HI, I had a mastectomy and lymph node sweep at the age of 41. I had mine after chemo, and I did not have recon immed. That I am glad about. I felt the actual mastectomy was a walk in the park. I got rid of my cancer. The post op pain was next to nothing I couldnt believe it. Yes you are uncomfortable but I had more pain from the lymph node sweep and even that wasnt too much pain. I agreed with my team in not having the recon immediately. Skin reacts differently to th rads and the whole treatment. I have had no problems with my mastectomy nor waiting for my recon. Everyones bodies are unique and although we can share information and similarities with treatments pain etc the bottom line is, your body is diferent and reacts differently to mine.
My scar healed beautifully and I am waiting for my recon DIEP. It is frighening waiting for the op, but as my youngest son said to me I dont know why anyone would want to cry about getting cancer removed from them. Such words for someone so young! thought a mastectomy was going to be unbelievably painful, the truth is its the emotional scars that are worst or so I believe.
Interstingly lots of women I have spoken to (sorry to those males who have had a mastectomy but I have not met or spoken to you) seem to have handled the mastectomy worst if at the start of the treatment rather than later on. That said again, we are all individuals.
You will be in the right place to obtain both physical as well as emotional help. You will be fine and although you have a short wait, your almost there.
Best of luck to you, we are very lucky in this country to get this wonderful treatment available to us freely.
Thinking of you
JO xx
PS: I have noted a famous poem here for you: Author unknown:
Don’t Quit
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow–
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out–
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit–
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.
