Just thought I’d make a thread for those of us who have just been booked in for surgery if anyone fancies joining in. Not that any of us actually want to join but you know what I mean!
Im actually a tad naughty as my surgery is 28th jan but I was only booked in yesterday and it’s so late in the month feels like feb and the jan girls are all set up. My cancer is grade 3 so originally I was due to have chemo first but they are confident the tumour can be removed before chemo as it’s only 18mm at the minute.
Im due to be having a therapeutic mammoplasty and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Any one else?
Think things have only started to feel real now this has been booked and I literally just want to run for the hills!
Hello pips88. I am going to have a mastectomy end of Febuary, after six rounds of chemotherapy to reduce a 7 cm tumour. I have triple positive breast cancer.
Even though I have had four months since diagnosis to get my head round the amputation of my breast, for a long time i felt almost indifferent. I don’t qualify for immediate reconstruction. I’ve been having to deal with chemo and side effects, have three children so busy even though I am not working. I have just started to freak out at the idea of the surgery. Had my first cry yesterday. It’s hard psychologically. So would be good to talk to others facing it.
I also had some cancer in lymph nodes so will have something done there. I am looking forward to seeing the surgeon on the 1st of Febuary to get more information.
id like to join please! No date yet but had crappy appt yesterday following lumpectomy and SNB. They found a large DCIS as well as my 18mm invasive tumour and 1 node is macro static. So … full node clearance and either LICAP lumpectomy no 2 or mastectomy. My decision???
I was in pieces about first op and hoping that would be that but no! The lucky fairies are not onside at mo
after full clearance of all nodes so this is a type 3 clearance, it’s more waiting to see what the lymph spread is. I’m scared witless over spread
i have 2 kids 11 and 13 - amicably separated from dad who has stage 4 lymphoma.
No treatment plan yet as got to understand the lymph situation, then poss get genome testing before any plan. I’m sure everyone is the same but I’m really scared and think every headache, creak and ache is this devil!
I can join the February group now I’ve been given my new date of the 9th of Feb.
@UmLydia my kids are 8 and 11 so I feel some of your pain there, it’s hard work not having any time or space to yourself. Message me if you want to chat about it.
I fell asleep for the general while bawling my eyes out, I didn’t even know they were starting I just remember crying and then waking up with it all over!
It’s been an emotional rollercoaster since then with me withdrawing from life even more than Covid restrictions, my husband has been really good and has been getting me out for walks everyday.
The drain was taken out on Friday which was a huge relief.
Healing seems to be going well, I only need the paracetamol for pain now and I’m able to do the basic stretches with minimal discomfort.
I just got my letter for my follow appointment on Friday, I’m so glad I don’t have to wait too long to find out pathology results and what the next course of treatment is.
They got all of the cancer during the surgery and all of the lymph nodes were clear!!! I don’t need to have any chemotherapy or radiotherapy, just hormone.
@UmLydia i hadn’t heard about moisturising the armpit, I’ll have to check that out.
Just want to say thanks because it’s defo helped me feel less alone to read your posts. You all seem braver and more positive than me but no doubt your struggles in private are just as hard or harder.
What’s killing me right now (pardon the turn of phrase) is that I seem to have lost my ability to handle things or stay positive. I’m a mess. Not helped by the fact I sent my son to his dad’s…If he was here I’d probably try harder to keep my s€&t together! But I’m just staggering from one tearfest to another at the moment, it’s not great.
They spent about 6 weeks looking for my primary cause I turned up with a swollen lymph node. 2 MRIs, 2 mammograms including a 3D tomosynthesis, 2 ultrasounds. A breast biopsy showed DCIS. They spent a lot of money on me! I had an axillary clearance with partial mastectomy on the 15th, overnight stay with a drain at home for 8 days. The pathology showed a 4mm primary tumour with 2 involved lymph nodes of the 18 they removed. So I’m very very lucky. And I know some of you have much worse things to deal with.
But I just can’t stop wailing. I’m so angry they did an axillary clearance for just 2 cancerous nodes. The recovery has been so painful and exhausting. But I sound so ungrateful!!
I think loads of unresolved stuff from the past has come up and that’s why I feel so sad and out of control.
Oh lads, I’m sorry for the long self-obsessed post. I’ve been so isolated, and I’m terrified by how emotionally out of control I feel this week.
But again, thanks for your posts, they have really helped.
hope your surgery went well. My tumour is also grade 3 and due for wide local excision with sentinel node biopsy at end of this month. Will also be having chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
I too am very scared and feel like running for the hills, but don’t think that would do us much good!
I hope you are recovering well. I am having a Magseed inserted tomorrow. My tumour is 18mm too, at the minute so very similar!
let me know any tips for surgery recovery and take care xx