Hi Kip I get where you are coming from with wanting the. Does out, obviiusly I’ve had mine out but think I would feel the same if I was in your situation. You have made me question what I’ve had, I have no idea if it’s level 1,2 or 3! I’m guessing the lot. I really don’t ask enough questions! I am 2 weeks post op now, no pain slight discomfort more so with getting comfortable at night. My arm still isn’t straight but it gets better each day and I’m hoping to be driving by Monday. I wish I was driving now my mum is here to drive me around and quite frankly it’s terrifying! She drives at 20 in a 60 and 40 in a 30!
Like you say with the lump it is out now and that’s the most important thing. I hope the next cycle of chemo is kind to you x
Kip I know the bad days drag on chemo, I had a countdown in my diary where I crossed off each day. Great on the goods when I would forget for a few days and cros a chunk off but in the bad days I would stare at the page for ages willing time to move! If it’s any comfort at all it does come to an end, you will come through it and the memory of it will fade as will the SE’s.
I had a phone call from my surgeon yesterday, whilst I was shopping in boots! He said the pathology report was in and everthing was completely clear even the lymph nodes. No sign of cancer anywhere! I am cancer free! I feel like I should be jumping around the room laughing but I’m not. I cried after I got off the phone, sheer relief I think. I am pleased and amazed that the chemo and targeted drugs did such a great job, I wasn’t expecting this news when I started out. I just keep thinking ‘but what does this mean?’ No cancer today but it could come back tomorrow?
Sorry I sound like a real misery, especially after such great news. One thing I will say was it was great to tell my beautiful girls all of the cancer has gone.
All points of view welcome as to why I don’t feel happier about this!! X
Yay Michelle!!! Happy dance on a Friday for you !! Onwards and upwards, so pleased for you and your family xxx
Feenix
I had some cording after surgery, and BCN’s advice to firmly but gently massage the ‘corded area’ with forefinger/middle finger together did help - it was a bit ‘pinchy’ but it did work, cording just disappeared after some days. Hugs x
Yes feenix i was told to lay on bed on back with head just dangling over the edge and tonraise the effected arm ocer my head and then twang the cord like a guitar string junti it popped, it really worked! After few minutes it crackded and went!
That sounds much quicker than the technique I was given Kip !!
Hi all,
Clare - My onc said they wait about 3-4 weeks after last chemo to ensure your neuts are back up to normal and then do the surgery, she said that is the only thing they worry about? I finish chemo on 24th sept, then have op and rads to do but she thinks it will all be finished by christmas? I get what you are frustrated about regarding dense tissue, when I had my mammogram, although they could feel a lump, it didn’t show on the mammogram :“due to dense tissue becuase of my age” so I had an ultrasound which was when they could see it was suspicious, but the MRI and biopsy really showed what was going on. So I am worried that if in the future they only mammorgram the remaining breast will that show anything? I need to ask that question!! Its always something to worry about isn’t it.
Feenix - I remember my scar was quite mishapen at first but it is really flattened now and fading somewhat, I use Aveeno cream on mine and give it a massage, although I do notice it gets redder and sometimes sore at the SNB site during chemo. The SNB end is a bit fatter (the tissue) but doesn’t look too bad and doesn’t extend into my armpit so can’t be seen but I guess the next op will go further across into armpit. not sure if they open up the existing scar or not? I have a friend who has been through all this and she had MX with SNB/node removal and she was left with what is known as a “dogs ear” under her armpit which was uncomfortable but not painful but her surgeon sorted that for her when she want back for node removal so you can always have it sorted at a later date. Her MX scar (2 years down the line) is so tidy and really really faded, looks fab so I guess we have to give it time and be patient… not easy though is it?
Its my birthday today, mixed emotions, had lots of tears just thinking… will I get another one? But as OH pointed out none of us know what the next year will bring! Doesn’t help I have the next T looming tomorrow so have started the steroids today… oh happy birthday to me! On the plus side, I have taste buds and tongue back… if only for a few days… oh well will at least taste my birthday cake!
Have a good day ladies… xxxx KIp
Clare i asked if i needed a mastectomy would it have any implications after having a TM. I was told not although they go in a diffrent place. I will have a lollpop scar though and no scar horizontally under my boob. I think day surgery is 4 weeks after chemo ends but could be 6 to 8 weeks depending on how busy they are and maybe even the surgeon. I am worried too re a mammogram picking up future problems but will definately get checks done annually for ever even oif i have to pay as research shows they are needed annually. I feinted when i first had a mammogram in June 2016 not sure if i was stressed or due to pain as dense boobs. I think i am over stress going to docs hospital etc now due to all the applintments i have had.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIP ???
I hope you have enjoyed the day. I also celebrated my birthday whilst having chemo. I was lucky it fell in the last week so I had lots of celebrations but I still found myself thinking about my previous birthday and how my life had changed in that year. I suppose it is inevitable that we do that. Your penultimate T though, that is good. Not long to go until you are done and can move on.
Jean, sorry to hear your scar doesn’t look as you expected, hopefully it will improve with time. Or as you said you can always get a revision if it bothers you. I think all of our main objections now should be to get as healthy as possible again. How is the cycling going? Are you still planning a new bike? How long is your OH away for? Has he gone to see family again or is it work? I might try bio oil too, it’s supposed to be good.
Claire I’m suprisednto hear your onc hasn’t taken your nausea seriously. Mine was quite insistent that I should have to put up with any nausea. In fact she was always plying me with different meds! There is a huge variety for the nausea, do you have a pre chemo appt with your onc? I would insist on a prescription then, you don’t have to suffer nausea.
Thanks for all of your messages regarding my results. I had a bit of a breakdown on Saturday and I think it was due to all of the emotional build up. It started as most things do with a small family argument and then I just couldn’t stop crying. I felt so sad for myself for everything I’d been through. It is unlike me to feel sorry for myself but that’s how I felt. I even feel bad writing that because here everyone is going through the same awfulness. It was bad timing to have a breakdown because me and OH we’re going up to London for a night so it put a bit of a downer on that. Having said all of that I woke up this morning and felt fine again. It was probably good to have a release of it all just wish I hadn’t done it in front of the girls, but I just couldn’t stop myself. We had a good day in London today so all worked out well.
Onwards and upwards xx
Just joining in with the ‘Happy Birthday Wishes’ dear Kip. Enjoy the cake xx
Glad chemo was uneventful Kip, I’m jeeping my fingers crossed that the next 3 weeks are too.
Jean I love a list too, for the same reasons, structure and bad memory! I didn’t do any lists during chemo I couldn’t motivate myself. I like a weekly list and I wrote on the week before my op and ticked it all off, very satisfying!
I think I have been overdoing it, yesterday I was on the go all day including my usual walk first thing. I was exhausted by the evening. Today I had a lie in skipped the walk but a busy afternoon as it was my daughters b’day and I am zonked again today.
Did any of you find your energy levels low ( op will be 3 weeks on Thursday) after the op or do you think it’s the chemo catching up?
I am having an easy day tomorrow that’s for sure. X
Hope you can have a restful day Michelle.
I certainly felt tired for weeks after my initial surgery and I get fatigued on chemo too. You’ve had a double whammy so it’s understandable.
Jean thanks for sharing your experiences and also your great advice. I have taken note and will be talking things through with my BCN today. I saw my GP yesterday who has written to another oncologist at Barts to see if he can take on my case. Fingers crossed. My OH and I have seen him once before and found the interaction much easier than with my present onc. I just want to start the second half of my chemo afresh. I wrote a list today of things to do and discuss. I used to write them all the time and you reminded me how helpful a list can be. How are you doing? I was very interested to read you had an allergy to the prep. Which one are you allergic too and what happened? So far my team tell me I’m allergic to chlora-prep. I had an allergic reaction when I had my prolapse surgery in 2012 so had already told them Ithoight I was allergic to iodine/betadene. I came out in a spotty rash. They used chlora-prep instead after my first BC surgery this time I came out in a spotty rash on my abdomen but also my torso turned bright red and you could see the brush strokes where they’d painted the chlorine-prep on.m! I’ve been told that I will need various tests to see which prep I can tolerate before my mastectomy. One of the things I am going to ask PALS to investigate is whether my wounds took longer to heal properly because they were being cleaned with a sponge impregnated with chlora-prep each time my dressings were changed (2 to 3 tines a week). I only found out when I had a problem with my PICO dressings and had to go to the ward to get them changed. The nurse said he would clean them with chlora-prep first and advanced towards me with the sponge on a stick. My surgeon looked horrified when I told her and she realised what had been happening. It does make me worry about my next surgery. Hope they can find something appropriate and not have to use 400 tiny alcohol wipes to clean me as they did before my re-excision!! On a different note thank goodness we both found something untoward when mammograms shied nothibg. Have you been told you can have MRIs when you are screened in the future? I need to check as my surgeon has said she will request these for my follow ups. I was initially told the NHS only fund MRIs if you have a proven BRCA mutation which I know I do not have. I would certainly feel more reassured having MRIs. Even my histology from my surgeries states that the samples they looked at show the tissue is very dense and multi cystic. Will certainly discuss the hospitals SOP with my medical team. When I reread the report I also noticed that the area of DCIS they found on the left is high grade which makes me think that having that Breast removed too is the right decision. I hope the massaging is helping with your scars,
Hugs to everyone xxx
Sorry to hear you have had such a difficult time with your medical team Claire. It’s good your GP is helping you to move oncologist. I hope you can get it all sorted before the next stage in chemo.
Thanks Jean, I am enjoying still being in bed. I think my problem is once I could drive I’ve been doing everything I would normally do but I need to remember what I’ve been through annd pace myself!
How are you finding it without your OH? I quite like it if mine is away for a night or two, I can do what I want and watch what I want! A month can be a long time so it’s good that you have so many plans. If you’re anything like me I want achieve half of what I intend to! I don’t know where the tome goes. We have friends in York so have been there a lot over the years, it is s beautiful city. I’ve been thinking about your list post and realised I have gone a bit list mad since March. I have a list countries to visit, a list of things to do in London, of activities to do, things to do with the family, decorating that needs doing around the house, now I’ve just told you a list of my lists! Those lists are all of things to look forward to, I suppose that’s what gets us through these times.
Well I hope you are getting through your list and enjoying the sunshine xx
Hi Feenix, funny you should mention the hula hoop I was looking at mine today and thinking I need to get back to it, I haven’t done any for a few weeks, but feel I should… I’ll be back at 5 minutes too I reckon but the waistline is crying out for some help!
Hj cdc hula hooping is so much easier with a weighted hoop, i got mine on amazon and before bloomin BC struck i had managed to progess to at least half hour. I would pop on the radio and hoop away… must do it again.
Hi feenix, wow they are some shoes! Did you buy some.? Im doing ok, lack ofmtaste and slimy tongue but so far no ulcers but its first day off steroids so waiting for somethjng to happen.
Hi, ao far SEs better than last cycke .still no taste but no ulcers. Have finished the steroids a d havent crashed too badly either but did wake up with achy legs today, paracetemol helped though. I even managed the ironing although thumb feels numb still so hoping thats not permanent. Well done with the hoop Feenix you’ll soon build up the time… Next stop X factor with 20 hoops!!
Hi I have had a skin sparing mastectomy and a LD flap. The flap looks great from what I can see. Obviously it doesn’t match my other breast but can have that done at some point. My surgery was 5 days ago I still got 2 drains that i carry around but there is a bit fluid build up around the front of my chest all the way round to my back. Been to A&E who advised to wait til tomorrow to see the breast care nurses as basically there are no provisions of after care with problems like that.
Since surgery last Tues I have felt nothing inside neither sad or anxious or happy just nothing.
Today I have had people sending me messages on Facebook saying nice things but I don’t want to hear these things as it reinforces what I’m thinking at times. I have morbid thoughts sometimes, I feel like a ticking time bomb frightened of making future plans.
I think at times “Will I ever get my life back” “will I ever work like I used to along side my colleagues”
Will I ever be myself again???
??
Hi Pippi
I’m assuming you are fairly recently diagnosed and this is your first treatment. I went a different route and had chemo 7 days after I was diagnosed and I remember feeling just like you. I had very morbid thoughts and wondered if I would ever be me again. That was in March, the chemo was tough but had great results. I had surgery 3 1/2 weeks ago and am feeling quite mobile now. I still have radiotherapy to go.
I have asked the same question of will i ever get back to normal and those further along have said they find a new kind of normal. You may still be in shock now and feeling weak from the op, it is still early days but you will feel better and life will look rosey again. Sending you a big hug xx
Thank you so much for your reply. Yes I was diagnosed 30th July and surgery was 4th September. This is the 2nd time I had breast cancer. The first time was in 2011 I had lumpectomy chemo and radio. This new breast cancer is a new cancer not a recurrence and it’s the other side where I just had a mastectomy and LD flap which I’m still recovering from. Having had it twice makes you have awful thoughts.
I keep thinking what’s gonna come next? Anyway will find out on Friday if I need chemo or not once they had a good look at the tumour they removed but I have a feeling I will ?