op? Any advice would be gratefully received.
This really is a great thread Janet thanks for starting it. Hope you have your results and that all was well.
Thanks Diana
morning to all, i have been reading the threads this morning reading how all our lives have been affected by cancer and then after watching denise charity trek last night .i have used a few tissues this morning we are all beautiful strong women ,and we all need and deserve a big hug.it is good to have this thread to talk to people who are sharing the same worries, well im off now, my daughters coming taking
me to get sports bra heard they are more comfy.
hi jaybee46 good luck with results hope you get the phone call soon and dont loose to much sleep
hi saffronseed you asked for comments on reconstruction i have decided not to have one because of my seroma and lymphoedema i miss my breast but slowly getting used to the new me.
hello AndieT
sorry to hear about husband developing epilepsy it is extra stress but just to say i developed epilepsy, i am on right medication now plus fit free hope this helps
hello JoJo11
i hope you get good results the waiting is always the worst i go for a mammogram and scan on monday 8th n0v then i will have the wait, its all the waiting for results that frustrating missmessyx
hello ragamuffin our post crossed i had mx came out with drains on 12th nov went back to hospital on 16th nov to have it removed they gave me a softie and told me to wear bra as soon as i could the surport helps with swelling i wore baggy night gowns and baggy shirts with wide arms for comfort,but every hospital is different good luck missmessyx
Like missmessy I found loose baggy button down the front tops the best, both in pj’s in hospital and blouses when I came home. I came out of hospital with 3 drains and they were removed by the hospital discharge team when they visited me at home. It depends how much is draining how quickly they are removed.
I was given softies while still in hospital and told to be comfortable. I stuck with cami type tops initially and they worked fine for me. I really think its a case of go with what’s comfortable for you.
Hi I’m 56 amd just been diagnosed. I had a mx and lympth node clearance on Tues. Get results on the 11th. The past 2 weeks have been a whirlwind. Emotions up and down as we live abroad and thousands of miles from the family.
Telling them was the hardest part but once that was over i could just concentrate on me.
Ragamuffin sitting here with my little bag with the drains in them. Its amazing how you get used to them. Had to change bed sides with hubby so they could go on the floor, but that the only hassle except getting showered. lol Weird because I sometimes get up and forget to lift them. The doctor will remove them when the time comes. Im wearing blouses post op as I found them easier to get off and on.Got an elastic bandage on just now but the stitches come out on 8th and I am going to wear a sports bra for a few days, I’m in Thailand and finding it hard to get things.
But will survive.
Next hurdle will be when all the dressings come off and I get a good look at myself. Just saw bits and bobs. Really not caring now what it looks like. The tumour has gone and that is the priority.
Next step results and treatment. so will be back looking for advise going through that
take care all
Stella-just a quickie but regarding taxotere-I had 4xtax after 4x fec in 2006 and it was very hard but I dont regret it for a moment.At least I didnt feel sick with it but had extreme fatigue and breathlessness.The best advice I can give is just rest,drink fizzy water and accept that it is the current gold standard of bc treatment for more difficult bc.
Re drains I had 2 nights in hospital after wle because they wouldnt let me go till the drainage decreased-eventually drains were removed in hospital.
This thread is going to keep me posting I think :)I had almost stopped.
Valxx
Hi everyone,
I am 54 and am having my surgery (WLE & axillary clearance) on Monday so interested to read about the drains. I don’t really like wearing baggy stuff, so will need to shop an ill wind … I have already been in for one WLE for DCIS about 3 weeks ago and still have swollen boob to show for it and during this operation they discovered invasive breast cancer. My hospital does nearly everything as day surgery and I have to put my own local anaesthetic. Has anyone else done this and am worried about not doing it right. I don’t want to have to be peeled off the ceiling!
Hi Diana
Just to say that I bought some Pyjamas with buttoned fronts from Primark (cheap and cheerful) and they did the job
I came out of hospital after 5 days with the drain in. The District nurse came the following day to empty the drain and then I went to the Hospital the next day to have the drain taken out. I am now having to see the BCN to have a Seroma drained but this is not at all painful
Best wishes to everyone
Janet
I found the Tax very difficult. The mouth ulcers, the body aches and my skin on my hands and feet going red then peeling off were the worse side effects. Having said that the time did pass very quickly. I was not up to going out so I found things to do to pass the time, the best thing I found was an on-line British Sign Language course. I loved doing the course, you get to print off a certificate on completion. I loved showing the family my new found skills.
Greetings Again Golden Oldies
I knew I was asking the right people!
Thank you Janet, Andie, Missmessy and Soi for your advice re clothing and drains etc. I wasn’t exactly anxious, but I didn’t want any nasty little surprises. I know that’s not being very realistic because there are bound to be some but if I can I’d like to prepare for those that I can find out about. Adventuring into the unknown is not my forte. A pyjama hunt will be on the agenda.
Keep smiling everyone - Diana
PS 'scuse my ignorance but what are “softies” - been living out of the UK for more decades than I care to say!
Hi
Softies is the name of the soft prosthesis that will give you for the first few weeks after your op. It is like a small cushion. Take in a soft sleep bra to come home in with your softie. You can get then easily off the internet. Get one with a pocket in it to put the softie in.
I agree with the other ladies that pjs that button up down the front are the best to go into hospital with. Also don’t forget the “slipper bag” to put the drain bottles in to make it easier to get around
Hi ladies,
I posted a comment about an hour ago and it seems to have disappeared into the ether.
Thanks Val and Marian. I know TAX is gold standard and very expensive and I’m grateful that they think it’s worth it. Did the aches and pains stop when the chemo finished? I’m just impatient to get back to my dancing. Good thing it’s winter and I can batten down the hatches. I will try to keep up my French on the internet while I’m missing my classes. The sign language thing sounds interesting, maybe I’ll try that.
TAX sounds very taxing - sorry!
The comments about clothing struck a chord with me. This is something I will have to adapt to.
For many years I have worn underwired t-shirt bras and spend most of the time in t-shirts, even for work. At home I don’t really mind what I wear, but when I go out, I don’t like wearing baggy clothes because they do not flatter my shape.
After my node sampling operation I found I couldn’t wear my usual bras or t-shirts, even after a week when I could lift up my arm enough, because they irritated me. I had to invest in baggier tops and different bras. I have found it difficult to find wireless bras without seams (so they don’t show under a t-shirt) and with straps wide enough apart so they don’t show at the neckline of many of my current t-shirts. As I am not back at work yet, I am getting away with things, but I feel I may have to buy a new set of clothes for when I do. But I find shopping exhausting at the moment.
When I finally have my operation (hopefully WLE) early next year, I expect my already smaller boob will be even smaller, so who knows what I will be able to wear. I think I may end up having to permanently wear the “chicken fillet” insert I bought recently to try to even things out a bit.
I know in the grand scheme of things, it’s not much, but it is just something else to think about have to put up with.
Hi Bluebird,
I always wear fitted t-shirts and wired bras too and am also small boobed. Have you tried the M&S t-shirt bras as they don’t have seams and straps are fairly well spaced unless you have scoop necks t-shirts that is. Thanks for advise on drains. Have discovered stash of son’s cast off shirts, they are nice and baggy. I might try them to start with.
Hi Stella I only really had pain with first cycle-GP came to house and prescribed co-codamol and diclofenac to be taken alternately at 2 hour intervals and that sorted it.She told me that if I had tried the same regime with paracetamol and ibuprofen at first twinges I would probably have avoided the severe pain I had.
I also had a Neulasta jab after each infusion to cut down risk of neutropenia.
I still have a couple of lasting effects from tax[prob permanent after nearly 4 years].I have no eyebrows[or underarm hair]and I have slight peripheral neuropathy in my fingersand toes.No regrets though.
Thanks for the advice, I’ll ask the onc about it all and make sure I’m well armed with pain killers. Still got 2 more FEC to do first. No underarm hair is a bonus. I can cope with no eyebrows and slight neuropathy - I guess you get used to it. So long as I can dance and walk in the hills.
Hair coming out and shaving the rest off hasn’t upset me - I’d be pleased for it to stay that way, if son’s severe depression would improve - early days for that. OH is wonderful at supporting us both.
Is it standard to have the Neulasta jab after TAX? - several people seem to have mentioned it.
Stella x