Breast Cancer Now Forum

I had mastectomy with immediate LD Flap and implant reconstruction iwith sentinal node biopsy. I was in for 5 day and came home with 1 drain still in place. I was out of bed the day after surgery but moving very slowly to the toilet and back again. I was fairly mobile but couldn't lift my arm very far. Able to get dressed myself although needed help getting bra on for first few days. Drain came out on day 10.  I'm now nearly 5 weeks post op. Still bruised and tender but recovering well. Back at work but only doing mornings for now as my back gets stiff and achey by mid day.  ... View more

I've been having them since October. Not sure if dosage varies though. My practice nurse is very good and my most recent one I didn't feel at all. If you apply the cream they'll inject there. Below the belly button to the side slightly. Just remember to apply cream to the opposite side next time. ... View more

I had LD Flap and Implant recon 2 weeks ago. I had 4 drains in initially. 2 were removed on day 3 and I was discharged on day 5 after having 1 drain out. I was shown by nurse how to empty the drain myself and measure the output which I had to note and report when I returned to hospital for check up. My final drain was removed in day 10. I've been given lots of advice on what to look out for in terms of seroma etc. I'm feeling physically ok. Stiff and tender but otherwise nothing else to note. I'm heading back to work next week. I only do 6 hour days so will be doing half days next week and see how I feel after that. I still can't drive but it's only 2 weeks and I've limited movement at the moment but with my exercises I'm getting better day by day. ... View more

I'm currently 2 weeks post LD Flap and Expandable Implant surgery. I had mastectomy and reconstruction on my left side. I didn't want a diep as didn't want such a huge surgery so in my head I already had LD as my choice. When assessed by my plastic surgeon he had LD as his top choice. Not enough tissue in the right place for diep. So far evertithing is healing well and my foob looks pretty good. I'm physically weak on that side but doing my physio so hopefully I'll get full movement back soon. I have attempted to move my car, only on the drive as it was blocking the bins and changing gears was a big issue. Considering that I'm only 2 weeks post op I'm doing really well. Up and about and doing normal things, slowly but I'm doing it. Looking forward to being able to do more. ... View more

A lot of tattoo artists are familiar with tattooing over scars. I'd say start by finding an artist that has a style that you like. Then ask if they're happy to tattoo the area. You need to be comfortable with your artist as obviously you'll be laying exposed etc. ... View more

Sorry I can't help re: breast surgery at Whipps however I have been treated there and I personally can't fault it. My sister in law recently had major surgery to her bowel and again apart from the whole having to be in hospital she had great care and a very positive experience. Good luck with your surgery. Xxx ... View more

I started T-FEC in October so I've already done my Docetaxel  and I'm due my final FEC on Tuesday.    My experience of the T - day 1 felt fine, day 2 tired, days 3-6/7 joint pain, exhaustion, muscle fatigue, general feeling of 'pants' if I'm honest. Days 7 to 14 were instantly better pain wise. The fatigue remained but less than week 1. By week 3 I felt OK. Very tired but OK.  Over the course of my 3 cycles I found the muscle fatigue to be lasting longer and longer though. I would get puffed out so quickly. Best way to describe it was like having flu without the temp and cold that goes with it, my recovery was also comparable. Tired tired tired.    Compares to my FEC so far. Apart from 24/7 nausea for 5/6 days and the occasional vomiting episode ( 2 times on round 2) I'm recovering quicker and feeing much less poorly over all. For me anti nausea Meds haven't really helped, I have issues taking tablets at the best of times so is a a real problem for me to take them when I'm already feeling sick as taken tablets makes me feel sick.    I lost !y hair after my first t treatment, by day 16 it was gone. Had some issues with bruised nails on hands and toes which look hideous but are growing out quickly.    Sorry I can't tel you that it's easier. Its not harder necessarily just a different set of problems.  ... View more

Thank you Sus12.    I am so very lucky to have the husband I have. We've been together for 17 years so he knows me inside out and knows exactly what I need from him I.e. sending me to bed at 7.30 he he   My children are 13 and 6 so this has definitely been a trying time but they both know what is going on and understand as much as they can. Telling them wasn't fun and we obviously tailored what was said to each of them. We try to be as open and honested with them as we can be.  ... View more

I've just joined this forum.   I was diagnosed mid September and started T-FEC in October. First 3 cycles (Docetaxel) were hard physically. The aches, pains, fatigue and outright exhaustion where awful. Add nausea, runny tummy, rashes, hair loss, skin tenderness, sore nails and numb finger tips it was a barrel of laughs.  My first 2 cycles of the FEC have been different. Nausea is out of this world. Have 4 different meds none of which seem to make the slightest difference (maybe they do but to nausea is just really bad I don't notice). But so far I've found this to be easier to recover from. I feel awful for the first 5/6 days but as soon as the nausea does one I almost feel 'normal'. I can empty the washing machine without getting out of breathe, I can sit on the toilet without feeling the burn of lactic acid when I squat to sit and stand, and I'm not being sent to bed at 7.30 because I fell asleep on the sofa again.    My final cycle of FEC is 10th January followed by MRI on 26th and meeting with surgeon on 30th. Mastectomy will follow shortly after that.    At 33 this is definitely not what I envisioned my life to look like but this is it. I've got a fantastic husband and 2 awesome kids who force me to get up every day and carry on. They make me laugh and they keep me going 😁 I'm a very lucky lady.  ... View more

Hi   I'm nearly finished my course of T-FEC so I've had the pleasure of the Docetaxel already. I'm being treated in Cambridge and gloves/boots were never discussed as an option, but I run ridiculously cold at the best of times so I wouldn't have considered them anyway. I'm a chicken.    My last Docetaxel was 6 weeks ago. My finger nails don't look great to be honest, husband says they look like smokers fingers. I have what looks like bruising and yellowing under the nails. Its growing out already and the growth at the cuticle is a lovely healthy pink. They feel bruised and sensitive. More so when they grow too long so I keep them reasonably short. I do paint them occasionally when I'm desperate to look a little more feminine and remind myself that Im still me.    Toe nails also feel bruised but the physical bruising isn't as apparent. Again so long as I don't forget to cut them they aren't too uncomfortable.    Sorry I can't help re: the gloves/boots.  ... View more