Breast Cancer Now Forum

NOTVALARI am so sorry to hear about your devasting news, I am sure things will move pretty quickly for you now and you will soon know your treatment plan. The waiting is the hardest partof thE journey. Once you begin treatment you will fill back in control. THEROADSHOW Sorry you have had to join us what devastating news to hear over the telephone. Would it help to call the consultant today and pop over see see him/her with your husband aget find out a little more, what surgery are they planning to dO on Monday. Please try andstoop googling, there are a lot of websites that are out of date or just contain wrong scary information. I scared myself silly and found articles to be so untrue. keep to this one and Macmillan. TO YOU BOTH you will find all the support you need from this forum the ladies on here are fantastic, knowledgable and all their personalexperiences are true. Please feel free to ask all thequestions you want. I am day 14 following a mastectomy, LD back flap reconstruction and implant, I am 51 yrs and was diagnosed in November from a routine mammogram with multi site DCIS, what a shock it was and I can reassure you from personal experiences that it does get better, the road ahead can be long with unexpected turns and twists but you will come through this and take control again. Big hugs to both of you and please please keep me updated with your progress. Xxxxxxxxxxxxx ... View more

Hi Sharon pleased to hear all is going well. I now have had my MX and LD flap reconstruction plus implant on the 11th jan. I have just received the pathology report and i too am clear which is fantastic news. I have been told I do not need to take tamoxifen or need any othe treatment apart from annual mammograms fo the other breast which is such a relief. Continue to heal well like me you probably have been told to rest, rest and more rest. Healing hugs being sent to you. Xxxxxx Lynne, My DCIS diagnosis changed from 5cm pre op to 9cm and was behind the nipple so lalthough I wasn't given the choice Lumpectomy or MX my consultant made the right call and took everything including the nipple. I do hope that you don't need any further treatment and my fingers and toes are crossed for you. I know the waiting game sucks and is the worst position to be in. My thoughts are with you. Please let me know.special non worry fairy dust coming to you now ....xxxxxxx Deb how did your results go? Thinking of you xxxx ... View more

Hi there, what an excellent account by poemsgalore, my experince was very similar with the exception of thE biopsy. I didn't,t have a lump my mammogram showed small white dots, they called them calcifications. My biopsies were taken whilst my boob was in the mammogram machine. Thepinching of the machine was a little uncomfortable mainly due to the time, approximately 30 mins but Local anaesthetic given and then the biopsiestaken, about 10 that did not hurt. The following day I was a little bruised and took paracetamol. The radiologist, doctor and staff were all very pleasant and really explained at each stage what they were doing and why. They were very reassuring. Mine did turn out to be multi site DCIS and resulted in a mastectomy anreconstruction 13 days ago. Please, please do not worry, I know that is easier said then done, remember that a lot of lumps turn out to be harmless and if your lump turns out to be something more sinister then you are in the right place. Don't be tempted to google there are a lot of websites that are either out of date or just contain wronginformation, the ladies on this forum are fantastic and will give you realinformation. I will check back next week for your update in the meantime please feel free to bombard us with any questions that you think about. Hugs being sent to you xxxxxx ... View more

Hi Blue rose, just seen your post. I had a mastectomy and LD flapreconstruction with implant on the 11th Jan, and I have a lump and pain, just below my bra line feels like it is on my bottom rib about 1 to 2 inches. It does move around when prodded and is painfuL again when prodded, I thought it is probably fluid build up I will mention to my consultant on Thursday.. Is this the same as yours do you think? or has anyone else experienced this. Itdefinitely was not there before the op. Hope you contine to make good progress. X ... View more

Thank you Wendy yes I do emotionally feel better already hopefully the number of good days will start toovertake the number of bad days. Keep your chin up, you will get through all of this I know you have had bc before, Buthopefully with later day medicines the SE will be easier etc., I have chatted to some amazing people on this forum who have helped me come to terms with BC and kept e sane especially through the dark hours and i do intend to keep chatting. Big hugs sending itS way to you xxxxxxxxxxx Welcome Byrd, sorry you have had to join us, but the ladies and gentleman on this forum are amazing and willget you through this. Are you having an immediate reconstruction at the same time as your MX? Having just had a MX and LDBack flap recon 13 days ago feel free to ask Me any questions. You can also private message me if you wish. Waiting and the unknown is the hardest. Big hugs to you. Xxxxxx ... View more

Hi Tracy just read your post and noticed you said you lived in Belper. That is where I got my first job in Belper Travel Centre nearly 35 years ago - does it still exIsit? I married and moved south 30 years ago. I now live In Newbury, Berkshire. What a small world. ... View more

Consultants decision. I teach at a secondary school, I guess emotionally and physically 3 months is probably what it will take. don't mind being off just hope I feel fitter and can enjoy the time off lol. Nite nitexxxxxx ... View more

Thank you Lozza I see we are both burning the midnight oil. Before all this cancer talk I used to sleep 8 hours a night, being awake in the small hours just didn't happen! Night times now I just find it really difficult to get comfy must be something to do with the 5 pillows and V pillow LOL. hoping the POM symptoms are easing I know exactly what you mean ...lookafter yourself and keep smiling. Sleep fairy dust flying it's way to you. Xxxxxxxxxx ... View more

Hi Littlescoot. So pleased to hear that you are through the other side...wow so much excitement that you could well have done without. Good luck for the 30th Jan the waiting starts again. I had my pathology results yesterday and thankfully all clear so no additional treatment needed for me. I really can now focus On recovery. Was surprised to hear that the 5cm of DCIS turned out to be 9cm so the mammogram had picked up on 4cm! and it was sitting in and behindthe nipple Jeez was given a sick note for 3 months........I will go mad! Hi Lozza thank you for the super healing hugs they are doing their job How are you doing these days has the pain got any easier? I kno what you mean about POMS chin up each day heals a little more.Special cyber hug winging it's way to you. ... View more

Visited the consultant this evening and the pathology reports were all clear so no further treatment plan in place. He did say that the DCIS had extended to 9 cm not the original 5cm that the mammogram had shown and it had also extended behind the nipple, so I am pleased that I took his advice and went for the MX with immediate reconstruction. Good news prayers being sent to everyone awaiting results and a treatment plan. Xxxxxxx ... View more

Hi Wendy How is the chemo going? I am day 12 following the MX and LD flap plus breast implant reconstruction. The first 24 hours was the first, but even that wasn't too bad. Once the correct cocktail of medication was in place I have had fairly limited pain more like really uncomfortable. No pain from myback as yet, just a little pain under the armpits towards the back. I had 3 drains in, 1 from the breast and 2from the back all removed before I left hospital on day 6. I just need to have weekly drainage from my back for several weeks. Wendy like you I have also had many operations to do with my knees and nowhave two knee replacements so I was undecided between LD flap and implants. I think because I am 51 size 36C my consultant advised me that this option would give me the best reaListic looking boob for my age and i particularly wanted it all done in 1 operation. I didn't want to return to have expanders exchanGED for implants. I know it is early days but I don't regret the choice i made. I amreturning to the consultants tonight to hopefully have the dressings removed and to get the pathology report. Praying for cLear results. Let me know if you need any more help. Good luck with the rest of the chemo. Cyber hugs to you. Xxxxx ... View more

Hi daisy. Thinking of you and wishing yougood news for today. Waiting for appointments and results are always the hardest. I too am waiting the results of my pathology report, due in later today, appointment with consultant 6.30 i had a mastectomy and implant reconstruction on 11/1 following multi site DCIS. Fingers crossed and a big cyber hug to you. ... View more

Thank you for your replies and encouragement. My drains were taken out by day 6 which is when I returned home. Now day 10 and all seems to be ok. The pain is under control with regular painkillers. I agree Bellakate sleeping and being comfortable is still a problem at night, hope this is getting easier for you now. Jo jo I hope your implant filling continues to go well. Kathy i know what you mean with the back tightness, I was hoping this would ease wheN my dressing is removed. I have noticed mega sensitivity in my back and I jump a mile if anyone other than me touches it. Anyone experience the same? That should b e fun on Tuesday when I visit the consultant for wound checks and pathology reports. He will think I have turned into the mad women, but hopefully will have come across this before. Today I have noticed a painful lump about 1 inch just below my bra line underneath the reconstructed breast...again any ideas what this may be. Does anyone know when I cam start to use deodrant. Now day 10 and desperate not to smell lol Well onwards to Tuesday and praying for clear pathology results so that I can really start concentrating on the rad to recovery and stop worrying. Does this ever happen? Thank you for reading, listening and taking The time to reply. Once again big hugs to everyone no matter which part of the journey you are currently at. ... View more

Hi everyone just to give you an update... My MX, LD back flap reconstruction and implant operation lasted 9 hours. I had 3 drains, 2 in the back and 1 in the front. The first 24 hours were rough mainly due to low blood pressure and a collapsed vein where the canulla had been inserted whilst injecting antibiotics in. In fact that was the most painful part of the procedure. By day 6 all the drains had been removed and I left hospital. It is now day 9 and I feel good just taking regular paracetomal and codeine phosphate to keep the pain at bay. My hand is still painful and swollen lol. I have been prepared for weekly visits to the ward to have fluid drained from my back. My boob looks ok, very swollen, little pain just a feeling of tightness. it is inconvenient notbeing able to wear t shirts as I am not allowed tolift my arm more than 90 degrees but it won't last forever. My next consultant appointment is Tuesday evening when I should have the results of the pathology report. Fingers crossed it is clear so I can just concentrate on recovery without the need for any further treatment. I am a 38C . Thinking of you all and sending big hugs Sue have you had the resuLts of your biopsies yet?xxxxx ... View more

Hi Littlescoot, i had my MX and immediate LD flap reconstruction on Friday and came home yesterday. Yes, any type of waiting sucks but I do feel more at ease now the op has been completed. I am now waiting for my pathology report. I definitely left lights on along the dark corridor and you will see them get brighter and brighter. Good luck with your op and I pray for good results for you. Xxxxxxxx ... View more

So inspirational thank you for posting. I am about to have exact sameprocedure tomorrow and was getting last minute nerves. Thayou you, continue to be positive and best wishes to a full recovery. I will be back to chat to you soon after the op. Big hug xxxxxxxxx ... View more

Hi Sue, Iknew exactly what you mean about life changing decisions. I was diagnosed in November with multi site high grade DCIS and I will be having a MX and immediate reconstruction tomorrow using the LD back flap. It is so scary and I wish of all wishes that I hadn't trodden thispath, but here I am thankful that it wascaught very early and receiving fantastic support frompeople on this forum. Presumably your next step will be to have a SLNB, mine thankfully was clear. good luck with whatever decision you make and remember that with DCIS you can afford to research, check out all the options and reach the right decision for you. Big hugs to you. Xxxxxx ... View more

Hi chatty Katy I found both of my puppies from a website called epupz. http://www.epupz.co.uk I have my MX and LD flap reconstruction tomorrow and really going to miss the dogs whilst in hospital, but I do love walking the dogs daily, usually walking at least 2 miles everyday -longer at weekends. so Moving forward, My objective is to be able to do this again by May! Alison, your pup looks lovely, enjoy him. Big hugs to all currently receiving diagnosis and treatment.Xxxxx ... View more

Thankyou all for sharing your experiences. As annoying as it is, i have Calmed down about it now and just going to get on with it. Xxx ... View more