I’m in an unusual situation because I’m not actually undergoing treatment but have had a wire guided surgical biopsy to try and get a diagnosis.
My surgery was 10 days ago and I’m signed off from work until Friday when I go to clinic for them to check on my wound and get results.
Whilst I’m feeling better in myself, my breast feels very tender and can be painful. I’m ok pottering around my flat. I went to see my dad who is in a care home yesterday and ended up in lots of pain at the end of the day despite regular paracetamol.
I am a Reception teacher (4/5 year olds) so am starting to worry about how I’m going to be at work next week. It’s quite a physical job and if the children knock me. But I also feel silly that I’m still sore and bruised.
I keep saying to myself to wait until Friday to see about results and how the wound is but then the worry creeps in
Hello, it’s not silly at all. You’ve been through a surgical procedure which is blinking painful and not only that you have the added stress of waiting for the results which is an incredibly emotional time. Whatever your results are on Friday, if you still need more time off to recover then don’t feel guilty for taking it. I would imagine your job can be quite challenging and physical at times so you need to be properly recovered. Best of luck for your results, let us know how you get on x
Much the same as Twinks has mentioned. People are different, some feel pain more than others. The location and type of procedure can influence recovery. Many do not follow the “text” book example when it comes to recovery and dealing with these things.
If you’re still in pain and uncomfortable, that indicates to me, you are not ready for work. Waiting for results can be equally as bad on mental health and well being.
You will know when it feels right, don’t feel pressured or silly for needing extra time.
I took clinic appointments as opportunity to get a sick-note extension (they can generally give you another 2 weeks). Saved going to my GP, however, after that GP is your best bet as they will sometimes do 2months or more at a time, which means you don’t have to keep thinking about sorting renewals.
Had 6 months off in the end for op and radiotherapy- I contemplated going back in between op and radiotherapy, but had an infection in between the weeks so stayed off.
Don’t go back if you don’t have to. I did do a couple of shifts between biopsy and results, but it mentally distracts from your job so you don’t do your best work, and I didn’t have ongoing biopsy pain as you have had.
Thank you all for your replies, it’s really helped me to feel that I’m not being silly.
I’ve had a bit of a rough time with biopsies and failed biopsies since February. I’ve worked throughout with a day off after each biopsy because I know I suffer pain.
My poor breast this time had to have a wire inserted which didn’t work and then the whole procedure had to start again and this was before the op. I bled lots (all over the mammogram) and felt pain with the wire which they were surprised about.
My incision is around my nipple area which is plastered over at the moment and they have used glue where one of the wires was inserted. I think that my period may be coming too, all erratic due to the joys of the perimenopause, so I’m wondering if my breast swelling is making it worse.
I’ve seen a breast cushion that slots into a bra like an implant so maybe I could try that. Has anyone tried something like that?
I guess I just have to wait until Friday and speak to the surgeon about the pain and managing that and go from there.
I really feel for you, im 9wweks post op and still have pain, i was told by the medical team 6-8 weeks for inside to heal and can take months for fully healed.
Dont pressure yourself if you can stay off a little longer until your more ready, i would. Now is the time for taking extra care of you. Good luck and all the best to you
Sorry to hear you are still in pain from my professional experience many people have found the wire guided biopsies to be painful not just you . As you’ve had a few biopsies etc I’m wondering if a post- surgery bra might be a good investment - I had a failed VAE.and started wearing one of my M+S bras before my lumpectomy and was surprised how comfortable it was and how the extra support helped as like yourself I bled and was quite bruised ( I had the outline of the radiographers handprint on my boob for a good two weeks) .
Just to echo the others - if you can I would stay off until you feel well as you have a full on and slightly unpredictable job . The alternative might be if it’s feasible to do some work from home but you would have to have that discussion with your manager . I would wait until after you have had your results - and wishing you good luck by the way.
What with one thing and another including other injuries and having COVID I ended up being off from diagnosis in late November to the middle of July . Xx
It’s good to know that I’m not just a big baby. A friend of mine who has breast cancer had a lumpectomy and took no pain relief afterwards. Just shows how different we all are.
Poor you having the radiologists handprint on you! VAE’s are awful! I swear that machine hates me
I did the same as you and found a good support bra that is so comfortable but supportive. I’ve invested in a few and been wearing them since my first biopsy. I’ve been sleeping in them since the op as they help so much. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to an underwire bra again!
I think realistically, like you and everyone has said, I’ve got to go easy on myself. I normally like to give work an indication but I really can’t until Friday. I’ll also ask about pain relief. They said that they discharged me with 2 weeks of codeine but I discovered a few days later that it was only one. I know they didn’t want me to take anything else apart from that and paracetamol due to the risk of bleeding. Everything seems to rest on Friday, results, wound, pain. I hope that you are doing ok now
I’m quite a way down the line and doing ok thank you . I think if you’re still needing to take a lot of Codeine then work should definitely be out of the equation . If you are normally able to take Ibuprofen then I should ask at your appointment if you can have that now as hopefully the risk of bleeding should be minimal now . I never used a breast cushion I also had crop tops with removable pads and used to put those inside my bra for extra cushioning or to put a bit of extra pressure on . Hope your appointment goes well xx
Hi, candy5. By all means, take your time going back to work. I went back too soon and underestimated the emotional pain I felt, much less the physical pain. I’m 8 months since my surgery and I still have some pain in my cancer boob sometimes. Every body heals differently. Give yourself the grace of recovery. It’s a marathon.
I wanted to update you all after my appointment yesterday and share some good news…I have not got cancer! Benign changes including a fibroadenoma (now two in that breast), ductal mastitis and calcium. My wound has fully healed (although no bath for another few weeks) I’m no longer in pain (what a difference a week made) and I am going back to work on Monday. The scar looks very good, a perfect semi circle around my nipple area.
My journey started in February which has involved so many failed biopsies, anxiously waiting, not knowing, MRI scans, MDTs and finally a wire guided excision surgical biopsy.
You have all been so kind, caring, thoughtful and reassuring to me, despite what you are going through or have been through. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart Having you to share with has saved me from going totally insane. Each one of you is a very special person and I wish you all the best in your treatment, recovery, living with cancer or life post cancer.
I have been extremely lucky to have a wonderful team at the hospital, the mammogram radiologist and my surgeon who had the determination to get answers for me, although I doubted it at points whilst waiting, they have been amazing. I couldn’t have asked for a better team.
Hi all, so I went back to work on a high of my results but after a morning was in so much pain, my breast was throbbing and felt swollen even with pain killers. I went into work the next morning crying in pain and of course as the morning went on the pain got worse. No one could understand why I was in so much pain. I was told to get the strongest painkillers and carry on like nothing happened.
I went to my GP who had worked in breast surgery so said he had seen how intensive it is. He said that my breast and body had been through so much and was still healing. He gave me codeine and signed me off for a month. I feel like I’m back at square one, the first few days after the operation.
Work hit the roof and now have an occupational health assessment tomorrow.
Sometimes it’s best to stay off until you feel right - your supervisor may not be happy but at least everyone knows where they are . I’ve also made the mistake of going back too soon - not after breast cancer surgery and treatment as I had learned my lesson by then but I did after a shoulder injury and also after labyrinthitis . On Tuesday my colleague who had been off with a vertigo type bug came in for her shift on a day when we were busy and short staffed due to other sickness but didn’t even last an hour and had to go home - honestly it would have been better had she not come in at all though I understand why she did.
I understand the pressure to get back to work and the guilt you feel ( and are made to feel ) being off but sometimes it’s better to put yourself first . Just because you turned out not to have cancer doesn’t mean you haven’t been through a lot. It’s good that you have an understanding GP and the Occupational Health Assessment could end up working in your favour - make sure that you tell them everything that has happened. Write down the date of all your appointments and tests what happened and when.
Do you have a post - surgery bra at all ? They aren’t just for people who have had mastectomy or even lumpectomy . Three years down the line I still wear mine as I find them to be more comfortable and supportive and they were important to help my breast recover as I have a tendency to bruise and bleed more than average and when I underwent my surgery there was still a bit of haematoma remaining from my failed VAE 7 weeks previously. When it swelled up after radiotherapy I had got a bit blase about what I was wearing. I was wearing the post surgery bra in the day but in the evening sometimes wandering about the house without anything but the BCN put me straight on that when I went to the clinic about something else - there was a definite improvement after going back into my support bra. M+S have a good selection and I’ve found the Flexi fit crop tops useful as well. Lots of love Xx
Having you to share with has saved me from going totally insane. Each one of you is a very special person and I wish you all the best in your treatment, recovery, living with cancer or life post cancer.
