Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Jean ... Feenix...  onc appointment was pretty much as expected (apart from the 2 hour wait) although at the same time disappointing.  I had hoped to side step chemo - no such luck and if not then delay until after hols in Sept - again no such luck.  I have a week to think about it but the figures are fairly convincing (although not the list of potential se's) so holiday is cancelled.  Think I'm most upset about that rather than actually having chemo (although that doesn't particularly fill me with excitement).  In addition they're talking about rads but not discussing it until mid cycle chemo.  And there's hormone therapy on the horizon too so feeling pretty overwhelmed at the moment.  The tunnel seems awfully long. How are you doing?  Are you still on schedule for surgery at the end of the week?  Have you reached any conclusions about recon?  Hope you're managing to get out walking now the weather has cooled a bit (or maybe it hasn't where you are?)  Sending hugs  T x  ... View more

Hi Jean.. Feenix Results were a mixed bag.  Worse grade than expected (grade 3) and nodes were not clear however only one out of four taken involved and they managed clear margins on the surgery so I'm officially clear of cancer.  They're still not hanging around and I have an appointment with the oncologist on Tuesday to discuss the next stage.  It's just over 4 weeks since my initial appointment.  Chemo has been mentioned (but with a very low %age benefit) and the possiblity of a radiotherapy trial. I also know I'm definitely getting hormone treatment as I'm ER and PR + (8 for both) but not HER2 but still don't really know what happens next treatment wise. Everything finally caught up with me yesterday and I went into meltdown before my appointment.  I ended up ringing the helpline and they were brilliant. I'm back on a more even keel this morning (as much as you can be with bc) but I'm sure it won't be the last meltdown. How are things with you?  Have you come to any decisions yet re recon? T x ... View more

Jean... thinking of you tomorrow.  Hope it all goes well.  T x ... View more

Hi Jean Sorry to hear your mood is swinging about and you've not managed to get out walking much.  Do you have lots of good walking routes where you live?  My dogs have been brilliant and not knocked into me once.  I do have a 3 acre field where they can let off steam though so that's helped. The waiting is the hardest bit I think.  I was lucky that I didn't have much time to think/worry.  I'm fairly certain that I'll stay flat at least while treatment/recovery is happening but never say never.  I think recon is a tough decision to make in advance as it's almost impossible to know how you'll feel until afterwards and there's so many things to consider.  I went with my instincts in the end. The seroma decided it was a problem by waking me up several times last night so I went off to the clinic this morning and had it drained.  Apparently everything is healing well.  OH is on his way back home now so will be able to come with me on Thursday. Hope everything goes well for you (not sure which day you're having your op). T x ... View more

Hi   Yes results appointment is Thursday pm.  I'm about 95% back to normal after surgery.  Got some fluid sloshing around the breast area so it looks like I have a small breast but not causing any problems. OH went back to work on Friday which was a significant hurdle as he works away from home.  Fortunately also on Friday the BCN agreed that I could drive short distances so I wasn't stuck at home on my own.     How are you feeling about your surgery?  Did you come to a decision about recon?  Hope you're doing ok too.    T x ... View more

Hi Jean Sorry I'm not experienced with forums so don't know the etiquette.  I didn't mean to confuse things by posting in two threads. Recovery so far has been relatively easy.  Today has been the worst as the feeling is starting to come back so have actually needed the painkillers but only ibuprofen and paracetamol.  I was also slightly worried by my wound earlier today as it was weeping slightly but I've had it checked out at the GP surgery and it's fine.  There was some confusion as I wasn't given any discharge paperwork so didn't know if I had stitches to be removed.  It turns out it's been glued and steri stripped so they're going to look at whether the steri strips need to come off. I would definitely say take it easy.  I think I over did it particularly yesterday as it was my husband's birthday and I'm suffering slightly today both mentally and physically.  I had my first serious wobble since diagnosis this morning.  I've still got a lot of swelling around under my armpit and in the front of my shoulder which makes wearing a bra slightly uncomfortable and I do find the comfie puts slight pressure on my wound so I can only wear it for an hour or two.  My BCN said to wear it as and when I felt comfortable.  I've not got any bruising yet.  My change of appearance hasn't bothered me or my husband one jot.  I'm planning to go out tomorrow to the local garden centre and doubt very much I'll bother with my bra/comfie.  The only thing I'm slightly conscious of is my other nipple has a habit of showing itself when I'm not wearing a bra.  I tend to wear a cardigan or zip front fleece hanging open to hide it which is pretty stupid when you think about it.  I'm sure most people are probably more aware of the lack of breast than the sticking out nipple. 🙂   Sorry for the long answer.  Hope everything is good with you.  How long until your surgery?  Presumably not long if you've just had your pre op. Hugs Tina ... View more

Hi cdc   I didn't realise there was such a thing as phantom boob syndrome either but I did mention it to the very experienced staff nurse on the ward (specialist oncology ward so used to dealing with mx) where I spent the weekend.  She said it was perfectly normal and is exactly the same as phantom limb syndrome.  Some of the time I can sort of track them back to an actual physical location and a good rub solves the problem but other times the only solution is to distract my mind with something else.  I did have a lot of general numbness until today but things have been tingling/painful on and off so I guess there must be some sort of healing of nerves etc going on.  I am expecting to have some lingering numbness.   My surgeon was very definite about the option of recon at a later date even though I'd initially completely ruled it out.  He said all I had to do was get in touch with him even if it was a year or two later and he would refer me to the necessary people.   Do you have a date for your mx surgery?   ... View more

Sorry to jump in on the thread but thank you Kip.  You've just made my day.  I had a Mx on Friday and nobody mentioned the phantom boob itches.  The first time was really really weird.   It itches as it did before and you go to scratch it discreetly as before and there's nothing there.  It usually takes me about 5 minutes to work out where I need to scratch to stop it and of course half an hour later it itches again.   I'm also happy to answer questions about my Mx as I didn't really have much chance to discuss with/met anyone with experience prior to surgery.  At the moment I've decided against reconstruction but have also been told I can change my mind at anytime. ... View more

Just waiting on my lift to go home. Drain is out and everything is looking good according to consultant. Results in 10 days.   Claire hope all goes well for tomorrow.  ... View more

Thanks Feenix. Surgery was completely uneventful as far as I'm aware. I didn't see the consultant after (or if I did I don't remember). It's been a remarkably easy recovery so far but I know it's early days. I'm hoping I'll be allowed home tomorrow. ... View more

Hi Jobey and Feenix   Thanks for the welcome. I've already had a wander around some of the threads since my diagnosis. I waited 5 weeks from urgent referral for my initial appointment (I'm in Scotland so 2ww doesn't apply) so I think my consultant took it as a challenge to show how fast things can move.  I went for biopsy results last Thursday having been told to expect chemo followed by surgery to be told I was booked in for mx the following Friday. All I know for certain is it's provisional grade 2 and hormone receptive (or whatever the terminology is - it's a whole new language).   Feenix your assumption is correct. No recon atm It was just one too many things to get my head round.  What about you?    So far everyone I've told has been hugely supportive and my husband has been a total rock so I know in that respect I'm very very lucky.  I will admit to starting to get a little nervous now. The anaesthetic doesn't bother me as I've never had a problem yet.  I already know I won't go home the same day. Although I'm going to day surgery they will be transferring me to the oncology ward for the weekend which apparently is a great place.  I'm kind of relieved as I have 2 young boisterous dogs at home.    I'll try and report back next week on how things have gone and thank you again for the welcome.  ... View more

Hi   I'm new to the forum (and forums in general so if I get things wrong I'm sorry) having been diagnosed a couple of weeks ago.    I'm scheduled for a mastectomy and SNB on Friday so thought I'd pop in and say hello.  On the whole it's not been as bad as I imagined in my nightmares (so far but then I've not really started treatment yet). I have had an occasional down day (usually Sunday for some reason) but I know from reading on here that's normal. I won't know until I get my results in a couple of weeks whether I'll have to have chemo or radiotherapy or both but I do know I'll be getting hormone treatment.   Hope everything is going as well as possible for everyone at the moment.  ... View more