Last week was my 9 year anniversary of being diagnosed as stage 4, ER positive HER positive. I am so absolutely grateful for all the care I’ve received from family, friends and the NHS.
I am now starting my next battle: two new tumours in my left breast that are not responding to treatment whilst all other mets are well under control. Surgery is on 13 Feb and I wonder if anyone can give me some advice, hints, tips about how to prepare for and recover from surgery. Not sure if it will be lumpectomy or mastectomy yet.
I’ve booked 2 weeks of sick leave (admin job) but is there more I can do, prepare for?
Yes Liz - extend that sick leave. You will be given loads of exercises to do from the start but the knock-on effect rather than the surgery itself can be difficult: shoulder muscles, arm muscles, hand movements… You may of course be one of the lucky ones who just bounce back from surgery but best to be prepared. Driving isn’t wise until you’ve full control of those muscles again.
Is there any suggestion they might remove lymph nodes? If so, be ready for a drain you will need to carry round for days. Some hospitals provide carry bags, I had to improvise a papoose with a scarf but the first day when my brain was mush, the battle with the bottle was hilarious!
Have button front tops and pjs. You don’t want to be raising your arms too often initially. I borrowed a couple of my husband’s softer shirts and lived in them for two weeks. Similarly, keep all your clothing simple - pull on joggers, cosy socks etc, nothing that will require too much faffing when you are trying to minimise discomfort.
I had a mastectomy and full axillary clearance. Tbh, I didn’t experience much pain. I didn’t need painkillers but it’s a good idea to stock up just in case. And those exercises, daft though they feel are essential - 4 years on and I still need to do them or my shoulder and arm seize up (that’s not a common result btw).
Unless you live with a good cook, I would stock up on frozen ready meals for the first week at least. Think about things with a short fridge life and get in alternatives (some long-life milk, for example) so you don’t need to go out shopping for basics. And remember the extra painkillers!
Congratulations on your anniversary. It’s encouraging for people like me, just coming up to my 2nd, to see people managing the condition so successfully. I hope the surgery goes smoothly and helps resolve the recurrence.
I had a lumpectomy in one breast back in 2017 which needed two surgeries as margin’s weren’t clear and like many others have said comfy tops that don’t need you to raise your arms, I went out for gentle walks by day two post surgery, drove my car again by day 7, but not too far. Once surgery site was less sore I wore a soft seamless bra top which I put on by pulling upto my waist rather than over head. Wore soft button front shirts. I had a month off work doing very little apart from dog walks and bought ready made foods. Friends helped out with cleaning- hurray
Delighted to hear you are year 9 as I’ve just been rediagnosed with bone mets in lower spine and femur, er+ Small cancer lesions in both boobs too and on letrozole ribaciclib and will get bone strengtheners…
I sincerely hope you will be fine and avoid heavy lifting, stretch arms carefully and keep warm xx