Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi all,  just wanted to add to the already great advice given.  I had a mastectomy, no recon, and also node clearance although that was a separate surgery.  My mastectomy was pretty straight forward and I was home within about 6 hours, same with the nodes. As mentioned by the other ladies I didn't need pain killers just rest and remember to do the exercises to get the arm moving again.  I can imagine having this to deal with along side the restrictions of Covid 19 must be doubly hard.. But don't feel afraid to reach out to the forum. There's always someone around on here.   I remember so many on here tell v me that once treatment started I would feel more in control and they were right, so hopefully you'll get dates for surgery soon and can begin. To move forward. Take care Kip ... View more

Hi ladies,. Just wanted to add ive had the shielding letter too and i finished active treatment in dec 2018,. Had chemo and rads and on Tamoxifen.  Ive checked with my oncology team and advised i am not classed as extremely vulnerable and can have my hour exercise as per everyone else.  They have been inundated by people getting these letters who do not fit the categories ,. She thinks they have been filtered by using the words, cancer chemo etc.    It was very worrying to receive it though ... View more

Hi Tansy,  yes I had full mastectomy.. No recon.  Still remaining flat and happy with that.  Its not for everyone though and a very difficult decision to make.  I have to say my scar, although long, is very neat and fading quickly.  I didn't panic about looking at it,  after my op I immediately checked they had taken the right one and was surprised by the piece of tape over it.. Was expecting bandages padding etc.  No stitches, just glue and before I left hospital (6 hrs later!). The nurse gaved me a soft prosthetic to wear in a soft bra and off I went.  Now I have knitted knockers which are soft and light and I ding notice they are there.   KIP   ... View more

Hi Tansy,  glad all the support and our stories are helping.  It's a passage of rights. . I had so many lovely ladies who told me their stories when I was diagnosed and it helps to know others got through it doesn't it. Jane has pretty much told you everything I did too, keep up with the exercises to get movement back after surgery. And I was the same with chemo, ropey for a few days each cycle but you get through and I still managed to work and go out.   Oh and just wanted to say, the op was only 2 hours long and I was home within 6 hours of going into hospital... not a 6 hour op.    I had the drain in for a few days, but it was no problem and the nurse came round to take it out, easy peasy.. didn't hurt at all. Keep strong, you'll get there and once you have the plan in place you will feel much better. Kip x ... View more

Hi Tansy,. Ive just read your post and it took me right back to my diagnosis in 2018.  Sjnce then ive had masectomy, no recon, chemo, node clearance and radiotherapy..and now coming to 2 years clear.  The beginning of this journey is just awful..processing the diagnosis the tests everything is overwhelming BUT youll get through it, just take is one step at a time.  Take any help you can, my hospital had lots of help groups and things , reflexology etc. All helpful.  Im on tamoxifen too, for 10 years..not without its side effects but im living life , working full time and feel great.  And as for looking at the masectomy afterwards..  i was soooo surprised just how neat and tidy it all looked..healed quickly jn fact in and out of hospital in about 6 hours... And now i dont really think about it..its my battle scar and shows just how toughh us warrior woman are. Bug hug Kip ... View more

Hi lilyb,. You poor thing.   I used Igloo gel for my ulcers as well as salt water. Its available off the shelf.   It may be worth seeing if you have oral thrush,. Mine was really sore and i was given fluconozole to take each cycle and it certainly didnt get so bad again.     Speak to your hotline, i did and they gave me a prescription that day.  Ice lollies or ice-cream may help with the mouth too, or i found fruit tea was nice.  Tonic water was refreshing too.     Kip xx ... View more

Hi lillyb,. Ii cant cant imagine how hard this is with a newborn i have the biggest admiration for you.  Youve been given great advice already but i just wanted to add that the manuka honey for a sore mouth is great and i also made a botttle of cooled boiled water with salt in and regularly swished that around my mouth.  You can get a mouthwash called Difflam too, you can ask the hospital to provide some for you for next cycle.  I developed mouth thrush on occasions and the hospital  would give me some medication for each cycle and id start that as soon as i felt a tingle. If you're having the self administered injections too they can cause fluey type aching but should ease as soon as the injections stop.  Dont hesitate to call your chemo hotline if you feel too poorly as they may be able to help you.   Keep a note of how you feel each  day as it may be a pattern for next time. And you can then start treatments before they take hold.  I found day 5-6... Emotionally tough and the mid week worse for symptoms but things picked up again. Rest all you can...kip ... View more

Hi Reddi,  lovely to hear from you. Seems you have been so busy but glad all faring well.  As Feenix said it's coming up to mammo time for a lot of us... Just trying to keep calm and carry on. Good luck with the job Kip ... View more

Indeed. No truer words ever spoken  Kip ... View more

Hi hope,  definateky agree being alive with one boob is much preferred time the other option. You sound like you've got some support for after the op which is great, I felt a great relief to get the C out and moving forward with treatment but do expect the emotions to hit you, it's usual after anesthetic without the added stress of BC so just be ready for it if it happens.   It's good you'll be drain free before you going home. One less thing to worry about. Ill be thinking of you Kip  ... View more

Thanks ladies it's comforting to know its kinda the new normal to feel like this makes a big difference..kip xx ... View more

Hello Wonky, I know these posts were from a couple of weeks ago, but I have been avoiding the forum a bit as I have been feeling a bit "wobbly" myself.   Had a really good couple of months, where I felt positive and upbeat and thought Yup I can do this.  Then out of nowhere the fear, the gremlin, the wondering all came back.  I am putting it down to different Tamoxifen brands but I'm sure its a state of mind we are all having/will have throughout the coming years.   Not sure how you deal with it, I've tried lots of things too and sometimes I just have to say things out loud to myself, repeat the things the doctors and nurses have said and try to make sense of it all.  Its tough.. no doubt about it and like you I've not asked too much about my cancer.  I know it was the invasive ductal type, grade 2 and some small bits in the lymph nodes.  At the time I didn't want to know more, just cracked on with the chopping, poisoning and then burning treatments!  Very barbaric when put like that I know.. Lets hope one day they look back and say "crikey do you remember when we used to treat cancer with poison and burning!".   I'm glad you seem to be dealing with it a bit better now.  Although there are no answers to how we can live with the fear.. it really helps me to see I'm not the only one. Thanks for your posts. Kip x ... View more

Hi hope,  I was diagnosed in April 2018..and sounds similar to you.  Initially one lump but after mri some other areas of speckled nasties so full mastectomy.  I chose to remain flat and still am, and happy too.  The op itself was very straight forward.  I was in theatre at 9am and back home by 3pm on same day,  one strip of plaster and a drain.  The drain was in for 3 days but manageable and was easily removed at home by nurse.   The wound healed quickly.  Just remember to do the exercises you get given as soon as possible as they help to get the movement back.  Take it slowly at first but do them as far as you can. As for the sentinel node bit.. If it's what I had it was an injection the day before surgery of a dye which f in nds its way to the nodes and when you are under anesthestic they can see the sentinel node as it shows  up blue, that way theyknow which to take.  It didn't hurt just like a blood test. A few tips for post op,  front fastening shirts and a soft post op front fastening bra, I got mine from Asda online,  take a cushion to put under your arm and under seat belt for journey home.  A triangular pillow helped with sleep at first as you can't lay on your side for a bit. Hospital gave me a heart shaped cushion to pop under the poorly arm which makes t comfy too.  But all in all just rest up but also try to have a little stroll every so often as it's good for circulation.  It won't seem like it now but you'll get through this,  I've had 2 ops chemo and rads and am out the other side... We've got you, hang in there you are not alone x Kip ... View more

Hi Jem, just read your post about the hair,. Oh thats a tough time...mine started shedding at about 12 days after 1st chemo.  2 days later i braved the shave.  I wont lie that was hard.  I suddenly felt and looked like the cancer patient.  BUT. Once it was gone thats another hurdle passed.  Do you have a wig? I got a voucher from hospital for mine and it looked great.  Also loads of lovely hats and scarves on line.  Lots of ladies embrace the bald look too and you develop this warrior mentality of staring out the starers... I would twitch my wig to shock them.  Good news is hair stared growing by chemo 5 and now, just over year later..thick anc growing. Ive attached some photos of me along the way..and in the wig Big hug ki ... View more

Hi I just wanted to add that I have blood tests done every 6 months as part of a trial and my blood counts were low for a while, I was told after the chemo etc they may never reach the old normal level again but it was a new normal for me. They are back up again now but I worried too...  Still do around results time.. Hang in there xxx ... View more

Hi Sarjaba,   hope you are doing OK and all went well.  In answer to your question, I am  post treatment, I had the masectomy, chemo, ANC clearance and rads in 2018 so about 1 year since end of active treament.  Am on Tamoxifen for 10 years and participating in a trial called Add Aspirin.  So they through the worst and getting life back on track.  Let us know how you are as soon as you feel able. Kip Ps.. A steel nerf shooting boob would be something!  ... View more

Hello Sarah and Delly,  I remember having those decisions to make.. I chose to go flat,  being  very small chested anyway there's not too much difference really.  I just didn't want lengthy surgery, my surgery was over all done in a morning and I was home mid afternoon on same day.  I'm quite OK with my flat side but still have the option. On recon in the future. I was shown photos of what the different options would look like and that helped too.  It's  very personal choice so you go with what feels right for you,  I did a poll of all my friends to see what they would do and we all chose very differently.  As felt said until the minute you're gowned up you still dither.. But you'll get there, just don't rush it.. Good luck and with the chemo too.  Had that as well and rads which was another factor why I chose to stay flat.. At least for now. Kip ... View more

Well done Jemmalou.  One ticked off!   Glad you are feeling ok, I'm sure the fear was far worse than the deed for me.  Keep taking it easy though.  Are you having FEC-T?  I can't remember.   You mentioned the lack of sleep... I remember that well.  Are you on steroids?  They used to play havoc with my sleep and once I came off them I would have a very emotional/mood swing couple of days but it passed and it usually followed the same pattern each cycle.. kids and hubby knew to keep out the way for a while!   I found it useful to keep a diary every day, writing down symptoms and as a reminder of what tablets I'd taken when.  You do get to see a pattern to each cycle so can plan for side effects and can tell the nurses so that you get appropriate treatments in place in advance.  I would get oral thrush with the T part of my chemo, so once I'd realised they would give me some treatment to start as soon as I felt it coming and it stopped it getting bad anymore.   Keep strong. Kip   Kip x ... View more

Hello Linda,  lovely to hear from you.  Glad you are doing well.  Its coming up to my 2 year anniversary soon so mammogram time in April.. Always a tense time but otherwise feeling OK. Still hot flushing like a demon tho.  ... View more

I love Teva too and can't get it now.  I'm having a different brand every time now,  currently Wockhardt but got relon and Tillomed too.. I stopped the Tillomed as was really stiff and achy but might not have been related, so will try that again next.  I hate being switched every month but pharmacy just just shrug  ... View more