I am having a MX on my left breast with removal of the lymph nodes on this wednesday & am definately starting to feel the nerves kicking in now! I have never had surgery before so am rather apprehensive…fear of the unknown I guess! Though reading through some of the posts on here has certainly helped settle some of those butterflies, so thank you for that! Just hope I don’t get too emotional when my partner & family (who all insist on coming with me!) leave me before I go into theatre! I try not to have wibbly moments but sometimes my emotions do get the better of me.
My background info is that I’m 38 & was diagnosed with DCIS on 4th October 2011 (that date is forever burned into my brain!). My lump was almost 5cm, I had 2 cycles of FEC but that only shrunk a couple of mm’s, I switched to a ruddy high dose of Tax that almost finished me off & on the 2nd dose of it I had a severe allergic reaction to it. So no more chemo for me & straight to the MX, to be followed by rads & then eventually reconstruction.
Although bald & soon to be minus one boob I am (mostly!)keeping on the bright side of life - having a warped sense of humour definately helps me!
Be lovely to hear from anyone having surgery soon too, or going through similar experience, or if you just have enlightening pearls of wisdom for me that would be super too!
Hi jedikitty, I’m heading to surgery tomorrow for quadrantectomy and lymph node clearance after being diagnosed with grade 3 IDC just after Xmas. I’m In my mid-thirties with 4yo son and it’s just me and him, we also moved house just before Xmas (one week before diagnosis) so its been a busy month. You sound like you’ve had a journey and a half already, even before surgery and I can understand the additional apprehension. I’ve also never had surgery or a general before but am keeping hope in that it will at least be out afterwards and everything after will be keeping it from coming back.
Good luck on Wednesday, I’m hoping they’ll be merrily kicking me out of the door by lunchtime then (or so I’ve been told!), use the strength of your family and don’t be afraid to tell them to disappear if you want to be alone a while
I had surgery at the end of December (WLE and ANC). Like you I had never had surgery or a general anaesthetic before, I think I was more nervous of that than anything else.
I just wanted to say that it was fine. I went under so quickly I knew very little about it. When I came round I felt a bit dizzy for half an hour (like being very slightly drunk). That cleared and about an hour after I came round I was able to eat a sandwich and drink a coffee.
I’ve had things the other way round to you. I had WLE and LN mid Nov, then went on to mastectomy late November. I was dreading it, and peoples reactions.
I actually got my OH to leave before I went to theatre,he went to IKea! I just felt happier having a little time alone pre op, and found the walk to theatre fine. The staff were all so nice,I fell asleep laughing! I have a warped humour too!
Post the MTX has been fine too, can’t say I like my MTX scar, but I and my OH have got used to it. I was home from hosp within 36hrs with little pain.
Now I’m on the chemo bit, had x2 FECC so far, x1 to go then Tax.
hi jedikitty,
i am the same as you mx and anc due to be done next week27/01.Iwas diagnosed on20/12 but with xmasand new year all seems to take longer to sort.
I have got my pre op tomorrow so we will see what that brings.
Iam lucky i have a supportive family but it still seems really sureal at the moment. debbiex
Hi,
I am in on 18th as well and absolutley terrified. Never had surgery before. I am having a wide excision, dyed blue and lymph nodes removed for checking. I have a 4cm benign area and 1.5cm lump underneath which is sore and malignant. I have had cysts for years in both breasts and just thoguht the sore bit was another one. I have had a core biopsy and some tests so far. The consultant said it was a masectomy at first but then decided to try to remove the lump and see how it is. Not been given very clear indications of exactly what it is. Consultant says we get all the results (and pathology report) after they analyse the lump they take out. Is that true for everyone? Good luck anyway, I am shaking in my shoes too! X
hiya jedikitty
i had my masectomy and lympth node clearout oct4th following 6 sessions of chemo 3 fec 3 tax,i was like you had never had an op or been in hospital before except to have my son (now that smarted a bit). i went in the morning on the tuesday had the op and was home by the wednesday, i didn’t get a chance to read any of my magazines or abuse the morphine as planned. i found it uncomfortable and awkward at times with the drains but if you’ve support around you take their offers of help, my lot said they felt better being able to do something and i am eternally grateful to them.
it’s surprising how quickly you adapt and adjust to being a “uniboobster” it’s not a great look but my other half still fancies me and probably for the first time ever i’ve invested in a bra that fits properly (matalan do good post surgery)so it’s not obvious when i go out.
i hope all goes well for you on wednesday and there’s nothing wrong with having a “wibbly” moment x
Thank you for your comments - it’s surprising how much it helps to hear from people that are going through similar experiences. As daft as it sounds I sometimes feel quite isolated, like I’m the only one going through breast cancer, which is absolutely ridiculous I know!
I am now back home from hospital after the MX & lymph node clearance. Pleased to report everything went very well, I’ve not even needed any painkillers apart from the odd paracetemol. Still got a drain in, which is a pain (I’ve already forgot it was there & ended up dragging the bottle after me like a dog on a lead!). For a naturally clumsy person like me it’s quite difficult! The weirdest part is the numb bingo wing - as the nerves start firing back in it I get the strangest “pinging” feeling! Obviously am still all bandaged up so no idea what scar looks like yet but the uni-boobed look isn’t too scary!
Just got to wait until end of month to discuss findings of node clearance with consultant. Good luck to everyone else with their surgery x
I had my mx on Tuesday, I was terrified too, the Anethetists are absolutely fantastic and are very calming they really do look after you. I came home next day not too much pain and only had a couple of paracetomol. You also meet some really nice people in the hospital and they are all in the same boat which helps to calm you down a bit.