I have started this topic on behalf of new user ceegra
Kind Regards
Sam
Moderator
Breast Cancer Care
hi all and jill,
i have just been to doc today and been diagnosed breat cancer
so we will go through it together
i,m new here too so a big hi to all
i go to hosp on the 12th feeling very scared at the mo
it is helping to read all the poss here
one thing do all BC get a mastectomy or is it all treated differantly
love to all
ceegra
Hi Ceegra
Sorry you have to join us but you will find lost of support on here.
There are a lot of ladies who are far more knowledgeable than me but I will answer you as best I can.
Not everyone has a mastectomy. Sometimes you can just have the lump removed and sometimes you can have chemotherapy to try and shrink the lump prior to surgery and hopefully have to have less radical surgery.
When you go to the hospital on the 12th I assume you will see the Surgeon and hopefully there will be a BCN there with him (Breast Care Nurse). If your Surgeon is like mine, he will explain things to you and you are able to discuss with him anything that you are worried about. The BCN’s are wonderful and you can ring them and get reassurance about anything that you may be worried about.
Depending on what results they have from your biopsy, they will then explain what other treatment (if any) you may need after surgery.
I know how worrying this time is but all the medical staff are wonderful. Put your trust in them and take everything that they offer as they all have your best interests at heart and they will get you through it. It is almost a year since I first started my journey through it and I finished all my treatment in April. We all know how you are feeling and we are all here to give you any support you may need. It doesn’t matter how trivial a question you may have, ask it here and someone will have an answer for you.
On Thursday nights between 9 and 10 p.m. there is a live chat on here where you can usually get an answer almost immediately and there is a Nurse on line who can usually either answer a question you may have or, if not, can point you in the right direction.
Good luck for the 12th and don’e forget to let us know how you get on.
Take Care
Knight
HI Ceegra,
Sorry you have had to join us.
I did not have a mastectomy i had a lumpectomy…I think there are alot of factors taken into consideration by surgeons before deciding on which surgery will be performed.
Your medical team or Breast care nurse should be able to tell you which surgery you will be having.
Feeling scared is very normal…I was petrified too…as were we all…there a lot of emotions you may experiance along the way.
You will however find a lot of support on this site.
Do keep in touch
take care
karen xx
hi geegra
i had a mastectmony an all my lymph nodes removed on the 6 june it all went ok very little pain bit of discomfort in my arm but if you do the exercises often it really does help i was only in hospital one night out the following tea time the way i got through it upto press is beenig positive an saying to myself be brave you can do this i back at hospital on tue for check up an hopefully a start date for my chemo take care an be strong wangs
Hi Ceegra
I put this on the other thread:
Hi Ceegra
No, not all bc’s get mastectomy a lot are ‘conservation’ surgery which keeps the majority of the breast. It depends on the size and the position of your tumour.
Good luck with your treatment, we are all here to give you lots of support.
Fuschia
xxxxx
Hi there,
I was in your situation a couple of weeks ago, i am sorry you find yourself here but you will get loads of support and you will get stronger each day i promise, i waited 13 days to see my consultant to discuss treatment, the hardest part is the waiting, dont be afraid to ring your breast care nurse with any questions or if something pops into your head write it down, when i saw my consultant yesterday i was quite prepared for what he told me, i go to hospital next week to have a marker inserted in my breast so they can keep a closer eye on my tumor and i start my 1st lot of chemo on friday, i am having chemo 1st to shrink the lump and hopefully stop the spread, having chemo 1st is the best treatment for my cancer, but please remember everyone is different and it doesnt always mean a masectomy and you must stay positive and please try not to worry, please keep me informed how you get on
big hugs to you
love galen x
Hi Ceegra,
sorry to hear of your diagnosis but I am glad you have found us here, we’re a v.friendly bunch! (If I don’t mind saying so myself!!). As you have prob already seen, some women have a mastectomy, others have lumpectomies. It really depends on many factors and individual docs I think. Also, many women have chemo before surgery whilst others have theirs afterwards. I was diagnosed on March 19th, aged 34, and had a right mastectomy and total axillary node clearance the following week on March 29th. I started chemo in May, after that I’ve got rads, hormones and Herceptin to look forward to!!
I wish you well for your op on the 12th. Mine was much better than I had anticipated and I recovered much quicker than I imagined. Before I went into hosp I ordered the ‘exercises after breast surgey’ booklet from this website and took it with me. It was awesome, and was far better than the exercises the physio gave me to do. I did my exercises religiously, at least 3 times a day, and I really believe thats how I had such a speedy recovery. Don’t wanna sound like a nag but DO YOUR EXERCISES!!!
Take care of yourself and let us know how you get on,
Kelly
-x-
thankyou all.
you have all mad3e me welcome and have helped allay my fears, i,m trying to stay strong for my hubby as he crumbles.
i put on a front and hope nothing breaks it
i have not been lucky with health so i know i,m terrified inside, but i have faith and strength and hopefully with all you lovely folk get through this.
many thanks to all of you and i wish you all a speedy recovery from BC
godbless you
ceegra
Hi Ceegra. Im sorry to hear of your diagnosis and I felt just the same as you when I joined this site, but honestly it will help you enormously. The people are so kind and have really pulled me through this last three weeks. I had a lumpectomy and it was not half as bad as I had anticipated, I am now at home and recovering very well. I found that if you want a cry or rant and rave then do it, you feel tons better for doing so. Be kind to yourself, indulge in anything that you feel like, chocolate and wine work wonders!!! Make sure you do the exercises after the op, they really do work and I have full movement, not cracking on to my partner just yet though as he is getting great at the hoovering!! I wish you the best of luck and will be thinking of you. Let me know how you get on.
Lots of Love and Hugs
Jillianxxx
thanks jillian,
bless you i,m glad your treatment is going well, i just cant concentrate on anything till after thurs
i love you all your all great here
love
ceegra
Ceegra,
I know I will have missed you but I hope your op goes well today. In fact, you’re prob sitting up in bed chomping on ferrero rocher as I write this!!!
I wish you well and a very speedy recovery. Please let us know how you get on as and when you get the chance,
Take care,
Kelly
-x-
Hi Ceegra,
Just wanted you to know that I am thinking of you, and hope the operation goes well.
Lots of Love
Jillianxx
got the all clear girls, oh my god i am amazed, lump still there but she thinks it will dissapear got to go bk in 4 weeks
bless you all i will stay to give you support in all of your worries
i know as i write this someone else is hearing bad news so my heart and prayers are with you
godbless you all
ceegra
Hi Ceegra, I am so happy for you! It is wonderful that you got good news.
Take Care and Keep in touch,
Love Jillianxx