So against the odds (well the ones I was given anyway) my cancer came back. Four years later…
I am almost…ALMOST at a place of acceptance about that but you know how that cancer train doesn’t wait!(unless it’s going through the Tunnel of Waiting for Results where it nearly grinds to a screeching stop - or was all that screeching me?) Now the mastectomy looms in the near future , as in Wednesday, and I’m wondering what you all might know about how to help the tissue heal - especially since I’ve had the radiation and the scar from the lumpectomy is dense and this all makes it “high risk” scenario as far as blood supply to the tissue goes.
I understand The Doctors do their part by installing a scaffolding of pig skin inside the “new boob” and then lots and lots of compression bandages -so I’m just wondering is there a supplement? Healthy juice? special aztec herb that only blooms under a blue moon on an island that’s surrounded by sharks that I can take??
I think it’s common enough to have this problem when breast cancer strikes for the second time so I would appreciate hearing about your experiences with this…as I’d really like to keep the new boob. It’s how I’m making jugs of lemonade out of the tumour filled lemons…
I was made to use a bear hugger - awful hot air blanket that helps blood supply but makes you feel horrible!! Some areas use a hot water bra but these are expensive. It was on for a few days.
My plastic surgeon recommended taking arnica for a week before the op & rubbing arnica cream in twice a day for a week before & 3 after. Not sure if this was for general healing though.
What recon surgery are you having? I had (September 2014) mastectomy with immediate implant with pig strattice which sounds like what you may be having. Later had this replaced by expander prior to rads then implant with a synthetic “sling” “hammock” " scaffolding" six months post rads. Then a couple of years later (August this year) I had a DIEP - tummy tuck to create boob from own tummy tissue.
My onco-breast surgeon recommended multi vitamins with Zinc which has a positive affect on immunity.
Radiated skin is a problem as it can be very thin and not stretchy so tricky to work with. Massage the scars loads, on dry skin so you can stretch it and prevent it getting tied to the traumatised tissue below. Then massage with moisturiser, oil or bio-oil to make it soft and pliable.
I didn’t have any compression bandages with the implants. I did have some swelling and was advised not to ice it as that’s a lymphodema risk (26 lymph nodes affected).
With the DIEP I had 3 days wrapped in cotton wool as thick as lift insulation in a very hot room which is supposed to help the blood supply. Also had hourly checks 24/7 to ensure the flap had taken.
Good support sports or post surgery bra is recommended - my hospital supplied them for the first ops, but the last op I bought some (M&S have a good selection and fitting service) once the swelling had gone down a bit.
Unfortunately I don’t think there’s a wonder drug or miracle speedy recovery solution other than eat healthily, rest, do your exercises regularly and look after yourself.
Wishing you best of luck on Wednesday. The first week is the worst then you’ll start to make progress x