Breast Cancer Now Forum

hi  i hope your operation went well and you don’t have too much pain, I had WLE with axillary clearance on 29th March just three weeks after my screening, I hope you have some good support as it must be hard living on your own, please feel free to private message me if you ever need a chat, take things easy, i’ve Been lucky and not had to much pain, but I did have a seroma that I had to have drained, take care ... View more

Yvonne it sounds like your all sorted now and ready for the next op, when I had a drain a found a little cloth bag to hold the drain in helped, I wore it across my body like a handbag, it leaves you with both hands free, also hubby bought me one of those squishy soft sausage cushions, it really helps to rest my arm on, I think it’s filled with polystyrene balls, they removed 16 nodes for me and 4 were positive, but I said well 12 were clear, apparently one node was very enlarged as it was fighting the cancer, nice to know we have these warriors within, I’m glad to hear the nurse will call out and see to the drain for you, that’s one less thing to worry about, I got a call yesterday and I have my CT appointment for this Thursday, but I did ask for Glan Clwyd,  Sandra, good luck for you tomorrow, really praying for a positive way forward for you,  have a nice day ladies, my new swinging seat is coming today, So hoping for a nice sunny day,  ... View more

Fingers crossed for you for good news at your appointment, I’m having a spending day looking for new patio furniture and a nice swing seat, if I’m going to be off work I’ll have lazy days in the garden, in the shade of course especially after the radiotherapy treatment, I feel 100% today n hubby told me off for putting some washing on, try and not think too much about the results, I stressed so much on Thursday and it really wasn’t worth it, let us know how you get on, I will keep everything crossed for the best news poss, xx ... View more

what a day, phoned at 9 but no bed for me, she asked me to drive there and phone when I arrived as she was certain she’d find me a bed on another ward, and she did, arrived at 10:30 n had my own private room, told I couldn’t have any fluids, Doc came at 1pm and attempted to get bloods but couldn’t get any from my arm, so she tried my wrist, omg that really hurt, but she said I can’t do I will have to get someone else to try, n off she went, the anaesthetist came in 30 min later and he said I didn’t need any bloods doing he also said I was too dehydrated as my last drink was a sip of water with my tablet at 7:30 am, he said I wasn’t going down until after 4pm so he asked the nurse to get me a jug of water n told me to finish it in the next half hour, water has never tasted so good, finally got took down on a trolley to theatre, no walking at Bangor, they decided to put the blood pressure cuff on my leg, it hurt so much I was screaming in pain, I felt like my calf was going to implode, so back it went onto my bad arm but so less painful, another doc tried to get a cannula in my arm and he couldn’t do it, so he tried my wrist I told him that failed earlier n hurt like hell, but he tried and I yelled n cried, finally he put it where I said they put it last week, I know they think they know best but I know my veins are crap and know which ones will sometimes play, anyway they woke me up about 5:50 in recovery, kept me there till 6:45 then took me back to the ward, I had zero pain and better still no sickness, I got up and put my pjs on 30 min later and went to the bathroom, 7:45 she brought me a cheese butty n a cup of coffee, after not eating for 24 hrs it tasted fab, phoned hubby to come and get me, and at 9:15 they let me go, so off I trotted with suitcase in hand n went looking for the way out, got back home at 10:25 sort off tired but wide awake, with a very badly bruised arm from all the needle attempts, I do think he drained the seroma again because it doesn’t feel as large,I’ve been told the Breast Nurse will phone on Monday, she did come to see me but I was sleeping, and I will be given an appointment for 2 weeks time with the results, let’s hope this time it’s clear, and I don’t have to have more surgery, the surgery doesn’t bother me but the pain of trying to find veins is getting worse, they said if it’s not clear they will do another shave like today as I have enough breast tissue, so praying the margins are clear, hope you ladies are not in too much pain and have decent movement in your arm and shoulder,  hope I can sleep tonight, last night I was so stressed I was mopping floors and cleaning the bathroom at 3:30am, mopping with one arm was easier than I thought  it would be, hubby went mad when he got up,  ... View more

I remember going for my wig fitting last time, and the one I got was in a very similar style to what I had but slightly darker than my normal colour, but there was some fab n funky wigs too, maybe this time I will go fab n funky, I got some lovely scarves and tried many different ways of wearing them, I do remember it hurting when I lost my hair my scalp was so sensitive, a  friend suggested a silk cloth over my pillow and that really helped, I also remember the joys of the steroids n being up at 4am full of energy n cleaning and cooking then flaking out on the sofa for the rest of the day, we will have to start the next stage group for chemo,  ... View more

hi,  got to my appointment with the hubby and thought it quite funny when a nurse came out to take my temp and his, then she said are you here for surgery tomorrow, I said no I’ve already had that, n off she went, then the Breast Care nurse took me in told me to strip and put on the sexy gown, she was checking my arm movement n I said look I can ride my bike and indicate and I may go for a ride on Saturday, she shook her head n gave me a knowing look, I then said am I going to surgery again tomorrow, and she said yes, the Doc will come in now and discuss things with you, it’s a good job I was sitting down I wasn’t expecting that, he said he needs to take a shaving from next to to the tumour site, they have removed all the cancerous cells but there’s some pre cancer cells showing next to where the tumour was, I said why not just do a mastectomy n have done with it, he said it might come to that if after this shaving it’s still showing any signs, also I will need Chemo and Radiotherapy, so have a long journey today we have to do it all again tomorrow as my Op will be at Ysbetty Bangor, so poor hubby will have to drive me an hr there then 1 hr back and have to repeat it later to bring me home, n let’s hope this time I am only a day patient, I’ve got to have a CT scan and a bone scan to check it hasn’t spread any further, so I feel like I’ve had a sickening kick to the guts today, but I did get a personal tour around the new cancer day Centre that will be opening at Bangor, my friend Jane works there, so I popped in for a coffee n chat after my appointment, she has also had BC so talking to someone who has gone through this is good, xx ... View more

Yvonne, sorry the news you got isn’t as good as we all would of liked it to be, I had the same thing 13 years ago and it’s a very emotional time because your just getting over one surgery then you have to have another one, but you will then be given a few weeks to heal before your chemo starts, do you know where you will go for it, I have my appointment this morning and didn’t sleep too well last night so I think it’s on my mind more than I think, they have said hubby can come in with me so that’s a bonus, he always thinks I’m holding something back, as if I would, he’s just so protective and I know I’m so lucky, I’m having our outside decking replaced today so going shopping for some nice new decking furniture  Noodledoodle, you will have to share a picture of your new hairstyle, hope your appointment has come through and you know when you have to go back,  ... View more

I have a fantastic hairdresser who has become one of my best friends over the 20 yrs I have known her, when I got my first diagnosis she put pink streaks in the front of my hair, it looked bloody fantastic, then when I had my first chemo she cropped it into a very short style, when it started falling out my hubby shaved it off for me, it’s hard to see your hair go but it does grow back and you can decide on a whole new style, I didn’t like the wig but I had some lovely scarfs and found different ways of wearing them, my hairdresser phoned me last week and asked if I wanted her to call at my house and wash my hair for me, but I was isolating so had to say no, but I might call her and get it done tomorrow at the salon before I go for my results, enjoy your day at the salon pampering is good for the soul, I’m feeling back to normal today and looking forward to meeting some friends on Saturday, there cycling the 20 miles here to meet me for coffee at the castle, I might cycle the 2 miles to meet them there, I’m so lucky with my support group, hope you guys are too, have a fab day lovely ladies,  ... View more

well what a day, I phoned the ward to be told no breast nurse on that ward, but they will try and get a message to someone, so I phoned the number on my discharge letter but that was the admittance ward and no breast nurses were on duty today, so I tried the switchboard and asked for the breast nurse, but no one available so I left a message, finally got a call back from Glan Clwyd to be told I’m not there problem as my surgeon is based in Bangor but I told her I had my operation at  Glan Clwyd, she told me to phone my surgeons secretary at Bangor, so I tried but no one was in the office, really feeling abandoned and in a lot of discomfort and hubby was starting to get really annoyed, so I phoned Breast Test Wales but I burst into tears,, just fed up of repeating my saga, she told me to phone the surgeons secretary again and she would also try and help me, then I got a call from the breast nurse Maggi at Glan Clwyd, she was my original breast nurse 13 years ago and she remembered me, she said there was a mix up because my surgeon isn’t based at their hospital but I am there responsibility and to go in at 3:30 this afternoon, then a knock at the door with a parcel, I thought it was some outside lights I’d ordered and got a lovely surprise when I opened the box, it was from my Breezers Cycling Group and it was Hotel Chocolate with 2 small bottles of gin and lots of chocolates, so more tears, but happy ones this time, they’d already sent me a huge bouquet last week, anyway I went to the hospital and she said it was a large seroma and she drained 300ml of fluid from it, she said I will need it doing again on Thursday when I see the surgeon, I will be letting him know what problems I have had, and also that I don’t want to go all the way to Bangor for any more treatments when Clan Clwyd is only 20 min away from home, and Clan Clwyd was where I had all my previous treatments and they were very good, despite today, sorry for my rant, I hope you ladies are keeping well and recovering well with very little pain, xx ... View more

Hi, I had a full axillary clearance, so I was expecting some fluid build up, I will phone first thing on Tuesday it’s not stopping me doing the exercises just causes slight discomfort n my arm is getting achey n heavy, nearly had a fight with the hubby today, he wouldn’t let me prep the veg for dinner, I was only peeling carrots n potatoes,  ... View more

Happy Easter, I hope the bunnies have left you an egg, just phoned the hospital because I think I have fluid build up seroma, can’t put my arm flat against my body, I was advised to call if this happened, but I phoned and I’ve been told there’s no breast nurses on till Tuesday so phone back then, unless it gets really painful then take myself to AnE to get it drained, I’m really feeling let down with the breast nurse care, I was told she would phone after diagnosis and before Op but she didn’t, I was told to expect a call after the Op but still heard nothing, I know there all so busy but a follow up call to just check on things and put me at my ease would help, or am I just being over sensitive, have you ladies noticed any build up of fluid, looks a bit like a baby boob at the side of my boob, ... View more

Glad you la dies are both doing well, think I had a touch of the anaesthetic blues this morning, after feeling fantastic the past 2 days, today I feel really tired and a bit swollen, my arm won’t lie flat against my body so wondering if it is normal swelling or a seroma, I still haven’t heard anything from the breast nurse since I was diagnosed, and I’m sure she won’t be back in till Tuesday, so if the swelling increases I will phone the ward n speak to them, well the sun is starting to make an appearance n hubby might go out to cut the hedges, so I will sit watch n supervise, lol, enjoy the weekend and Happy Easter xx ... View more

Michelle I was told at the diagnosis that rads would be in the plan, but until he has the histology of the tumour he won’t know if I will need chemo too, so it’s another waiting game until I see him in 12 days, but I haven’t had an appointment date, my discharge letter just says 12 days to be confirmed, so I think it might be a bit longer to allow for the Easter Holidays, so I’ve signed myself off work for this week then I will phone the doctor for a sick note until I know what’s happening,  ... View more

noodledoodle you will be in good hands tomorrow just try and get a good nights sleep tonight, I know it’s hard not to stress but try your very best, hope it goes smoothly, xx ... View more

Hi Ladies, this is me just home, I think he went a bit OTT with the anaesthetic I was first on the list and went down at 9am but slept till 6 pm, then I had awful sickness even after being given extra anti sickness meds, I wasn’t the only lady this happened too, there was three of us kept in overnight, then this morning I spiked a temp of 39 but I told them this always happens to me and to my sister, but as he hadn’t written me up for any paracetamol the nurse had to phone another doctor to get me some, so I got my first pain meds at 9:30 this morning, the day nurse was quite shocked that none of us had been given pain meds,  my throat was so sore I’m not sure if it was from having the tube down my throat or all the wrenching, they have sent me home with paracetamol, ibuprofen and a mouth wash for my sore throat, but I must say the pain is only about a 1/2 it’s more discomfort than pain, but I have already started to do some exercises and it’s not too painful, he has told me to keep the dressing on till I go back to see him in about 12 days time, I had no drain and dissolvable stitches so I’m a happy bunny, I can shower with the dressing but try not to get them too wet, he phoned the ward this morning to check on us all when he heard how sick we had all been, so all in all I’m comfortable and happy to be home, bless the hubby has made me a lovely pasta meal for tonight, and he has used the left over chicken from Sunday to make some chicken n veg soup, I feel a bit redundant, but I have some lovely flowers from my niece in Scotland and a dear friend sent me a very large bottle of Baileys, I’m looking forward to sitting in the garden tomorrow if it’s as nice as today,  ... View more

Thanks simply Eve, I wish I could go out on the bike but I was told to isolate, n if I go for a ride I’m bound to bump into friends, just given the bedroom a good once over, and had a sort out, why did I have so many shoes, lol, I even have 4 pair of cycling shoes, going to have that nice hot bath later, hubby has put me some new books on my reader and more music on the I player, so I’m good to go, it’s like preparing to go on holiday, I do feel quite relaxed about it all, but maybe that will change once I get to hospital,  ... View more

Simply Eve, it sounds like you are doing amazing and listening to your body and resting when you need too, good to hear your node wounds are healing so well, my hubby suggested moving into the spare room too, we’re lucky to have such thoughtful husbands, looks like the weather is going to get better as the week goes on so you might be able to enjoy sitting out in the garden,  ... View more

Good luck with your Covid check tomorrow, I’ve just got the all clear so it’s a green to go for the operation tomorrow, would you believe hubby was changing the bed this morning and the frame has broke, so it’s propped up n held together until the shops open on the 12 n we can go for a new one, looked on line but I really need to see it for myself, just something to laugh at with everything else that’s going on, and my Nephew has had a baby boy this morning and named him Jack after my Dad, a healthy 7lb 14 oz, this really has brightened my day, just sad we can’t go n see them, I’ll let you know how tomorrow goes, and Wednesday will soon be here for you, love n hugs  ... View more

Morning Michelle, this time it’s a lumpectomy but I am concerned about them leaving some behind n having to go back in for a mastectomy, last time I just wanted the whole breast gone, but Mr Khatar is very nice and assures me the lumpectomy is all I need, I remember after all my ops the nurse saying most ladies get weepy 3 to 4 days after the op and they said it’s a mixture of the anaesthetic and a release of tension, and I can believe this because pre op are emotions are everywhere and we are so worried then we have the reality of what’s actually been done to our body, I had a lovely meal last night and even phoned a medical friend to ask if I would be ok having wine, I don’t drink often but really fancied a nice glass of chianti, so relieved when she said yes, well I really must pack my case today, can’t put it off any longer, my friend has made me a lovely drain bag just incase I have a drain fitted,  ... View more

Michelle I really feel for you we all have a horrible journey to travel, and we all go into that dark place on occasions we are only human after all even though we think we are superwomen for coping with this crap that is thrown at us, stay strong you have this and we have you,  Kitkat, so sorry you have had such an awful journey I really hope things turn a corner very soon and better days lie ahead,  i’m hoping To have a nice chilled lockdown weekend before I go in on Monday n hoping my Covid test is all ok, that was the worst thing so far, I nearly chucked up on the poor nurse, missing being out with my buddies on the bike this weekend but they have promised to tease me with photos of cake, Take care everyone, love n hugs 🥰💖🥰💖🥰 ... View more