Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Annie22 Thanks so much for your post. Don't worry about being late, I hardly ever come on the forum now either. How you describe your discomfort sounds just like mine but I do think it has improved since I last posted (or maybe ive just learnt to live with it). I saw my consultant in February and he basically said there was nothing that could be done about it and definitely never mentioned having it reversed, although I'm not sure I could go through all that again! I hope you get a satisfactory resolution- let us know, I'm interested to hear how you get on. Best wishes x ... View more

Hi again @Simmo  Yeh, I'd already noted you'd had the immediate boob area checked by consultant and ultrasounded. But my post/suggestion was more from the description of the "arm" discomfort you're feeling. Whether direct arm/joint stretching by a physio and their recommended exercises would help your problem. xXx ... View more

Hi Bella60, I’m 20 months following LD flap reconstruction with implant and then a full auxiliary clearance.  I’m in pain every day.  Was advised that I could return to everything I had do before the surgery and it would only affect me if I was a rock climber or avid swimmer.   Even hoovering causes me pain.  My arm feels so heavy and I even have to wake up to turn over in my sleep.  The breast clinic have recently done an ultrasound and said other than the implant hardening from radiotherapy everything else seems fine.  Been told I’m doing too much and any exercise that involves raising my arm above my head will cause me issues.  It’s really getting my down and I’m fed up of feeling like this.  Feel like is this the forever and am I always going to have this pain.  The last couple of weeks it’s travelled up to my neck and shoulder and today I have a lot of pain in my elbow.  Do you take any regular pain relief or find anything that helps with the pain? Xx ... View more

Thanks for the post and I hope your recovery goes well. I am seeing my consultant again next week so that’s vg. And looks like pandemic is starting to turn now which hopefully will help us all! Thanks Sarah Xxx  ... View more

Hi, like I said to the OP my reconstruction failed, I had to go flat, and like it! They don't tell you the down sides and multiple surgeries. I wish I'd skipped it. Dont know if this helps and sorry if it doesnt. Best luck. ... View more

Hi simmy I’m having a lumpectomy ,and a node taken from my armpit . I have invasive ductal carcinoma grade 2 . I’m on letrozole prior to surgery hoping it will start shrinking while I waited . I’m in East Sussex I’ve only waited 5 weeks since diagnosis so I’ve been very lucky . If my results come back ok I will be having radiotherapy after . I spoke to my nurse she said if the hot flushes are too much they can give me something . But I’m coping ok . Hope you soon get your mastectomy and you are ok xxx ... View more

Hello Simple mastectomy surgery went smoothly for me. No drain but I think that’s more common if you’ve had reconstruction which of course sadly I’ve been unable to have for now. I stayed in overnight but only because I was being lazy and enjoying the sleep! I went out for a walk and lunch the next day. I haven’t had any pain and have been religiously doing my exercises which are not too difficult. My only issue is fluid which I had drained yesterday (11 days after surgery)  another painless procedure, but that will probably keep happening as the wound heals internally. My nurse says this happens to about 25% of patients. It isn’t painful, just disconcerting when it looks like the breast has grown back!  honestly if you’ve been through chemo then surgery is a breeze in comparison. Try not to worry, the surgeons and your care team know what they’re doing. I’m so glad my surgery is behind me and I can get on with the healing process. Just radiotherapy to look forward to now 🙂 If I were you I would go ahead with the surgery, one more chemo wouldn’t make a massive difference and I understand the cancer can start to grow again if you leave it too long before having surgery.  Take care and good luck to you xxx   ... View more

Hey, just trengthen your belief that you feel better soon, eat healthy food!  ... View more

Hi Simmo - I'd really recommend asking your consultant/plastic surgeon if they have any photos to show you so that you can get a better idea of what the surgery will look like. I am small breasted, I was a B cup in both before surgery. I still am in my original left, but my right is larger and more rounded than my left. So I use a prosthesis over my original to even things up under clothes as I didn't want more surgery on my left. To begin with I didn't like the fact that they didn't match, but I am used to it now.   The recovery time was another important factor for me. I had to have radiotherapy after surgery - lots of consultants won't put an implant in if you need radiotherapy, but mine was happy to do it as the sling apparently helps reduce the risk of complications after radiotherapy.   It's a very personal decision, so it's really good that you are asking lots of questions and advice before you make your decision. Please feel free to ask more questions, that's just a quick summary. xx ... View more