Hi Ginny, i finally got my full Oncotype results today 13 and 7 - so no chemo. Thank goodness.
The MDT team did say I’d need radiotherapy on the right chest area and either a full Auxillary clearance or radiotherapy to treat the underarm area. They said both would be as effective.
Its been the toughest choice to make and ive selected the radiotherapy. The reason ive chosen this is the possible sideeffects of the ALND. And also if i need radiotherapy to the chest i may as well extend this to the underarm area.
It does mean that i wont know how many other positive nodes there are. So i am going to organise a full body CT scan privately - to check it hasnt spread.
These choices are incredibly difficult to make.
Wishing you the very best for Wednesday xx
Hi springer, I fully understand your decision- it’s just a shame we have to pay to get a CT scan for peace of mind , it really shouldn’t be that way!
I’ll let you know how I get on after the surgery.
Take care and all the best going forward x
Hi Ginny, hope that the Op went well and that your not too sore xx
Hi springer,
Yes op seemed to go well, I have full range of movement in my arm , only taking paracetamol and ibuprofen today , will have a codeine tonight before bed. Not really in any pain , so a lot better than i expected. I do feel a sense of relief that they are out!
How are you ? Have you booked a CT scan ?
Xx
Oh wow Ginny thats great. I’ve still not got full range of movement since my mastectomy. I hope that you keep making such good progress.
Im okay thanks, feeling so much more positive since getting the Oncotype test result.
I called re a CT scan, and i need to get my consultant to refer me. I’ve a telephone appt on Monday, so will ask then. Hopefully, it won’t be a problem.
Take care and rest up x
Hi Ginnylizzy,
Really pleased to hear you’re out the other side from the op and not in pain. I get the sense of relief that they’re out! 
Hope you continue to recover well. Take care.
xxx
Hello - did you manage to organise your ct scan ?
I’m doing okay still , think the nerves are starting to make connections with the burning type pains . I’ve still got full mobility
Hope your okay xx
Hi Ginny, sorry to hear youve had some nerve pain, hope it settles soon. How long have you got to wait for your results?
I had a PET-CT scan today, now just with you in the waiting zone xx
Hi springer,
Glad you managed to arrange the scan , did you have to go private in the end? Presume that kind of scan is diagnostic??? I’m interested to know , as I may do the same .
Hope you’re still feeling well, let me know how you get on.
I’m feeling fine, just numbness and tingling nerve pains mainly down the back of my arm, but not stopping me from cooking or decorating the Christmas tree 
.
I’m obviously still off work, and I do miss it, but know now is not the time to go back yet.
Take care x
Thank you , hope you’re well too Joy xx
Hi Ginny, i am lucky to have private health insurance with my job and was able to organise the scan through that. It was a full body scan. My consultant said id need to completely swop to private to have the scan (she works in private aswell). I felt unsure as the NHS is so good and i think more equipped for the operations.
But as i felt strongly about having the scan and my NHS appt to see the oncologist re radiotherapy isnt until jan, i thought it best to swop over. Jan seemed just too far away to wait.
I think it’s def right for you not to go back to work yet. It’s not been long since your op.
Christmas is a nice distraction, weve put up out decs too. What have you been cooking, mince pies?
Keep taking it easy, I’ll let you know once i get my scan results x
Hi Ginny, How are you doing? Have you had the pathology results yet from the auxiliary clearance? X
Hi springer , I’m okay thank you. I’m still waiting for pathology results …… it’s mentally exhausting actually.
I had to have my axilla drained last week due to seroma (build up of fluid around the incision site). Which apparently is not uncommon, it was a painless experience.
My arm mobility is relatively good , just feels a little tight inside when I stretch the arm above my head, like an elastic band may snap inside !!!
How are you ? Have you had results from the CT scan , presume you will be commencing radiotherapy soon ?
Take care xx
Hi Ginnie, it is so tough waiting for the results, I really hope that you dont have to wait too much longer.
I had a seroma, which was drained a few time until it eventually stopped refilling.
My scan results were all okay, and im due to start radiotherapy in Jan.
Ive now got 4 Oncotype results back 13, 11, 7 and 18. It took a long time for them to come in. Trying not to doubt my choices!
Wishing you the best xx
Hi springer, how are you? It’s so hard having to make that choice and I think as humans we do doubt our choices sometimes. I did not realise you had 4 separate tumours !!! But good they all came back with low ONCO score!
I’m still waiting for results……but trying to not let it consume me, and enjoy Christmas, but it’s still there in my mind, no matter how hard I try…
I will let you know. I’m healing well with no further drainage needed, though it still looks slightly ‘fluidy’ . Mobility is good and I’m not taking any painkillers now.
Hope you have a lovely Christmas
Take care xx
Hi Ginny, thank you I hope you are enjoying your Christmas.
Yes 4 tumours was a shock, honestly i am struggling to come to terms with the double mastectomy. Im trying to be grateful it was all found and removed.
I thought my seroma had finally resolved but on 27th i woke up soaked in fluid, my left breast is leaking (through a sore). I managed to see my doc, who thinks that side may be failing again. Part of the skin is stuck down, and part of it is very red Im going to see a plastic surgeon who will be able to say if the skin / implant can be saved with a further op or if i need it removed.
I knew implants came with risk, i just didnt want to be flat or lop-sided .
The right implant is ok at the mo, but thats the side they will do the radiotherapy on, which may affect it.
They are going to do radiotherapy on the right chest/auxiliary and neck area- 3 weeks starting on 6th jan.
Sorry not feeling at all positive at the mo.
Its really good you still have good mobility and hope you dont have to wait too much longer for your results xx
Hi springer,
I’m so sorry you’re still having issues…… before Christmas you sounded quite optimistic, but I can tell you’re struggling and I’m not surprised, it’s all so emotionally draining. It’s like we go 1 step forward then 2 steps back at times!!
I’m still waiting for results, it will be 5 weeks this coming Wednesday!!
I had implants fitted 8 years ago , before all of this, for cosmetic reasons, and they managed to take out the tumour and keep the implant in situ.
I have decided I want them removed anyway, and the reason is, every time I go for a mammogram they ask you to sign a waiver form stating that they are unable to view all the breast tissue with implants!! I know I won’t be happy until they are gone!! Also when I have radiotherapy it can cause capsular contracture.
I went to see my surgeon who fitted the implants privately and he did say capsular contracture would definitely occur.
I’m just scared there may be another tumour hiding under the implant that I cannot feel. My implants were placed above the muscle! When I mentioned this to him, I’m sure he thought I was being neurotic!!
Sending positive thoughts your way and big hug 
Thanks Ginny, I am finding it difficult. I start radiotherapy on Monday and have a wellbeing appt first, i hope it will be good to talk to someone.
5 weeks is just too long, the waiting is so tough i really think the NHS needs to improve that, the impact of not knowing is such a stressful time.
I didnt realise that implants affected the mammogram, so i completely understand why you’d have them removed. I won’t have mammograms as all my breast tissue has been removed, i just get to “self check”
The worry of that is intense, my negative outlook at the moment is not good, i feel sure i will get a reoccurrence, as i had so much cancer.
Are you starting hormone treatment? My doc has prescribed 10 years of tamoxifen, im just waiting for the prescription.
I really hope you get you results soon and that you keep healing well.
Take care ginny x
Hi springer,
I hope your appointment for radiotherapy went well ! I have finally had my results and guess what…….no further lymph nodes had cancer, I’m so relieved, so 1 out of a total of 17 had cancer.
I still feel I made the right choice for me because I’ve become a complete over 
thinker, and would always have been wondering.
So I am now being referred for radiotherapy and they also mentioned zolendronic acid infusions every 6 months for 3 years. I will be starting letrozole, but they said not to start until I’ve had the radiotherapy. I do hope your are well and have continued to heal.
Take care xx