Well it’s op two tomorrow. The mastectomy with aux clearance of nodes… In some ways I am excited, sad. But it’s a move in the right direction then chemo/rads. But also feeling very anxious to what I will look like. My WLE scar looks really good and has surprised me. But I have no idea what I’ll look like. Obviously I have looked at a few photos on some websites but it’s just not the same as they are pictures taken well after removal. Anyone know any sites where I can look at just after surgery photos? Feel a little strange wanting to see but I hate surprises! Do you know where I’m coming from?
Can’t really help either as my op didn’t involve lymph nodes but mastectomy wound is not as bad as I had feared. As you say, the important thing is that you’re getting started with the treatment. Hope all goes really well - I’m sure it will. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Lots and lots of luck for tomorrow… can’t help with piccies am afraid as just saw the ones my surgeon had of people post mast…have since posed for a few myself! Just after surgery I was pretty swollen. Had right sided mastectomy and little armpit shrivelled to almost nothing as swollen on that side. Felt like I couldn’t put arm down by side as resting on swelling…but it went down fairly quickly. I just have small scar on back under bra and circular scar where nipple was removed which is pretty faint now. Had surgery in March.
Am having chemo now, but before I started was swimming, didn’t feel that it noticed at all in cossie. Feels pretty natural to me now…
I really hope it goes well. You’re right, it is important step and they step that gets it out so they can start blitzing to make sure it doesn’t come back.
let us know how you get on
Liz x
Also advice: they say I’ll be coming home with drains in for one week… Well I’m not sure I want to be at home with my children with tubes sticking out of me… I dont want to be a real sick note but can I request to stay in longer? Obviously they ‘need the bed’. But do you think it would be realistic?
love Vanessa
Hi Vanessa, the drains aren’t that bad, you only have to keep them in if there more than 50mil each day, so hopefully you will drain quickly but they do give you little bags to put them in, they don’t look bad, but if you feel you need to stay in longer then voice your concerns with your sugeon tomorrow. anyway, look forward to hearing from you when you get back to us, keep well
Hi Vanessa.
I had my mastectomy last July, I didn’t think I’d get over it so quickly, I kept positive all the way thru, I wanted to be as ‘normal’ as posible, believe me the time will fly past, the drains are not that bad, I stayed in for a week so the drains were taken out before I left hospital, it doesn’t hurt, don’t worry youv’e got lots and lots of support from this fantastic site, I’m now ready for the next stage all chemo etc has ended so now i’ts, new boob here I come. and the added benefit of a free tummy tuck!!!
Hi Vanessa
I had mastectomy and aux clearance in May and it wasnt as bad as i expected. I was surprised at how little discomfort i had, i didnt feel the drains at all, but my consultant would not let me home until they were removed one on day 5 and one on day 6, im sure if you ask you could stay in longer.
My mastectomy scar was not such a shock as mum had one 25 years ago and never had a recon, so i new what to expect, i was just relieved to have the tumour gone from my body.
I wish you all the best for your op and will be thinking of you tommorow.
Love Rachel
just new to this site had my mastectomy and lymch glands removed 4 weeks ago hope all went well for you today. you get used to it very quickly and the drains are not to much of a problem will be seeing DR on 28th to find out when chemo begins, can anyone tell me if it is possible to go back to work when you are having treatment. think this is a great site and goodluck and godbless you all.stay positive it really does help
caty x
If you don’t need to back to work I wouldn’t. It seems a bit early after all you have had. I only had Lump/Lymph nodes and that was 7 weeks ago and I am still off. I did offer to back part time this week but then I had a visit from my company’s Nurse who advised personnel that I wasn’t fit enough so hey they don’t want me back until they are happy. Suits me.
I think you need much longer to recover but it depends how you feel my love.
It wasn’t pratical for me to work during chemo even though I felt ok but I am VERY glad I didn’t give time to work whilst putting my body through a battering over the months.
One thing to bear in mind, you are having this treatment to ensure your survival, work will still be there when you get back and by the time you get back you might want to change to part time or even leave. In the grand scheme of things your No 1 priority is doing whatever you can to prolong your life, work is way down the list and, leaving aside support from friends and colleagues at work, work itself is quite inconsequential.
I’ve got some admiration for women who juggle the treatment, family, work balls but I really question the invisible stress they put on themselves in order to keep some “normal” appearance/feeling. I was juggling several balls around the time my tunours were developing so I always wonder …
At the same time I appreciate and regret that some women have limited choices due to financial circumstances.