Breast Cancer Care Forum

Ok. I know your op was postponed, have they given you the results? I hope they were clear. How's your arm?   Your GP sounds like my district nurses, they were useless. I ended up having to empty my own drains and keeping the tabs on the output.  ... View more

I was going to say it's my new normal, ha, ha. Have you heard that term yet? I haven't found my yet.   My opt went well no complications but the waiting for the results is awful. It's good to keep busy and daytime telly is rubbish. Don't rush back to work, it can take lot out of you... make sure you start the basic exercises asap and if they offer you physio, take it.    Are either of you having lymph nodes checked? ... View more

KMG & BernieD I'm sending hugs to you both. Am I like you both ? … no! but i'm similar I was diagnosed with low to med DCIS in Dec 2017. I was only offered a full MX on my right side. I opted to have a delayed reconstruction. On the date of the op I began to have doubts and changed my mind. I'm big chested and suddenly I couldn't handle being flat on one side. So I only had the sentinel node bio, with the blue dye. Blue pee, seriously weird! Around 3 weeks later I had an MX on the right side with immediate reconstruction (expander). I stayed in hospital for 5 days, due to a problem with my hand, but got released with 2 drains and a large bag of meds.   What can I tell you... you need to do what feels right for you.   They will give you a bra. I awoke in one post surgery and I had to wear it day and night for 3 weeks. I'd advise you both not to buy too many bras until afterward. I can only where sports bras from M&S as normal bra press on my expander and I don't like it.   I was advised to take the prescribed pain killers even if I wasn't in pain.   Post op my head was all over the place. I too was told I was "lucky" and that it was a "pre cancer" (only by some doctors ) but I didn't feel that way. DCIS is cancer, don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. You are entitled to protection at work under the disabilities act and free prescriptions.    It's been 16 months since my op, I'm back at work fulltime. I have good days and bad days. I'm waiting for a reduction to my left breast and still trying to regain the strength in my right hand.   it's an emotional roller coaster, but you can both get through it XX ... View more

Hi My heart goes out to you, I felt the same emotions as you, but probably not in the same order.    If you can try and have a few questions written down and they should give you the phone number of your breast nurse so you can always call her afterward.   I've had DCIS, feel free to ask any questions x ... View more

Hi, It could be a number of things. I know it's hard but try not to worry until you get the results of your biopsy. x ... View more

Gaileigh Welcome to the club no one wants to join. I'm sorry to hear about your diagnose.   I was diagnosed with medium grade DCIS around 18 months ago, 7-8mm in my right breast. I was offered a mastectomy and a sentinel node biopsy (SNB) but other treatment. I didn't think to ask about a lumpectomy or question why it wasn't offered, however I did insist on an immediate reconstruction.   Have to admit I haven't coped well with the mastectomy. I didn't realize how important my breasts were to me until I didn't have one anymore. Although I've had the reconstruction I am very uneven, which has also effected me mentally and physically.   The SNB was negative so I has the mastectomy.  When I got the results afterward they said the DCIS was high grade not medium and 6mm in length. It was close to my skin so I was given 15 rounds of radiotherapy to my chest and armpit. As it was DCIS I wasn't given any long term meds. It was strange my medical team kept saying I was lucky because it was found at an early stage. Funny, it didn't feel that way    Remember it's different for everyone. You may want to ask some questions about the risk of reoccurrence before making your final decision.  XX ... View more

Tracey OMG i saw under Broomfield for a short while, the surgen i saw was very blunt.   I've been told by my BC surgeon that due to cuts in funding Broomfield now only take patients where there is an immediate reconstruction. However, he also said it depends on the type of reconstruction?   Do you know what types of reconstruction are available and which one you would prefer?   Ask your BC surgeon what they offer locally? i've been told i can have a silicone implant or they can take a muscle from my back.   xx        ... View more

Hi Ann-m Ocean is right you've had a shock so your reaction is natural. Have to admit I turned to Dr Google when i was first diagnosed but i soon stepped back. I found a few ladies on the forum who were about to have their operation, the same as me so we were able to share experiences, it was nice.   I found out last Friday that i need an MRI of my neck as i may have a nerve impairment somewhere. I spent most of yesterday arguing with my manager that i'll need time off for this procedure. When his manager found out he hit the roof, and told me to take as much time as i need.   Then this morning, like you Ann, it hit me what if it's cancer !!! !!! Just when i thought the emotional rollercoaster was slowing down, it's sped up again.   Like Ocean says " We are all allowed to have bad days, so sometimes it can help just to go with, it does pass."   signed Rox (working at home in bed, today XX)   ... View more

H Adventure-pirate I had two ops, the first was a sentinel node boisopy. They removed 3 to 4 nodes from my armpit and tested them for BC and they were negative.  A week or two later i had the second, the MX, the expander implant was put in straight away. Have to admit i don't regret it i don't think i could have coped with being completely flat on one side.    i saw my surgeon last week and he had offered to swap it for a normal implant, muscle tissue from my back or inflate the expander a bit more. I told him i want to reduce the size of my good breast and he has agreed to that.    i know that may sound a bit odd but the differences in my breasts is really obvious. The funny thing is even when they are reduced i'll still be a DD cup LOL.    I can't remember how long it took for everything to wear off but there are still part of my armpit and side breast that are numb. i thing that maybe down to nerves.   When is your op? ... View more

Hello Adventure pirate, I had a MX with immediate reconstruction, skin sparing. I lost my nipple. The implant was an expander with a mesh attached ontop of my chest muscle, it was called a Braxton.   It takes time for the anaesthetic to wear off afterward (months) and your will be encouraged to take painkillers.   It feels like something is constantly pressing against my chest and i cannot lay flat in my bed, i have to be propped up.   I was told it would not look like a breast but it would be a mass that would appear breast like in a bra. That is true for me. When fully clothed it looks fine, there is no way to know it's not real. My problem is that my other breast is much larger so i'm waiting to be balanced out. When not clothed my implant is pointy at one end and has a few bumps.   Sensation, that is hard to explain. I don't have any feeling in that breast but i can feel sensation. I can tell that it's being touched but not if that touch is hot or cold. I still have periods and that muscle aches the entire time.    i'm not sure how i'm coping without my nipple i do have a few close friends who also had BC so we joke about it sometimes.   Next week is the first anniversary of my surgery so i'm felling a bit low in general.   i hope this helps xx ... View more

Hi  Maximum ,  Sorry to hear that you are joining the club that no one wants to be part. I understand what you're saying about your GP sadly it is not that straight forward.   When my middle sister died due to BC nearly 10 years ago my oldest sister demanded the BRAC gene test and was refused. She didn't give up and continued to fight but she was only offered yearly mammos. Last year i was diagnosed with BC and once again my sister demanded a gene test and was refused. However, they offered me one instead. The gene counsellor said they offered it to me because i have cancer and so they know what to look for in my genes.   it maybe the same with you they may not be sure what to look for.   I was formally diagnosed with an underactive thyroid in 2014, i wasn't given any meds just monitored. Now I'm just under a year post BC treatment and struggling with depression my GP has agreed to give me something because the underactive thyroid could be making it worse.      Now you've been diagnosed make sure you get the treaemtn that's right for you XX   ... View more

Hi Alibobs, sorry to hear you're feeling down. It could be the time of year or the weather ?? I've been in a funk to but it's my BC diagnosis cancerversary. Do you feel a bit lost? Happy new year everyone xx ... View more

Really feeling for you Aftershock, if that's what you want just ask...   I'm totally unbalanced one boob is half the size of other one. i have to wait a year for my reduction.    This is clearly effecting you so you have to let you consultant know how you feel.  ... View more

Hi Abella Is the feeling in your WLE or your armpit?   Prior to my release I was told that they had applied a heavy anesthetic to my breast and armpit and that it would wear off after a few days. I was also told i may experience stabbing pains as some of my nerves had been damaged or removed and it would take time for them to settle down. Just keep taking your pain killers regularly as they were prescribed. Personally i don't like taking pain killers but i was told by my BCN and physio that i shouldn't be in pain.   When i saw my physio she showed me how to massage/stretch my wound to breakdown the scar tissue. If you don't have a physio in place you may want to get your MDT to arrange one.  ... View more

Appletree, Ladybowler - thank you for replying.   I'm not under any active treatment and i was told by my BCN that now my active treatment is over that my GP was my first port of call.   I have not had a work place assessment but my doctor has suggested one. What annoys me is that i told my manager a few weeks ago that i was having difficulties and he didn't suggest this or make any offers to change my duties.   I have to admit that my effected hand was swollen for 4 to 5 days immediately after the op. My surgeon didn't think anything of it. I moaned so much that they eventually did some tests to ensure that there were no blockages. The physio said i would need time to regain the strength in my arm but didn't give a timescale.     I've come to the conclusion that i may never sleep on that side again but how long before it begins to feel normal ?  ... View more

I finished radiotherapy 2 weeks ago so i have to wait unfortunately.  Make sure your ask about second MX, but make sure you do what's right for you. I'm  sure i read some where that anyone who has an MX is entitled to reconstruction and all options should be available. .. i don't  see why  a second MX wouldn't  be included in that but you may have to fight for it. ... View more

Ollybobs, i'm sending you a Very VERY large hug. I'm assuming you're had a MX without reconstruction, how long ago?? I'm asking because I was an H cup and as you say "am very aware of my size and shape and that people are looking at me" so i opted for MX with immediate reconstruction. So now i have an H cup and a D cup and feel very lope sided and it's very noticeble. I wasn't given a prosthesis but i have been told that when everything settles down i can have a reduction to my healthy breast. However, i don't see my surgeon until early 2019. I suggest you call your MDT and tell them how you feel xx ... View more

Hi Weemo my advice to you and your sister is to keep pushing for testing.    I am the youngest to 3, my mother had breast cancer twice, in her early 50s and again in her 70s and is she   ... View more