Linda, my boobs were 38E and will be about a C when they settle down after TM. I am in a 38D atm. I am delighted with the result, they are the boobs I had 30 years ago!!!
Regarding diet, it depends what type of BC you have. There is quite a bit of evidence to suggest that processed foods are not good, and there is a suggestion that there may be a link between alcohol and some types of BC. Also remember that cancer loves sugar! My surgeon said that if I wanted a big glass of wine, then go ahead!!
I have TNBC, and it is difficult to determine the cause. I eat a healthy diet, with very little meat and no processed food. My gut feeling is that stress is a big contributing factor.
Anyway, the cause is immaterial. We need to deal with it and do our best to kick it into touch! Kx
Yes I think stress has alot to do with it too. Did you have alot of stress in your life or do you? I just asked re the size as wondered if mine will look odd as I am just having one boob done but can have the other done later. Yes i know re sugar too. I have alot more fruit and veg now too especially juices. I do meditation too using a free app. R u having an immediate reconstruction as i was going to do that but the hospital didnt recommend it when having radiotherapy.
Hi Linda Yes the 34GG to 38D is bizarre! Not sure how I went from 34 to 38 but the lady who measured me for my post operative bra said she measures in s different way to the stores. I do also have some swelling and the original post op bra was too tight and restricted my breathing so they gave me something bigger. Not sure what size I’ll end up eventually.
Interesting to hear about the possible stress link to BC. I have a high familial risk and it may be genetic. However, 2016 was spent helping to care for my Dad who had severe dementia. He then caught sepsis/pneumonia over Christmas and died on 30th Dec. My Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer two months later so 2017 was spent helping her through treatment. Alongside this my older step child has numerous mental health problems. The stress has been phenomenal! Having said that it has made me stronger than ever. I started seeing a psychotherapist last year who has helped me so much. I’ve been offered specific cancer counselling but want to stick with my current therapist. I would thoroughly recommend having someone who is there just to listen/talk to. You do have to find the right person tho’. I have a wonderful volunteer from the ‘someone like me’ service. We were matched as I wanted to talk to someone who’d had a TM. Bizarrely our tratment paths have started to mirror each other as she also had a mastectomy after chemo.??She rings me after results appointments or whenever I feel it would help and we also catch up on e-mail. I Would like to meet some people locally but I bumped into someone in Maggirs today and she said the chemo room is actually quite jolly??? and everyone ends up chatting away!
Didn’t realise you were starting on the 19th ktk! Definitely chemo twins. Hope you have a super 18th! I intend to make it a special day too.
Kip the one day at a time is good advice but I agree not always doable.
We are all in this together. Whatever our treatment paths we’re all going to ‘Kick cancer’s butt’!
Hope you don’t mind but i’d Just like to chip in re diet.
I only eat meat about 3 times a week and sometimes that is chorizo, bacon or sausage, but not in great quantities. I am a healthy weight, I haven’t drunk alcohol for nearly 2 years, I run 3 times a week and completed a half marathon 2 weeks before I was diagnosed, I run a few half’s a year. My friends describe me as the healthiest of all of them. And no there is no breast cancer or even cancer in my family. I am oestrogen negative and HER2 positive.
I am the only person I know who has or who has had breast cancer ( until I came on this site obviously)
I guess I will never know what caused this, I look around at other people obviously living an unhealthy lifestyle but I don’t know what is happening inside them and maybe they don’t either. I am lucky because I know I have cancer, I am being treated, the odds are in my favour and a healthy lifestyle will help me through. I hope this doesn’t come across as preachy because it’s not my intention. I guess I’m just saying you really never know what’s around the corner and you have to do whatever gets you through this horrible situation. X
Good evening all.
Wow…just caught up on the last 2 days of posts…so much has happened!!
So sorry to read your news cdc. The horrible thing about all this is we do have to take things on step at a time and just deal with each step separately.
Got home at 10pm yesterday after op round 2. I was 2nd on the list but they did not have my notes so I was shunted down the list until my notes turned up!! Surgeon was a lovely lady - she removed the lose stitch and also reassured me that despite my reconstruction this re-excusion would not affect the size etc etc. She was funny when I saw her after the op…she said my original consultant had done a really good job with the reconstruction and that there was a lot of swearing going on in theatre as she tried to move the new tissue out of the way to get at the bit they wanted to remove!! I am very sore and achy…been sleeping most of today and just popped another couple of pain killers.
My results appoint is 19th and I very much hope I will see the oncologists on 20th.
Going to let pain killers kick in and get some more sleep. Have a good Sunday everyone xxx
Hi Jazza Good to hear you’re out the other side but sorry you’re in pain. Hope pain killers are kicking in and you’re getting some sleep. I will have everything crossed for your results appointment. I’ve just been unlucky as my tumour is ‘not behaving as exoected’- but actually I’m relieved they have found out now and can do something about it. Your surgeon sounds funny although I’m sorry to hear you had a delay in going to theatre due to mislaying your notes!!! !! I think a lot of swearing has been going on in my team too!! In the nicest way I’ve been told I’m causing them a few headaches what with my previously unknown allergies and badly behaved tumour!!! Thinking of you and sending very gentle hugs. Take care xxx
Hahaha…just reread my last post. Just goes to show my pain killers were already kicking in!! Just realised today is actually Saturday not Sunday…
Thanks cdc. Yes, at end of the day, and despite all frustrations with the waiting etc etc, we have to trust and let our medical ? teams do their best for us.
Whilst I still hope everyone has a good Sunday, I hope you all enjoy your Saturdays too. Have a good weekend everyone xxx
Good to hear the op went well Jazza. Get some rest and build yourself up for the next stsge1
Linda, they did my TM with a breast reduction on the good side at the same time. From a psychological point of view this was great. If you only have one side done you may still need to wear a chicken fillet in your bra to even yourself out a bit.
Michelle, thanks for taking time to post. Not preaching at all! I think it is natural to want to know why, but the truth is there is no single definitive cause. I suspect that there are numerous contributing factors, and it is different for each of us. For some people it is helpful to attribute blame, and diet is an easy thing to control, especially when we are not really in control of the rest of this journey.
Look after yourselves everyone. Have a good day. Kx
Hello everyone, glad op went well Jazza take care of yourself. Seems we are all moving forward with treatment plans albeit not in the direction we all wanted. I wish I could get a good night’s sleep but only manage a few hours then lie awake worrying. oH tells me to think of something else… Not easy though is it. Have to go chemo shopping today… have been taking notes from other posts of useful things to use, eat etc He want to have some options in ready.
Oh CDC never apologize for letting off steam!! I get exactly how you feel, I feel like the tunnel is a long one to, and overwhelmed by what’s to come, I hate feeling out of control, not able to plan and worst of all jealous of all friends who are going about their day without this stress!! It is so upsetting that you have to change the surgery outcome but you did what you felt was the best and that’s all we can do, can you speak to someone at the hospital about your concerns regarding sexual aspects? Let the tears come it does help, I am constantly holding mine in for my kids and it all builds up until bursting point. Sending you lots of hugs… Take care kip xx
Well i am in a similar situation to you but when i got a 2nd opinion the surgeon at royal marsden said dont burn your bridges.at least u can look back and say you did all you could. I wonder if i am doing the right thing but am much happier now with things as i lost the plot when i was told i needed a mastectomy and its best to wait 6 months or so before reconstruction to give your body time to get back to normal after chemo and radiotherapy. So have u lost sensation then from having kids? Soz if being thick altho i have no kids alto have a step son but hes got 5 kids. My husband is older than me so i am thinking about the future as hes had a thoracic aorticc dissection nearly 6 years ago which was in tbe canaries but thats another story.
Anyway driving home to somerset now from a night in looe in cornwall before 3rd chemo on wednesday.x
CDC A melt down is totally understandable given the news you have had. I can’t imagine how you feel at the moment but I hope you will be able to take some strength from the knowledge that lots of people are thinking about you at this time. I had to have a hysterectomy a number of years ago and like you feel that my feminism is being taken away a little bit at a time. However we have families who need us love and support us and that is what will keep us going in the dark days we are facing. Keep thinking that this is a means to an end a future with your husband and daughter where you will be able to make happy memories. Sending you the biggest hugs I can. Lots of love Chris
@cdc1811. I am on a trial at the mo which is 4 fec then i would have had an op and then if need be 4 tc.however i have been told tbat 4 will not be enough.usually you have 3 fec and 3 tc.on the trial they do 2 tests to confirm if u benefit from fec or tc the most then randomnly alocate you to either fec or tc. If you have all 8 on the trial you have a biopsy after the 4th cycle.so i am wondering if i should come off the trial if i can do 6 cycles with no biopsy.
Hi cdc. Only just caught up. So sorry you are feeling so down but perfectly understandable. Remember in this journey that no choice is the wrong choice as there are so many unknowns. It is nice that we are given any choice at all. I am so sorry you are having such a rough time but trust in your team to be doing their best.
Just been thinking about getting the chop too. I haven’t been so impressed since moving to Oncology. Under the surgery team I was kept informed at every stage. My BCN would even phone to let me know about appointments before they came in the post. I was given a card at my first oncology consult last Tuesday with no dates or times. I was told to go for an echo last Friday, by not where. The appointment for that came on Saturday!! I know that they are busy but I would still like some info. All I know is that I have my pre assessment next Monday. There was a suggestion that the first chemo session would be Tuesday, but I have had no confirmation! Rant over. X
Ktk are iu having radiotherapy and what was the size of your lump? Thanks both cdc and you for info you have given me so far.not many peeps have TM hence the questions.x
Hello everyone, just to let you know first chemo done. Wasn’t bad at all took 2 hrs all in all. No pain and nurses lovely. We have a lovely chemo unit, very nice and airy. Feeling fine still but not expecting it to last.
CDC did u get the haircut.? Met a lady today who said her hair went by two weeks so having got used to my short hair it may not be around long! Oh well… another thing to get used to I guess. Anyway ladies hope it’s nice and sunny where you are, take care Kip XX
KIP sending you big hugs hope you don’t feel to grim over the next few days keep us posted as to how you are doing .
I’m back at hospital tomorrow for results appointment feeling very apprehensive part of me says it will be fine and then the other part of me is saying its always been bad news why should tommorow be any different and then I’m thinking don’t be so b… dramatic. I’m going a bit insane today just wish it was all over. Husband wanted us to go out for dinner but I just can’t face the thought of sitting there pretending I’m having a nice time so it’s tea and toast again.!. If nothing else this dam thing is doing wonders for my diet.
So I guess it’s another big knickers day tommorow with everything crossed… What will be will be.
Hi Linda, TM, followed by 6 x FECT, followed by rads. As I have said I am pleased with the outcome of my surgery. Luckily they seem to have got everything first time. Now they are throwing everything at me as my cancer is triple negative.
Thanks to everyone for reassuring me that oncology is chaos everywhere!
It is lovely having my daughter home. She is thoughtful in a way that men just aren’t. And she cooks!!