I’ve not posted for a while. My best friend is undergoing chemo and is now on the final stretch of that before her surgery. (That’s been step 1 in her treatment to shrink the tumour.) She’s been coping fantastically so far, despite having severe reaction to her 1st Taxotere (following 3xFEC) and being switched to weekly Taxol. One more of those to go.
She likes to deal with things one day at a time, as they arise, and doesn’t like asking any questions about what to expect. Doesn’t even want to know the size, grade, stage of the tumour. She is just leaving all that to the doctors and goes along with whatever they tell her to do at the time. Not at all like me who wants to know all the details up front… but it’s not about me and I respect HER way of coping.
However, we are now approaching surgery and, although she’s not ready to talk about it, I know she’s getting worried about what it will entail, though is trying not to think about it. Her tumour has, so far, shrunk from 6cm to 3cm (I found this out from her husband/onc nurses) and one of 3 nodes tested showed a trace of cancer. I had always had the belief (not sure why - possibly from rare, vague conversations with my friend) that her surgery would be a lumpectomy and node clearance, but this week her husband indicated that the surgery might be more aggressive - with high potential for mastectomy or (sorry, I don’t know the term) partialy mastectomy - in that she may lose a good portion of her breast.
One of the reasons I’m eager to get my friend considering what the surgery will mean ahead of time (slowly, gently, with lots of support) is so that she can plan for it, and psych herself up to it, rather than leave things to the last moment and then crumble. I know what she’s like. So… finally… to get around to my question…!
Can any of you wonderful ladies give me any idea how extensive the surgery might be? Perhaps it’s an impossible question to ask as it will depend on her consultants approach and many other factors about the size and grade/stage of her cancer. It would be interesting to know the thoughts of others who may have gone through similar experience in terms of tumour size/node involvement.
WF
Oh… and what is average (I know everyone’s different) recovery time post op in terms of being up to travelling for much needed holiday?
What a lovely friend you are!
I recently had a full mx after chemo and after having had a lumpectomy and node removal back in September.
The mastectomy is a much easier op then having the node removal. Mobility returns more quickly too. There is the usual fatigue after any general anaesthetic . I started feeling more normal after 2 weeks.
For me a mx was not a big deal, not after two other ops and 7 rounds of chemo! The media would have us believe that any mx is utterly devastating, yet for me and a lot of women on this site, it is upsetting, but not a big deal in big scheme of things, especially after chemo!
My best cancer support came from friends who dropped off meals and stayed for a cuppa (but not too long!), sent nice little get well cards, and simply offered in a very genuine way to do anything to help!
That said, there is no way she will go in for a lumpectomy and come out with a full mx. It has to be discussed and signed off beforehand.
It is difficult to say as we don’t know enough about her cancer. I had lobular cancer which was about 6cm +. I had 4 FEC first which did shrink it to about 2cm but still had a mastectomy. The reason was due to the type of cancer it was. I then had 4 taxotere afterwards and radiotherapy.
I also had a full axillary clearance. Sometimes they remove one or two layers of lymph nodes but I had all three removed.
Mobility is harder after an axillary clearance as Gretchen says. I had quite a lot of discomfort in my arm and it was impossible to lift it up much at first. You are given exercises to do and they really do work. After about 6 weeks I suddenly regained full movement and the pain went. The more rigorous your friend can be about doing the exercises the better. I still do mine twice a day.
I can’t say that everything was plain sailing for me but I got there in the end and all is completely and well healed. The best thing is to use this forum for any questions now matter how small you may think they are. There is such a range of experiences that you almost always get an answer. The helpline is fantastic too.
take care and good luck to your friend
Elinda x
Not sure if I was clear about lymph nodes. I had cancer detected in the first two layers of lymph nodes and so had three layers of nodes removed. I had 9 out of 17 nodes with cancer. Elinda x
I had chemo first too; like your friend my tumour went from about 6cm to 3. I had skin sparing mastectomy with an expander implant, which is soon to be replaced by a silicone one. Also full node clearance. I have to say, and I know we are all different, I felt fine after a few days and was mobile very quickly afterwards. My husband took 2 weeks off work to look after me, cook for the family etc but I could have managed at a stretch after about 9 -10 days.
For me chemo was tougher !
Hi
I can’t help with advice on what is to come but just wanted to say hi and that your friend is very similar to me. I am nearing the end of chemo 2 more to go, had a reaction to Tax, now back on FEC and reducing 6cm / 6cm lump. Don’t know if there is node involvement as no sentient node removal (wish i had that done before chemo).
I have been thinking about the surgery for the last few weeks and looking into what i can have done. Am finding it a bit of a scary concept, how will i feel how will my partner feel. Reconstruction types and recovery times. There is a lot of information and i feel it has been good to look into things as with each step i find it over whealming for a while. Then i can take things on board and make better decisions. I am personally thinking about a double mastectomy due to family history and a suspected DCIS that has disapeared with chemo on the other side.
The info on this site about surgery and reconstruction is great and a good place to start as is the info from the ladies on here. A good thread that answered some of my questions is “how to live breast free”
What a lovely friend you are for looking into this i am sure you are a great support to your friend. If you need any help or info, just get in touch.
Love
Jaynexxx
Elinda - What did you mean by saying you had a mastectomy due to the type of cancer? Did you mean because it was lobular, or because of the grade/stage? I had lobular but only had a WLE.
Ann x
Thank you all for your replies. I know there are so many factors to consider regarding surgery and I gather that the location of the tumour is also quite key. My friend’s is just the the side of her nipple and, from what I’ve read, I gather this is not a good place (like anywhere is?!) in terms of breast conservation. But we’ll have to wait and see what the onc recommends.
I’m interested in learning more about nodes. She had a trace found in the sentinel node and was told to expect full axillary clearance. From your posts it sounds like there are different levels of nodes and full clearance doesn’t necessarily mean clearance of all levels… or does it? Forgive my ignorance. I need to do a bit (lot!) more reading.
WF
You probably won’t get all the information you want from reading. Every person’s case is different so treatment plans are quite individualised. Sentinel node biopsy wasn’t available at my hospital so can’t help with that I’m afraid.
Ann - yes I did have lobular cancer but the main reason I had the mastectomy was that the tumour was multi-focal plus the size.
Elinda x
In answer to your question, full axillary clearance does mean that all the lymph nodes are removed.
Elinda x