I was looking for some advice on when to start doing self-checks on my breasts. I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma at the end of August, and had a lumpectomy the middle of September followed by axillary node clearance at the start of October. Due to my wound taking a bit of time to heal and some hold ups waiting on additional scan results of my spine and liver, i just started chemotherapy last week. This has left me feeling a little bit paranoid that there could have been some spread between the cancer being removed and the start of chemo and wondered if I should be checking myself already? The problem is i think first of all im a little scared to and secondly my breast and underarm on the affected side definitely still don’t feel quite normal after surgery i dont think so worried ill feel things that are actually nothing to worry about! Any advice greatly appreciated!
I certainly understand the fear after treatment delays. I am 7 months post surgery and still not sure what my normal is. My breast is still changing after radiotherapy. I have my follow up appointment with the surgeon this week, and will be asking these questions as well. Needless to say the answer is I don’t know! But you must check your untreated breast as usual. I know this doesn’t help but just wanted to say you are not alone! X
Hi laurapts
Thank you for your post.
We commonly hear from people like yourself who have had surgery for primary breast cancer and are having other treatments which include chemotherapy to reduce their risk of breast cancer in the future.
Often it can feel very overwhelming as you finish one treatment and start another. You say you’re feeling a little bit paranoid and you’re not alone in feeling this way. Coping emotionally at times like this can be challenging.
After breast surgery, it’s common for the breast to feel different, this can be due to different things, such as scar tissue. Do talk through your fears and concerns with your breast care nurse and treatment team and ask them to talk you through what changes to expect as a result of surgery and what to look out for. It is difficult to say when to start self-checks, but it’s important to get to know how your breast feels after surgery, share how you feel and report any changes you notice, these are early days and it’s understandable that you feel a little scared. Getting used to how the body has changed after surgery can take some time.
As @angharad1 says she is still not sure what normal for her and her breast is still changing after radiotherapy, and you are not alone with your feeling and worries. She also says check the unaffected side as usual, which we encourage everyone to do.
It sounds like a difficult time for you and nearly everyone who is and has been treated for cancer worries about it coming back (recurrence).You’re not alone in being anxious about this.
Some people may benefit from talking therapy, such as counselling, to explore ways of managing their worries and concerns this may help now or later when your hospital treatments finish. You can speak to your GP or treatment team about this. Mindfulness can also be helpful.
Talking to someone who has had a similar experience can often be helpful. Our Someone Like Me service can match you with a trained volunteer who’s had a similar experience to you. You can be in touch with your volunteer by phone or email and they can share their personal experiences to answer your questions, offer support or simply listen to how you are feeling.
You can ring the Someone Like Me team on 0800 138 6551 or email them at someone.likeme@breastcancernow.org, so they can then match you to your volunteer.
As you have just started chemotherapy you may find our online forum for new starters helpful
Do call our helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to more support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks. The number is 0808 800 6000, If you have hearing or speech difficulties prefix our number with 18001 and the call will go through Relay UK. Our helpline has access to telephone interpreters if language translation is required.
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Best wishes
Helen
Breast Care Nurse
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