Breast Cancer Now Forum

Thank you so much Sudzi.  I am so pleased I found this website as when I have a panic there is always someone there to calm me down.  I have some good friends but I miss someone in the house to share my feelings and worries.  I had my pre-op assessment today and the operation is set for the morning of the 22nd. I will keep in touch with you all and thank you again for all your thoughts. Lots of love and hugs, from Brenda xxx ... View more

Thank you everyone for calming me down.  I got this into my head last night and had very little sleep.  I know I am getting more anxious as my operation is next week.  I cannot thank you enough for all your support and I will keep you all updated. Hope you are all doing okay. Lots and lots ol love and hugs from Brenda xxxxx ... View more

Hi Moijan, Hope you are okay.  Time for my surgery is getting near.  I am sure I will need chemo and something else is now worrying me.  I have heard that you get an injection about 24 hours after the chemo to boost your white cells.  I have read that this causes excruciating bone pain afterwards.  Have you had this injection or heard of it?  I know I am crossing my bridges before I come to them but I am just trying to settle my mind.   Sorry to keep bothering you but your help and support is much appreciated.   Lots of love, Brenda xxx ... View more

Hi Janey and Stacey,  Thank you for your suggestions.  I think I would prefer to go to the local care home for a couple of weeks when there is someone there 24/7.  I am just worried in case I cannot get in and out of bed during the night.  My friends have promised to help with the hair washing when I get home but I hope in the future I will not suffer any permanent weakness and be able to get in and out of the bath. You are all so kind and I will let you know what happens. Love, Brenda xx ... View more

Thank you for all your help and patience Sue.  It is very much appreciated. Lots of love, Brenda xxx ... View more

Hi Sue,  Thank you so much for your help.  I know it is going to be hard for me with the double but bearing in mind how you managed with the one, do you think I might be able to cope at home after two weeks in the care home?  Do you think I will be able to get in and out of bed and what is your estimate as to how long it might take to pull myself out of the bath? I  am not having reconstruction.  I know everyone is different but I am feeling at the moment that I am going to be debilitated for months! Lots of love, Brenda xxx ... View more

Hi Sudzi,  Thank you so much for caring.  Don' t feel good this morning and just want a good cry.  I am having both breasts removed on the 22nd and am now worrying about coping -fear of the unknown.  Worrying if I will not be able to wash and style my very greasy hair, when will I be able to do my washing and make my bed, will I be able to get in and out of bed myself, not to mention when will I be able to pull myself out of the bath (I don't have a shower).   As I live alone, I have made enquiries about staying st a local care home for a couple of weeks, just so I have some help. I promise to keep in touch with you all. Lots and lots of love, Brenda xxx ... View more

Hi Sudzi,  Thank you for your thoughts on the 22nd.  I am having a bilateral mastectomy with sentinel lymph nodes.  Please keep your fingers crossed that they are negative.  I am trying to keep busy to take my mind off things but it is not easy.  I will let you all know how I get on.   Lots of love, Brenda xxx ... View more

I think it is great news that your nodes are clear.  I am so pleased for you.  I hope I get good news like this when I have my surgery on the 22nd. Lots of love, Brenda xx ... View more

Hi Moijan,  Just to let you know that I go for my pre-op assessment on Tuesday 13th.  Mentally I am up and down.   The anxiety is making me feel very tired and I have no motivation.  Is this normal?  Operation the following week.  I have been told that it is very difficult to lie in bed and to get in and out of bed following bilateral mastectomy.  I hope I  can manage as I cannot be ringing friends and neighbours during the night.  I will keep in touch.  Hope you are okay. Love, Brenda xx ... View more

Hi Helen,  I had a vacuum biopsy a couple of weeks ago and wore my bra immediately afterwards.  The test itself is not painful but the only short discomfort was the anaesthetic injection.  I had very little discomfort afterwards and had a bit of bruising. Good luck. Love, Brenda xxx ... View more

I feel the same.  Been diagnosed with breast cancer in both breasts and to have a double mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsies on the 22nd September.  I have been on another thread and am getting so much help from this site.  My heart won't stop pounding, I don't want to eat.  I am sleeping because the worry has got me exhausted but I wake about 4 am and then my mind starts.  I am trying to battle it and friends are very supportive.  I live on my own and have no family living locally and at times it just seems too much to bear.  I will let you all know how I get on. Love, Brenda xxx ... View more

Thank you Moijan.  You have calmed me down and I feel much better,  I cannot thank you enough. Lots and lots of love, Brenda xxx ... View more

Hi Moijan,  My main worry is if the lymph nodes are positive.  Yes, also concerned about lymphoedema.  In time will I still be able to do what I do now?  When you live alone you have just to get on with it, cutting the grass, ironing, hoovering etc.  I know I am looking too far ahead but that is my nature.  I am still happy about the double mastectomy as I know after that I will not have more mammograms etc. to get anxiou about.   Thank you for being so patient, I really do appreciate the support I am getting from you all. Lots of love, Brenda xxx ... View more

Thank you Moijan.  I felt a bit more settled when I came back from the hospital but I am feeling a bit shaky now - when it is dark and you are sitting on your own.  I know I have made the right choice as I cannot live in any more dread of mammography appointments every year and living in fear of the result and the possibility of all this happening again.  It is the lymph node situation that is in the forefront of my mind now.  I will just have to try and keep myself busy until the operation and try to control my anxiety, but it is not easy with my worrying temperament.  I shall keep in touch with you all and let you know what happens next. Lots of love, Brenda xxx ... View more

Hi Sue,   Many thanks for your reply.  I had a long chat with the surgeon.  I had two DCIS lesions removed from both breast in 1991 and 1997 and now all this.  I want an end to it with no more mammograms to cause me more anxiety every year initially.  The surgeon thought that in my situation it was best.  Apparently the ultrasound did not show node involvement but he said the sentinel biopsy would cause less damage.  I still feel frightened but I think this is going to be best for me in dealing with future anxiety.  I have been given a sheet of post-operative exercises.  I know chemo may be the next step after this and this terrifies me.  I am so pleased I have found this site and thank you for all your support. Lots of love, Brenda xxx ... View more

Dear all,  Just got back from the hospital.  Surgeon recommends a double mastectomy with sentinal lymph node biopsy on both sides.  Going into hospital on the 22nd.  He was very nice and I feel a bit more settled now I know what is going to happen.   I will still keep in touch with you all as I feel I have made some lovely new friends and I know I have got more to face. Thank you for all your good wishes. Lots and lots of love,  Brenda xxxxx ... View more

Thank you so much.  Everyone is so kind and reassuring.  I will let you all know how I get on tomorrow. Lots of love, Brenda xxx ... View more

Hi Ruth and Sue,  Thank you so much for your support.  When I read your posts they do really help to calm me down.  I see the surgeon tomorrow and, if he agrees, then I think double mastectomy would be best for me from the emotional point of view, instead of a mastectomy on one and lumpectomy on the other.  I will let you know how I get on. Lots of love, Brenda xxxx ... View more

Hi Stacey,  Thank you for getting in touch.  My heart has not stopped racing since I got the diagnosis.  I try to sleep but wake about 4 am and just shake.  I am relying on friends and neighbours but they have their own lives and I don't want to be any trouble.  I will let you all know what the surgeon says tomorrow.  At the moment I feel I am in a black tunnel and there is no light at the end. Lots of love, Brenda xxx ... View more