Went back to work today…did a little test yesterday to make sure that driving was OK, and off I went to teach my Monday morning group, and to give my fake boob its first proper road test!!! I’m pleased to say that it worked out OK (it didn’t end up up under my chin or anything). But goodness, I came home and slept for a good two hours afterwards!!
I feel as though I have a hedgehog rolling up and down my inside upper arm, but otherwise I’m not in too much discomfort and the exercises are coming on well.
Morning beauties, the sun’s out here and a lusty robin is singing his heart out, looking for a girlfriend probably! Good to hear of the definite progress in the Sunbeam Tribe. Goodness those drains took a while to come out … bet you are glad! And people returning to work, that’s good too but I find it ridiculously tiring - just flop on the settee after teaching only 1 1/2 days a week. Glad rads over for some, real progress there. My rads are going ok. So far, so good. I feel a wee bit panicked sometimes as I settle down and wait for the beam, and sometimes I just float away and it hardly registers. Most of all it seems like a long journey once again. No pinkness yet, but I reckon I will as I burn in the sun and have pale skin with loads of moles too. Oh goodness it’s breast cancer on Woman’s Hour, just heard it being announced… so many of us.
Meeting up would be amazing. Could it be in London, or is that ridiculous for those in the North?
Howdy Sunbeams! Great to read everyone is moving along well, chemo seems so long ago, but it truly is the gift that keeps on giving lol, I’m ok, just 2 nails on each hand lifting up and my hair is a sparse fuzz, always a slow grower anyway so I think I may be a long way off any kind of style ?, I have quite savage hot sweats, about every hour, not great for sleeping, have read about taking citalopran in a low dose which some say helps, so I’ll give it a few more months then look into that!
I’m on my last week of rads, Friday can’t come soon enough, as you say Anna it’s the journey that’s worse than the few minutes of nuking, skin a bit pink but not too bad, I’m using pure aloe Vera gel twice a day and the nurses are impressed with the quality of the skin so I’ll keep that up, and yes PaulS they said it gets worse for 2 weeks after, super eh!
I’ve been completely knackered for the last month, I’m lucky enough not to be working as I don’t know how I’d have coped, so a massive hats off to you all working!!
I’m off to wash bedclothes, again, my least fave chore and how ironic I’m having to change the bed way too much! Might get a sleeping bag and kip on top of bed!! ?
I’m definitely up for meeting and can travel so not a problem where, maybe Barbados ?xxxx take care girls, lots of love xxx Sam
Still waiting for surgery so way behind you ladies. At hospital again as I do think I’m actually allergic to the PIC and not the dressing. Hospital can’t get any blood out! Waiting for doc to approve some gell to dispurse any clots in the line! Wish the thing could be removed as vey itchy on outside and blistering so what is it doing inside?
Got called in as I need to use the nose gell as I have an element of MRSA and this needs clearing before opp?
Hey Sam, me too - blasted hot flushes all the time, esp at night. Duvet on, duvet off!! Have switched to a low tog one with a little blanket to pull up, and that helps a bit, but it is a trial. have to wear so much less in the day - have gone from being super-chilly person to quite the opposite! Also I have joint pains, it seems that the menopause has come with a real slam - no easing in to it. Good tip about aloe gel, I’m gonna start that as I have really sensitive skin on my bust (what’s left of it!) …Love A
Den - GOOD LUCK with colonoscopy. Char - radiotherapy is so much easier than chemo…it is a bit of a trial getting to hosp each day, but so far (I’ve done 5 out of 15) I’ve found the actual treatment bland and quick and not unpleasant. Boob doesn’t look or feel any different. I’ve been a bit weepy and overwhelmed with all the treatment, but that’s probably tiredness more than anything. The advice I had from the unit is to look after the breast skin absolutely every day with E45 cream or lotion, drink loads of water and have lots of vit c and protein to speed up tissue healing. “Listen to your body and rest when you need to” Good luck!!
Horrid dank misty day here, am resting after massive day in London with students yesterday, am really pooped!
I had my bilateral mastectomy with tram flap reconstruction Tuesday, so still hooked up to drains n pain relief, but happy the last part over (unless I need radiotherapy) I’m feeling well and pain relief is good, so I have a week or so to lie in bed n catch up on posts!
Sending lots of sunny love
Xx
Well done Lou! I hope you’re feeling OK and that you don’t have to have your drains for too long. Pam, you really shouldn’t worry so much!! I only had the whole lot off because the lump was so bloody big, if yours is small then it’s much better if they can just chop it out.
I had my follow up appt yesterday, and have been given the all clear, yay!!! Which makes me wonder, if there is no cancer left then what exactly is it they want to blast with the radiotherapy? I know it’s mostly an insurance policy for me. Also have a GP appt booked to get my Tamoxifen…10 years of it, wow, that seems like a long time!! So lots done, but lots to go too. And I’m feeling really tired, so as I’ve got no work today I’m having a feet up day, with curry night later. Always good, and we’re making tonight a celebration of no more cancer
Thanks guys. Just my team don’t ewlly like the discussions they pretty much give the impression the know best. Surgron did say she would move some breast tissue around to make the lump dent less obvious. I said the cancer is in my smaller breast and she said we can reduce the other later to match.
I’m just old worrier but am more worried about the full node clearance!
I had the choice to have both off as I was 35 and my mum was 39 getting breast cancer. I don’t have the gene, but they said they can only test for the 2 so far.it doesn’t stop a recurrence buts stops a second breast cancer. For me it was more about closing the
Door on it. I’d been to the doctors over cysts previously and felt too embarrassed to go back again to have another checked. It was when I noticed it tethered I went. I felt I would be constantly checking my breasts and be worried about missing a lump. Can you be angry at breasts??lol I didn’t want them anymore. I managed to get out and sit in the chair yesterday but havnt seen a mirror yet…so no idea what they look like, but have no nipples yet…
Lots of love
Xxx
Morning ladies you’re all doing so well. Pam if they can remove the lump without removing the whole breast it’s better for you. Physically and mentally . I was meant to just have the lumpectomy but they couldn’t get a clear margin after 3 attempts. Just go with an open mind. They will do what they feel is best for you. It is a team of specialists making the decision not one individual.
Thanks Anna for the advice re radiotherapy. Well done Lou nearly there.
Does anyone take any other supplements apart from vit D?
Have a good day beams. Cx
Wow, there’s lots of activity going on - well done to all of you. Lou - BIG OP, wishing you well for healing and recovery. I so do want the healthy breast taken off too … am gonna discuss that when the time comes. Pam - WLE is the gold standard if they can get the tumour out with the appropriate margins, mine was nearly 7 cm ie basically the whole boob, so it all had to come off. Try not to worry, this is something they do all the time and being statisticians they work on empirical evidence only, and never cost-saving.
Nutty I haven’t done yoga for years. I was thinking about starting pilates again though. It says no heavy exercise for at least 6 weeks but I suppose it depends how you heal maybe best to check with your BC nurse. I’ve started walking too the plan is to be running by the end of May. Been looking for a light prostheses need to have a chat with the rep on Monday.
Have a good day. Cx
I was told they hope to cure. Even if evidence in nodes this is viewed as local spread. I had a full day of scans and there was no evidence of any other spread. My onc told me the stats were years out of date by the time they were finally published and that they lumped all kinds of BC together with no differentiation so not useful. He does not talk stats - he simply said they expected to cure me and that something else would see me off! So while I have my moments I am determined to get on with my life! Try to stay positive - treatment will end and then life becomes more normal. I finished radiotherapy on 18th Feb and have so enjoyed having much less to do with the hospital. So normal! P xx
Hope all’s well for you ladies, recovering, working and getting on with life. Radiotherapy really dragging on now … boob looking a bit ‘cooked’ as I recall you said PaulS, so using more cream and doing the exercises to help with stiffness.
Pam - GOOD LUCK for op on Weds, do try not to worry too much, you’ve been waiting so long for this, it’ll be such a relief when you are done.
Bit cloudy here today, but spring has definitely been in the air in Sussex, and the foxes are busy making (very noisy) fox love in our garden.
Oh gosh. Hello beamers??? I feel so guilty for not being on here for so long but radiotherapy has been taking up all my time and not getting on the kindle. Last one on Friday. Felt weird today. Saw doctor and it was all a rush…no real follow up plans…promise I will check in evenings xxx glad to hear surgeries have gone well. Loads of love xxxxxxx Really want to meet up xxxxx
