Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi All   I  had my eighth aspiration today - things seem to be slowing down. However, the BCN said I need physio to help get the range of movement back in my arm - the constant seroma hasn't helped.    I need to do this before I am considered for rads, so looking forward to getting going. It's a bit frustrating as I have been doing my exercises religiously - I'm a marathon runner (well, I was before I got BC!!) so know how to do exercises well!   Hope everyone has a great weekend,   Jules xx ... View more

SJB - I hope you feel better after the aspiration. I'm back again tomorrow for my 8th!   I am still struggling to get full movement back in my arm, so will check with my BCN to see whether I need any physio  - hoping not.    Good luck to all - we ARE getting there! xx ... View more

Petal - I hope you have a lovely time with your family.    SJB - good luck with the return to driving. I started back after 17 days and have been fine - just building up slowly. It makes a lot of difference being able to drive myself to all these hospital appointments!!!   Wyn - I hope all goes well with rads - will be interested to hear how you get along with it all.    We all seem to be having differing things as we are coming forwards in our journeys. I now have to arrange an appointment to go to a clinic regarding a prosthesis following my MX- has anyone done this yet?  I have to start off via my GP so although I won't be able to do anything until the seroma has gone down, the referral route may take a while.    Good luck everyone, Jules xx ... View more

Great to hear how everyone is doing.    I have eyebrows coming back, but no sign of eyelashes yet!  I cold capped during treatment so have some new hair coming in with the hair that survived chemo. I am hoping to go for a short style in a few weeks but at least can "get away" without the dreaded wig!   Have had my 6th and 7th seroma drains since I last posted - am having to have it done every third day at present. Both the consultant and BC nurse say the cavity is healing so hopefully it will slow down soon.    Jules xx ... View more

Hi Petal   No puffy hands for me and I'm on Herceptin, but by infusion. I had my fifth last Monday.    Jules xx ... View more

SJB - excelleng news! I am so pleased for you and I hope you enjoy your celebrations!   Back to the hospital today for me for my 6th seroma drain!  Let's hope it starts to slow down soon!   Have a great weekend all xx ... View more

SJB - really good luck to you today. I am struggling with mobility in my arm - feels like everything is so tight still. I think mine is still due to seroma - I am having to have it drained every other day. It's not a medical problem but rather a nuisance in getting to and from hospital, but does restrict movement in my arm and therefore exercises.    Petal - great news - really thrilled for you.    Jinny - so pleased you have spoken to someone. I hope you get a little more encouragement from knowing more.    Wyn - I've lost track of where you are - do you have a date for rads yet? I know you are a few weeks ahead of me - I am not due to see the oncologist until the 5th so suspect I won't start for a while because of the seroma issues.    Love and hugs to all xx ... View more

Hi Jinny   Please stay positive and use everyone here to help out - we all have from time to time and it helps so much.  We have all had our ups and downs but the Forums are such a strong method of support and friendship.    I've found it so helpful to read everyone's stories and successes - it helps hugely.    I was diagnosed end of November 2013 and started chemo on 13 December. That's not so long ago and I am now through chemo, surgery and waiting for rads. I am also on Herceptin and will be until the end of Feb 2015. My care has been excellent and I have been looked after all the way.    Sending hugs and best wishes, Jules xx ... View more

Hi Petal   I hope you are in less discomfort now. My drains came out the day I was discharged from hospital.    Still have a large seroma; it's massive!   Love and hugs, Jules xx ... View more

Hi SJB - you will know if you have a seroma as you can both see and feel the fluid build up under the scar and under your arm. Not everyone gets them and I really have everything crossed that you don't. I had an appointment with my surgeon 8 days after surgery and that's when he took the dressing off the MX and ANC scars.    My pathology results were available at that appointment which was when he told me that the chemo had done everything. Do you have a follow up appointment with your surgeon booked?My BCN booked it in for me on the day I was discharged following surgery. Beyond that appointment, if I hadn't had to have the seroma drained, then I wouldn't be seeing my surgeon again for 8 months.    Shout if I can help any more - I am Reading based so I know different areas do different things. I am back with the oncologist next week so she can think about referring me on for radiotherapy. I see her once a quarter after my echocardiogram but that's because I am on Herceptin for a year.    Take care and sending hugs, Jules xx ... View more

Hi All,   Had my results - chemo blasted everything and gave a complete response. Absolutely over the moon!!!! Yayyyyyyy!!!!!   I see my oncologist next week for a referral re radiotherapy. Meanwhile, I had the seroma drained again last night and am hoping things are starting to slow down a little.    Sending love and hugs to all,   Jules xx ... View more

Hi SJB   I hope all goes well with the drain removal today.    Mine were taken out the day after surgery. I have had seroma and have had it drained twice since - back in again this afternoon for drainage no 3. My surgeon says it will stop, but may take a few days. It's not too unpleasant but did prevent me from doing my arm exercises as much as I would have liked last weekend.    I hope you are feeling relieved its all over - thinking of you.    Jules xx ... View more

Hello Ladies   I had the seroma drained last evening - 220 ml this time, following a drain of 100 ml last Friday. The surgeon thinks it will need doing again so looks like I will be back again later this week. I can cope with it, but having the seroma does restrict my ability to do my arm exercises!   Hope everyone is doing ok and making progress.    Sending hugs, Jules xx ... View more

Hi Everyone,   Good luck to everyone starting their planning or rads this week.    SJB - I was told to wear the stockings for 2 weeks, but my BCN said I could stop using them after a week as I was walking twice a day and not sitting round much, I guess it's different for everyone.    Petal - great to hear that you are home and through another stage. Fingers crossed you aren't in too much pain.    Wyn - I hope you are progressing well too - I can't do many of my exercises at the moment because of the seroma which limits my arm movement totally.    I'm waiting to hear from my BCN about the seroma - it's huge this morning!  Didn't get much sleep so just hoping I can get it drained at some stage today.    Jules xx ... View more

KM and LJ-thank you so much. I will call first thing-it's just so uncomfortable and stops me from doing the exercises! ... View more

Petal - excellent news and I am really pleased you are back home recovering. Just take things easy.    Thank you for the advice - I will ring the BCN first thing in the morning about the fluid.   Jules xx ... View more

SJB - really pleased you are home and hope your recovery goes well. I hope you get the drains out soon.    I had one lot of fluid drained on Thursday evening when I saw the surgeon but it's built up again. Does anyone know how often you can get it drained? I don't think I can see the surgeon again until Wednesday and just wondered if it's ok to leave it that long?   Jules xx ... View more

Hi SJB   So pleased to hear all went well. You must be so relieved. Just take it easy and relax, knowing the worst is now over.    Take good care!   Love and hugs,    Jules xx ... View more

SJB and Petal - I hope all went well yesterday and look forward to hearing your updates.    Wyn - that sounds good. I hope all goes well with the Rads planning appointment. I am a couple of weeks behind you so will hopefully get more of an idea tonight when I see my consultant. I am a week post surgery and feel good - arm is a little stiff and sore but nothing like as bad as I thought it might be.    I hope all the December Angels continue to post on here as it would be good to know how people are getting on.    Sending best wishes, Jules xx ... View more