Michelle21, strange isn’t it you the think the relief would be immense reachinb the end of chemo, i thought I’d feel the same reaching half way but I’ve been more emotional thinking what I’ve still got to do, i hjavent had and T yet just finished FEC so still got that joy! At least we do know you get through it eventually. What surgery are you having and how long do you have to wait post chemo? Im havjng node clearance then rads then hopefully done and dusted and just regaining some normality and a bit of hair !
Thanks Jean I am feeling much better today, steroids are definitely the devils work! I feel like myself again today, I think the steroids have left my system, hooray! Having had time to reflect on your meeting with your surgeon how are you feeling about it all? Are you still thinking the implant is a good option? If so when will your op be?
Kip once you have the T and get through the first few days I’m sure time will go quickly. Understandably you are building up the T in your mind, I did the same. I haven’t actually had many SE’s from T itself mine have mostly been from the steroids. I have my first appt with surgeon on 2nd. As far as I know I am having a mastectomy and axillary clearance. I don’t know if I can have a recon straight away but I am keen to have one. I
I am strangely excited about Thursday’s appt, probably because it’s another step forward, but I’m sure I will be posting q’s here. You’re all really helpful and supportive even though I don’t necessarily ‘belong’ to this thread, so thanks to everyone here for that I really appreciate it xx
Thanks Kip, that’s all good to know and I look forward to comparing notes or should that be nodes! ?
Thanks Jean just didn’t want to be a gate crasher to the thread. You certainly haven’t put me off, I’m super impressed with how much you have researched. I’m probably the opposite to you although I usually know what I want and what I don’t I dont look at things in depth.
I know I don’t really fancy an implant for the same reason as you have said, it’s a foreign body. That just doesn’t sit well with me even though like you I can see the advantages of it.
I have got the breast cancer care booklet on reconstruction and will read it soon. I didn’t want to read it this week as I was feeling down enough! I am thinking flap, but don’t really know much about it. I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up having to wait for recon anyway because of the rads.
Thanks for all of your points, I will do my research next week and yes I will right down all of my q’s. My memory is so bad I’ll have to write the answers too!
I think Kip asked how long after chemo is the op? I have been told between week 4-6 after last one. I am hoping for begining of week 5 as my daughters birthday and prizegiving are in the beg of sept and it would be nice to (hopefully) be mobile for those.
I will let you know how get on on 2nd.
Weather update (Cardiff) we had rain earlier, no storms but our water butt is full and it is lovely and cool at last! X
Hello Cdc and Feenix, my scars gets redder and irritates a bit after chemo j notice, they are very well healed but can pull a bit during the 2nd week, otherwise no problems. I use aveeno on mine bur was also wondering about bio oil? In relation to the daft questions your surgeons ask, when i said i want mx with no recon mine said “You do realise you will look down and be flat”… felt like replying “no kidding Sherlock”. Guess they feel they are double checking we understand the process?
It must be so hard for you to still be juggling with decisons over surgery especially cdc with chemo adds in to the mix. I can’t decide what to eat sometimes let alone make those decisions. I am sure you’ll both be sure of the right thing when the time comes and you’ll both find bras that fit properly, I’m still waiting to hear about a proper prosthesis… then i can shop for some more. I do have a nice post op swimmjng costume from asda… if only i could go swimming though. If it’s any help my friend had mx with inplant which unfortunately rejected so she had a couple more ops and has had to complete chemo, rad s and tamoxifen and is currently flat but is having tummy diep in October as she is now 2 years clear and is very excited with the prospect and said she wouldn’t change a thing with her decisions and feels she is now ready to “finish the job” and complete the journey. I don’t think I’ll ever want a recon but who knows how we will feel once through this tunnel?.
Take care kip xx
I’ve just booked onto a breast cancer care lingerie eveining, I don’t know if any of you have been on one? It’s in a couple of weeks so it may be I can’t attend as in having surgery but I thought it would be a good opportunity to see what’s out there.
Jean you seem so unsure about a recon it must be best to wait, there is no deadline. I like the line that Kips friend said about being ready to finish the job. Although I’m pretty certain I want a recon I’m thinking I might wait a year. Give my body a chance to heal and my head a chance to ‘try’ and come to terms with what has happened over the last months.
We’ll see things are always changing, especially my feelings.
I’ve set up a thread for August Surgery so if any of you want to hop over and give advice at any point it’s always appreciated.
Stay strong chemo ladies and I hope all goes well for surgery Jean xx
I’ve never heard of a lingerie evening, be very interested to hear about it, what a fab idea. Will definitely pop over to the new thread and see if I can offer any advice. I do feel for you Feenix you’ve had such a long wait for surgery it does mess with your head. Soon be over and you can begin to come to terms with the new you. I just knew I didn’t want a mound either and I like the fact that j can feel all around my scar and remaining tissue to check what’s happening… but that’s just me… Mrs paranoia. Take care and have a good evening, I’m starting to feel back to myself today so that’s nice altho the eye lashes are decidedly thinner today but hey not much more can fall out now ! Love to all Kip xx
Hi Feenix you are good still doing the exercises I do them sporadically but have good movement. Cdc the Asda underwear etc is only on line unfortunately. I still have to decide whether to have node clearance or just rads on them? I think I want them out for peace of mind but not sure still? I try to think if they offered me only rads would I be disappointed and if I think yes then j really want them out. I did that with my mx, I thought if they only offered recon would I be disappointed and I felt I would so that helped me decide. Hope that makes sense ??
Hello!
I had a really good appointment with the surgeon today. After a trip to radiology for a mammogram and ultrasound he told me there is now no need for a mastectomy! The tumours, (I had 2) have shrunk down to nothing. He said he is going to remove the areas where they were and the size they originally were. So after a lot of time spent thinking about recon it turns out I won’t need it and they would have offered a delayed recon anyway!
I will still have the full lymph clearance. Am I right in thinking you’ve had this Kip? How long was your recovery? Sorry if you have told me before, I can’t remember.
The surgeon said surgery might be on 13th or 23rd, which would be great as I want to get on with it now, although I don’t actually finish my chemo cycle until 10th which doesn’t give me much time to recover but fortunately I haven’t suffered too much from chemo.
Obviiously I’m really pleased, whilst remembering that things can still change.
Jean is your surgery tomorrow? I hope it all goes well for you x
I hope everyone else is keeping well xx
Hi I michelle that’s fabulous news for you and at least lets us see that the chemo really does do its job! I haven’t had node clearance yet I’m probably having it after chemo and before rads. You’ll be able to let me know what it’s like. I finish chemo on we sept. Can’t wait as getting worried about the T part.
Feenix… thinking of you xxx
Love to all… another hot day here in Suffolk so lazing around with breeze in my baldie XX .Kip
Thanks Kip and thanks for your contribution on the August thread. I will certainly let you know how I go with the op. Try not to worry too much about the T I was surprisingly ok with minimal SE’s, although I have noticed the tiredness is worse this time. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you x
Thinking of you Jean x
Jean so pleased to hear you are out and doing so well post op. How long until you hear back re your nodes? Will you have to have more out. It’s another lovely day a walk by the seaside will be lovely.
I’ve been by the sea myself this morning I did a parkrun, my first since all this started. I felt like me again, doing what I do, although not as well as before but I don’t care. I even shed a few tears whilst running it was quite emotional.
X
Hi Feenix so glad you are doing well, did you get home on the same day? I start T on 13th Aug so got one more week to go. Just want the chemo over.
Michelle well done on the park run, I walked 2 miles to pub and back last night and it was fab, no TV as marathon but it’s something.
Hi yes I’ve not heard from Jazz’s and Bridget for a while either?
Thanks for your good wishes CDC, once you get to the halfway mark chemo does seem to do quicker. I know it is difficult with the steroids. I diarised my side effects through every cycle and each cycle was so similar I knew what was coming when. It made it easier even the low moments because I figured out it lasted 1-2 days. I still cried my way through those days but knew they would end.
Glad you had a good walk Kip, I’m sure that helps with SE’s, it seemed to help me.
Jean a 3 week wait must be frustrating but I will keep my fingers and toes crossed for you. You certainly were prepared having your hair cut short but it must be a nice feeling the thought of growing it again. Claiming back a piece of you. That’s how I feel about running again, although obviously I’ll have to stop again after surgery. My run on Saturday was along the seafront of Porthcawl, South Wales. There were lots of surfers out it was a good atmosphere I’m going try and run again this week and then do parkrun again on Saturday, but we’ll see as the tiredness is biting this week. I love Brighton too CDC, I took my mum there for her birthday this year. We stayed in The Grand but it wasn’t looking so grand, quite tired and worn, a bit like me at the moment!!
I would love to meet up when this is over, you’ve all been such a support xx
Just got a date for surgery, 16th August. Which is A Level results day and my youngest daughter gets her results. I have to be in by 7.30am her results come through at 7.30-8am. I’m so upset. She worked so hard even with all of this going on. I’ve asked the secretary if I can go in a bit later but even that’s not ideal if she doesn’t get what she needs for her uni choice. I know my OH is more than capable of coping with clearing if need be, maybe it’s the control freak in me but I just wanted to be there. Sorry feeling very emotional x
Michelle if it’s any help on my day of surgery I was back from theatre in a couple of hours and home in 6 from moment of arrival al, but on the ward I was texting and chatting and walking around so you’ll hopefully be able to at least direct your husband should he require help.
feenix how are you doing?
Hi feenix glad to hear you are up and about, does you good to go out for a stroll I find. I have a lovely vintage style bike and I enjoy biking although haven’t done much lately, that’s a lovely thing to do and get a new car, good to make plans.
CDC my duff days are 3 days after steroids too, which is always a weekend for me which sucks!
We must all meet up after this roller coaster ends… Be fab to meet you all in person.
Thanks all for your kind words. I feel a bit better about things today, I managed to get my admittance time pushed back to 9am so hopefully she will get the required results and be happy and I willl go off without worry. I have been told I’ll be in overnight but like you say I can text from my bed!
Jean, good to hear you are getting out and making plans. I think it is good to try and look to the future however difficult that may be sometimes. Also perhaps with a bit of living ‘normally’ the answer to what you want re recon might become more obvious to you.
CDC/Kip My steroid low was 4-5 days after finishing them, just when you thought it was safe! I think hunker down is a good description, that’s certainly what I did for the last 2 cycles. I know heading towards the halfway mark seems a long way to go but it will pass. You can both do this xx
I’ll be ready to hunker down then Michelle… hoping to work though so fingers crossed?