Breast Cancer Now Forum

Oh Jacq, you’re having such a rough ride 😢. Really hoping you’re appointment is positive today x ... View more

Have to say I had nerve pain until almost week 6, it’s horrid but there’s so much healing to do 😢 x ... View more

Hi Jane, I had DCIS, although i was lucky enough to have immediate reconstruction as I didn’t have any invasion. However the the nipple, mine couldn’t be saved as where DCIS is in the milk ducts, mine seemed to start touching the nipple and head back in, if you see what I mean. I guess all ducts head to the nipple so if it’s close, they do need to take it away. I will be offered a reconstructed nipple in 12-18 months if I want it. Wishing you all the best with your surgery xx ... View more

And today is a better day .... I’m guessing ups and downs will continue for a while!! Work have agreed to extend full pay beyond the normal and to pay full salary on a phased return ...... Thank F for that!!! So 6 weeks on, I’m out of pain (still stiff and feel like things are swollen), work is on side for a return mid November which will be 10 weeks at 2 hours a day from home initially (my job involves driving normally). Things are looking up!! Hope the rest of you are seeing some glimmers of hope and feeling ok xx ... View more

Hello all, I know I shouldn’t moan as it could have been a lot worse but feeling really rubbish today. Just received payslip from work to see that they have taken me off full pay. Boss had said that after 8 weeks it was discretionary and hinted that they would continuing paying me, but it seems not. So I’m £200 down this month and need to get back to work ASAP beating in mind now that any phased return to work will not be full pay. I’m sick of this disease, I’m lucky that they caught it early but it’s done nothing but cost me financially. Firstly because it was found through a private health assessment the journey continued down the private route and cost me just over £200 in excess. Then because it’s DCIS it’s not deemed ‘bad’ enough for a critical illness payout - I’ve lost my breast FFS, now work have decided that they’re not paying me. I know I’m lucky to have my life,,just feeling rubbish. Was looking forward to starting swimming next week, but if I go back to work I won’t have time to do that 😞 Sorry, know many of you have it far more seriously. Not feeling very strong today Love to all that are going through the s**t Xx ... View more

Good luck Alex, I’m sure they’re just running late 😘. Thinking of you Maggiemay xx ... View more

Hi all Alex I do hope your infection has gone now, that must have been horrible :-(. You seem very positive despite it all. Rapunzel, take it easy, you need to put your feet up! Good luck Willowherb and Alex with your results, fingers crossed for you. Jacq, hope you are starting to improve. I’m 4 weeks post LD Flap now and struggling with the under arm stuff. It feels like someone is pinching me where the armpit joins the breast and they’ve got flipping sharp nails. Then there’s the tickling under the arm and the feeling of chafing that must be coming from inside. It’s driving me nuts 😞 Let’s hope it all passes soon. Love to you all xx ... View more

Hi Helen, sorry to hear your having difficulty sleeping. I had my drain in for 10 days and it was down to just under 50mls when it came out. Don’t be in too much of a rush, that will becomes a fluid build up if it comes out too soon. Re the sleeping, I’m 4 weeks post op and for the first 3 weeks slept on a pillow mountain and had a large V shaped pillow as well. I kind of used it like a travel pillow in that my head would be supported when it went sideways. I’m now back to my normal pillow, but I wake up if I turn over and can only get comfy on the non mastectomy side. I think it just takes time. Best wishes for your recovery xx ... View more

Good luck to those having surgery today xxx ... View more

Hi JacqB, fingers crossed it all goes, I still have really horrid ‘soreness’ under. Y armpit and down the back of my arm. Hurts to the gentlest of touches 😞 I’m trying to gently rub Bio oil in when I’m doing my scars in the hope it helps. The thought of massaging it makes me feel ill!!! Looks like I’d best focus on my exercises too!! Xx ... View more

Hi Pippi, I’m 2 weeks post surgery and have quite a lump under my arm kind of at the end of the back scar. It’s really quite painful :-(. Sad to read from others that it might stay that way. It’s about 4 / 5 cm long and quite tube shaped. I also have a really sore armpit and back of arm - feels like gravel rash or similar. Let’s hope they reduce at least!!! ... View more

Oh Jacq, you’ve almost described how I feel. Although as you know I’ve had the so called balancing surgery, my new foob is a very odd shape indeed. The bit that struck home though is the armpit on fire!! I’m so with you there. All under my arm put and down the back of my arm (where my bingo wing is) is so sore it feels like a gravel graze. Add to that the big lump I seem to have under my bra strap where they’ve done the LD Flap. Everyone keeps telling me how great I look (even face timed into a work meeting this morning to say hi) but underneath I feel rubbish at the moment. Spent a lot of the weekend wishing I’d just gone flat. HelenAnn, my consultant talks a lot about grieving the death of your boob and learning to love the new foob. Hope all goes well with your surgery. Xx ... View more

Gals you have your sister with you Alex. My best friend came to stay when I got out, she’s a GP, does help you relax a little. So sorry to hear of your experience though. Pleased to hear you’re doing ok Willowherb, remember to take it easy. I’m feeling a little miserable today, a bit woe is me. Boobs looking distinctly different and limited movement and soreness is getting me down, kind of wishing I’d gone flat :-(. I keep having to remind myself that I’m 10 days post op and they moved a muscle! Taking it easy with a little cross stitch. Hope everyone is having a good weekend. Xx ... View more

So sorry to hear you’re waiting again Jacq 😢 and that you’re not happy with your shape, but Alex speaks a lot of sense, do give it time. I was feeling pretty low about my shape this morning as the uplifted one doesn’t feel very uplifted now the swelling has reduced and the food feels massive and rock hard. I was regretting having a recon, but I gave myself a good talking to and will try not to judge for 6 months .... it’s coming up to baggy jumper season so from the outside all will be fine whilst I wait for it to settle. I really hope all is ok for you, it is still early days. Glad you’re ok Alex, I made them take that machine off me overnight for a few hours - it drove me insane and was very hot!! X ... View more

Good luck today Xela, hope to hear from you soon. Hello Maggie, hope you’re ok. I was diagnosed on 11th July and had my op on 3rd September, partly my choice as I wanted to go on holiday, but it is quite a time for the tension to build. At 47 I’d never had a general anaesthetic or surgery bar a mole removal, so I was pretty scared. This group has been very supportive and all the medical professionals I’ve come across have been great too, I hope you’re as well looked after. Make sure you have one or two good friends on hand to pop in, they’re the best medicine. I did feel terribly down on day 3 and 4 and I can’t put my finger on why, I likened it to the baby blues, but I guess surgery is going to do that to you. Take one day at a time and look after yourself. It’s a shame the reduction isn’t happening at the same time, but I suspect you’ll get a different and possibly better result by waiting as the first one will have settled and they’ll be able to see what it looks like. I had an enlargement at the same time as my mastectomy and I look in the mirror at the moment wondering if they will ever be similar again. Good luck and do let us know how you get on. Big hugs xxx ... View more

So been for the follow up tonight, drains have been removed, dressings off and they’re happy for me to now lift my elbows above my shoulders so I can have a shower and wash my hair ... yay!!! Luckily he also had my results which confirm DCIS, no invasion, nodes clear, lymph clear and margins clear. They got all of it :-). Big relief. Time to focus on the healing and movement now, my brain needs to learn that this muscle has moved from my back to my front 😱 Xx ... View more

That’s great news JacqB, I’m really hoping my drain comes out tomorrow. Hi SuperDi, I was really nervous a day before my op, but everyone was so nice and reassuring. Hope everything goes well for you and enjoy being looked after! Update us when you feel able. Xx ... View more

It’s amazing how different authorities do it differently! So my stockings came off when I left hospital as I was classed as mobile! My drain however is in until it stops draining when I have to phone up and ask them to take it out. No district nurse visit here either. Anyone got really sore skin under their armpit? Mines really annoying me!! Xx ... View more

Wow Pippi1969 you sound like you’re doing remarkably well! What did the district nurse say? I only had one drain which is still in, but think I may have some fluid on my back where they did the flap, need to get hubby to take a look. I had surgery Monday and am still incredibly sore and stiff. Only taking paracetamol and ibuprofen. Good luck with your recovery xx Sorry Chocxie7 it looks like I don’t need chemo. Hopefully someone else will be able to help soon. Best wishes for your treatment xx ... View more