I just wanted to give you all an update, I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductual Carcinoma Grade 3 with a 33mm mass in my right breast last November. The support and encouragement from this group was great.
I underwent a mastectomy with implant reconstruction and SLND last Thursday and am home from hospital since Monday. I was nervous coming up to the surgery about my recovery as I have 3 children under 7 but so far so good. I have had my first wound review and they are happy with the healing. I am doing my arm exercises daily and getting out for a walk every day. I am managing on paracetamol without the really strong painkillers and I feel good.
I just wanted to let others know that may have been recently diagnosed that it is all very scary and the wait from appointment to appointment is awful but it is great to be on the other side of it. I didnt tell anyone in my family until after Christmas when my surgery plan was confirmed and my children think I was in getting my appendix out. They havent took much notice of the drain or the pico dressing which is good, I was really worried about them been worried about it all but they have took it in their stride, thank God.
I hope the above helps someone else in a similar position.
Thank you all again for the support, this is really a great forum for anyone going through this.
Glad to hear you’re doing well! I had a lumpectomy on December and told my children I had a poorly arm, and still haven’t told me Dad or brother about any of it. I keep saying I’ll tell them but I had to have extra mri’s/tests etc so I wanted to give them a solid plan but then it was close to Christmas and now I’m waiting to see if I need chemo who knows if I’ll ever tell them at this rate I’ve only told 3 people and it’s been nice to have normality outside of this weird world I’ve entered and it to not consume every conversation.
You’re so right though it all seems so scary in the early days but once the treatment plan starts to go ahead you just take it a step at a time!
I’m 11 days post op ( lumpectomy & SLNB ) and like you haven’t told many people . I wanted life to be as normal as possible so only told very close family and one set of friends . Also people not knowing helps gives me a sense of denial .
Hope you continue to recover well & wishing you a positive journey xx
@katie91 Pleased to read your doing so well after surgery, as you said it’s not necessary to tell the children or your family until your ready, maybe the time would be right if you needed chemo, thinking a bit of help maybe needed.
Wishing you well, with your treatment going forward. Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.
Thank you and yes I think if I do end up going down the chemo route I’ll definitely tell my Dad and brother, I’ll most likely have to round up the troops to help with childcare
I’ve only told 3 people and it’s been nice to have normality outside of this weird world I’ve entered and it to not consume every conversation.
xx
