Thanks @sarahl3 itās good to hear your experience. I told a lot of people yesterday so thatās a bit of a weight off.
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Hi your story could be mine! Iām 59 diagnosed stage 1 in October. Had wide local excision and SNLB on 29 Nov. Iād been on a 6 month get fit mission after retirement and lost weight so was actually feeling better than I had for years. I recovered very well from surgery. Do follow the advice and tips above - they all helped me. My breast wound and underarm have both healed well, exercises definitely helped. I have worn bra 24/7 as Iām heavy breasted and feel support is helping, I bought a couple from Cancer research site for softer option. Remember to moisturise scars when you can, I started after follow up consultation. I returned to my gym training today although no weights yet! It felt pretty good! Iāve found so far Iāve worried more than I needed to, feel very fortunate. Iām post menopausal, My biggest dread is side effects of tablets and not feeling like myself, not started them yet! Good Luck for 23rd
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@wee-emm thank you so much for sharing your story. Iāve been doing great really, had a couple of very tearful days last week but they felt like the pre-HRT days where my mood would plummet then Iād be fine next day.
I can feel the anxiety rising at the moment though as my brain is preparing for the plan to change as a result of the MRI. Of course it may not change and it might be fine but itās the lack of certainty.
Your story has really helped me feel positive about whatās going to happen and Iām using it to deflect me going down that mental rabbit hole.
Thank you and good luck with your fitnessā¦ btw how do you know what to do to build that back up? Does someone give you guidance? Iāve bought a book, moving through cancer, which I hope will provide guidance.
X
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Thank you just picked up,your book tips and put both on my Audible list. I asked at follow-up and was told exercise ok but just build slowly, so just doing that.
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@wee-emm let me know what you think of the books? I have one for info, one for anxiety and one for exercise and all 3 have been really useful so far.
I started reading the exercise one in the middle of the night and then did some strength training this pm. Itās a good feeling when you can take control of something at the moment
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Hello, Iām new to the Forum, I just signed up today. Your message inspired me to write. I was diagnosed at the end of November and had surgery on the 27th December. I see my surgeon on Tuesday for results and next steps. Your message and the various replies youāve had to it, all resonate. I was frightened of having surgery having never had a general or operation before. The team on the day at the hospital could not have been more supportive. The breast care nurses at the hospital are wonderful ongoing too. Do you have support in that way as well? I have told a small number of carefully chosen friends and asked for their support s well. Iāve been specific on what Iād like from them. I read this as a piece of advice when asking others for support so those people know what you need and also what you donāt want. I received lots of messages on the morning of my surgery as a result a that helped me not to feel so scared. Iām finding the most challenging thing is the constant going from waiting for the next bit, the next piece of information, the next step in the process, etc. Thereās just a lot of not knowing and therefore feelings of being out of control. Iām learning to surrender and to just let it be, whatever it is, and Iām also focusing on enjoying each day in a way I havenāt before. I get it, that truth is, none of us know whatās around the corner and I can already see good things have already come from my diagnosis. I feel loved and supported and I also appreciate life is now and itās about not putting off things and enjoying my life in each and every moment (harder said than done sometimes). All that said, the emotional roller coast ride is tiring, thatās another thing Iāve noticed. It requires a lot of emotional energy to live through this. I donāt know if my words are of any value or any support to you, and thank you for sharing, it helps me feel not so alone and that there are others in this too. Wishing you well and all good wishes.
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Hi @clt1 and welcome. Im so glad you have joined and I feel honoured that your first post was a reply to mine. Youre absolutely right about the emotional energy, Im zonked by this time of day and Im goig to bed much earlier than I ever used to. Then Im not sleeping as much either, hey ho, Im just learning to ride with the punches.
My surgery is on 23 Jan. Had a big appointment yesterday with results of the MRI and various other tests. No new nasty surprises which is great and everythign moving forward as originally suggested. Im eligible for generic testing which is s double edged sword but glad I an know for sure eventually.
Yes, I have a lovely support in the nhs - Im under Bath RUH and they are amazing. Lots of appointments coming up but all good. I feel well supported.
I think one of the hardest things was telling people. I volunteer a lot and I have a whole āfamilyā there. I couldnt just disappear as Im always there but it meant telling a lot of people and keeping it really light and positive. Im not putting it on socialmedia and there are a lot of people Im not telling but Im also finding the general support to be absolutely lovely. Its helping keeping me positive.
I have to buy some front fastening PJs and new bras and probably just working out a little shopping list for stuff that would be useful.
How is your recovery going?
Im having a breast reduction surgery. The area is too big for a lumpectomy but they can do breast conserving surgery rather than a mastecotomy. I think the wait for the histology after surgery will be a tough one. Has it spread and if so how badly and have they got it all out - its quite a big one for news! Good luck, Iāll send warm fuzzies to you.
Good to know the experience wasnāt as bad as you feared and you had lots of support. Ive not had surgery before so its a little daunting for sure.
Thanks, Kath x
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It feels really nice to chat here with you 
Thank you again for sharing. My recovery is going really well too, thank you for asking. I wasnāt in much pain at all afterwards, and apart from the emotional exhaustion with all the uncertainty, I think Iām bearing up pretty well in the circumstances. I bought some super, really soft front fastening bras and have button front pjs which Iām enjoying being cosy in. The bras are wonderful and comforting, especially at night. They help keep my breast from moving too much which means Iām not experiencing any pulling on the wound. Also, I only took my dressing off a couple of days ago and am surprised by my response to what my breast looks like. I feel enormous tenderness towards myself and feel inspired to really nourish and take care if myself in everyway, physically, emotionally, mentally, whatever it takes really. Iām cheering you on and wishing you all good wishes xxx
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Oh wow @clt1 what a lovely reaction to have afterwards. I think this must be a really special journey we must go on with ourselves. Not one weād choose of course but as we have no choice in it happening maybe we have some choice about how we handle it.
Jury is still out on that a little bit but Iām rather surprising myself at my resilience to the diagnosis that took my mother and the cancer in general that took my father.
Where did you get your bras? I need to buy some.
Virtually all my tops are pull ins so I need to buy some zip/button up stuff.
Which operation did you have? I keep looking at my poorly boobie and thinking sheās got no idea whatās about to happen. It feels a bit weird that something so traumatic is about to happen to something that looks quite happy on the outside and doesnāt even hurt on the inside. But I know itās there and it needs to go. So in the bin it will go !
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What you say resonates. I felt the same before my op, about my breast. The strange and unexpected thing, is that post op, I have more affection for it, for myself <3 I agree, in terms of choice in how we respond. Itās a ābiggieā for sure, in terms of life experiences, and I choose to think there are gifts in everything, so Iām on the look out for all the beauty that is there in this too. My bras are from my local lingerie shop. They are a brand called āAnitaā. The lady in my local shop ordered them in for me. You may be able to get them online too of course. My op was a lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy. I may need more surgery and/or radiotherapy and my surgeon will give me more news and the next steps on Tuesday. Itās weird, normally I have instincts about what is coming, and I just donāt about this. It was a complete shock to receive the diagnosis after a routine mammogram and subsequent follow up check and biopsy. There was no lump to feel, and like you, my breast looked normal xxx
Moving through Cancer is very interesting! Definitely motivates me to keep exercising through treatment. The strength work is very similar to what I was doing previously albeit I will need to adjust weights to suit op recovery over the next few months. Interestingly Iāve been doing light boxing this week and arm/breast feeling ok, not combat just pads work haha. Iām going to ask my trainer to have a look at the website and logs so we can customise and use them through radiotherapy and onto hormone therapy. I already try to keep protein intake high although Iām a bit of a sweet tooth! Protein yogurts and protein choc bars are a godsend! etc I wonder if there is an exercise topic on forums we could join. Thanks for recommending. Hope youāre doing ok, I have Oncology appt 21st to plan Radiotherapy etc.
Just seeing your shopping list the Cancer Research UK bras are worth a look, comfortable (Iām 36G) a bit of support for sleeping in.