Breast Cancer Care Forum

Thanks for your post kip.. It is so encouraging and a much needed tonic.. You're right it is the first and last thing I think of each day.. I'm not going to lie the thought of chemo fills me with dread probably because its fear of the unknown... In my life I'm never sick but if I am I just tend to work through it but nausea and vomiting I hate most of all I don't cope well with stomach bugs etc so I'm dreading that most of all.. I'm ignorant of the other side affects... Which I have deliberately haven't research 😥 I will cope.. I have to but I am dreading it Regards  San x ... View more

Morning Claire.. Hopefully you will get the results sooner rather then later.. I got mine a week earlier then expected because of the covid situation apparently the labs aren't as busy as normal because ppl aren't seeking medical help due to fear of going outside.. Hopefully everything will be clear and all you have to do is heal 😘   Hugs San xxx  ... View more

Hey Claire... Thank you so much 😘 you have also helped me more then you know 😊   I had my drain in for 2 weeks I was producing a lot of fluid so my nurse waited until it was less than 100ml (over 2 days) but tbh I was happy to keep it in as long as It was needed to be in as it didn't bother me so much   I looked at my scar straight away but to be fair I didn't have a mastectomy... Yeah a have a 4/5 inch scar right across the centre of my breast minus the nipple.. But I realise That's not the same as losing the whole breast 😢 I find myself constantly thinking back to when my mum had her mastectomy she seemed to not be bothered about it she acted so brave.. I asked her recently about it and she said she was bothered and that she hid her emotions from us which is so typical of her ❤️ she decided against reconstruction but she was 67 at the time.. If it was me now facing that at 55 I would probably opt for reconstruction but maybe a year from now when this pandemic is over... Its a personal choice and you will look at your scar when your ready to.. I think it will be a little shocking at first and I'm sure you will cry? I think I would 😥 but like you said to me facing chemo etc and being strong... Well you are too and you will be OK.. In the end ❤️ it a process.. It feels a bit like shock and grief but like grief, time is a great healer.. And thank god that's what you have plenty of.. Time 😊 😘 you will figure it out and you too will walk away from this a much stronger woman   Big hugs  San xx ... View more

Hi Claire.. Glad your feeling great that's wonderful news 😍 I had my drain taken out today and all dressing taken off... I can now have a proper shower!! Didn't feel a thing either also the feeling is beginning to come back to my arm so a little uncomfortable   I have a phone consultation on 10 June to discuss further treatment for my future self (their words) It looks like I do have to have chemo because my breast lump was stage 3 not stage 2 like I was first told 😢 it's taken a few days for me to get my head around that and facing up to chemo and dealing with everything that chemo entails .. Also Means I won't be going back to work for a good 6 months now well definitely not this year anyway but hey it could be worse so I'm counting my blessing  San xx 😘   ... View more

Also just a quick mention my armpit and the top of my arm has been completely numb but the last 2 days I'm beginning to get some feeling back so is now a little bit more uncomfortable but nothing I can't cope with... I also still have my drain in because I'm still losing a lot of fluids my nurse said she will take it out on Monday xx ... View more

Hi Cdlucy..  So glad your feeling well and that for now that part is over for you 😘 .. I'm nearly 2 weeks post op.. I have done my exercises every day Well the easy ones lol I think it's important to try and keep my shoulder mobile because I've have had a frozen shoulder in the past and I remember it being painful.. That's why I've been determined to do them the best I can 😊 I only take painkillers before bed because they help me sleep deeper (oh I can't wait to sleep on my side 😂 ) Just do what you can with the exercises and listen to your body.. If your a runner (my daughter loves to run as well) you will be in tune with your body and know what you can and can't do.. A little bit is better then nothing at all so do what you can but still try and do it 😊 I hope I've helped you a little bit Big hugs 😘 San x ... View more

I've been thinking of you cdlucy the couple of days hope your surgery went as planned and you're healing and resting well.. No need to answer me just know we are here for you if you need us.. Have a lovely weekend 😘 San xx ... View more

We are very similar cdlucy and your absolutely right.. This is our journey and we will deal with what is thrown at us...   We all have our crosses to bare but I suppose we can either drag them behind us or choice to pick them up and carry them 😘 💪   San xxx ... View more

Thank you Mel.. Much appreciated 😘 xx ... View more

Thank you shi.. I will xxx ... View more

  Hi everyone.. Thanks for the support girls 😘 he called early because of the covid situation and not being as busy as they usually are here's what he said..    The lump was 30mm so quite big but I don't need further surgery because they got it all so good news there 👍   He said the cancer was in 2 of my lymph nodes so I will be having radiotherapy and chemotherapy 😢 .. In their words to protect my future self.. It sounded fairly positive I suppose but I will be honest I'm a bit gutted about the chemo part but if it ensures a healthy long life well yeah of cause I will deal with it obviously I'd prefer not to lol but I will have to enbrace it and except I won't get back to work and my normal life for a bit while longer xxxx   ... View more

It shouldn't be different depending on area but it seems that way... I've had a phone call from my breast nurse to say my surgeon will be ringing me today after 2pm (and up to 5pm) with the results of my surgery 😖 why a week early? Not going to lie now I'm nervous.. Wish me luck ladies... Also cdlucy I will be thinking of you all day tomorrow 😘 😘 ... View more

Hi shnug (sorry I completely missed out 2 weeks from my time line.. Like you after my Mammogram etc I too had a 2 week wait for biopsy results.. (which was given over the phone because of covid) Then week later had pre op etc)   I wouldnt think they would take any chances especially because your only 48.. Your experience sounds almost identical to my mother's breast cancer.. She to had her breast removed and some of her lymph nodes which she was told were clear.. She was put on hormone tablets for 5 years (she was 67 when this happened to her) she was told she didn't need radiotherapy or chemotherapy as well... That was 13 yrs ago.. She's 80yrs old now (and very glamorous with it not your usual 80 Yr old 😂 😍 ) .. I think if they are saying you don't need any other treatment I would take comfort in that.. They were 100% correct with my mum 😊 😘 Regards San x   ... View more

Hi ladies... I've notice we all have breast cancer yet the procedures and the order of things seem different for each of us.. I wonder why? Here was/is this.... 1) Found a lump  2) 2 weeks later had a Mammogram appointment they did the Mammogram, scran and biopsy for treating from my breast and my nodes.. This same appointment the doctor told me I had breast cancer   3) 1 week later I had my pre op.. Chest xray etc I was told regarding the chest xray.. No news is good news 4) week after pre op I had my operation where I was told I will probably have radiotherapy but they will know more about my treatment plan in 2 and half weeks (3 June) I have had no other tests like mri or ct scans yet and assume if I need them they will tell me next week when I see my surgeon I would be interested to hear both your order of procedures and appointments if you both don't mind sharing xxxx ... View more

Hi ladies 😊 you will be scared cdlucy especially on the day of your surgery it's a human response to uncertainty but if I can reassure you that it is wasn't what I imagined at all and surprisingly I found it such a positive experience which I didn't even consider at the time!   I kept imagining myself on the table and going through my head what they would be doing to me.. I was literally torturing myself 😢 when I realised that was their reality not mine and that my reality would be asleep for 2 seconds or less.. I felt myself drifting off and I remember thinking one more second I will be awake... And I was!! Try not to be too scared 😘 I has lost my nipple as I said earlier but my breast is half the size of my 'normal' one but at this moment in time I actually don't care.. I may feel different a year from now or I may keep it as it is? This is my battle and these are my battle scars and I don't want to ever forget all the life lessons I've learnt over the last 5 weeks so I may wear my scars with pride 😊   Hugs to you both 😘 ... View more

Hi Cdlucy... I had my surgery a week ago today.. I lost my nipple and had a full node clearance..I was sent to a private hospital here in Liverpool and I was very nervous before surgery.. But honestly our reality is they put you to sleep and literally 2 seconds later (I was in surgery for almost 2 hours) they wake you up! But like I said our reality it was 2 seconds.. So just kept telling myself that which helped my nerves... When I woke up I felt such a relief and I hadn't felt that happy for years!! Just to know it was out of my body (fingers crossed) yes I've lost my nipple and I'm in some discomfort which hasn't bothered me at all because the relief puts everything else into perspective if that makes sense 😊 I go back to see my surgeon a week this Wednesday (3 June) and that's when he will give me all the results of the surgery and the biopsy of the nodes etc and so on.. He will also tell me if or when I will start radiotherapy.. Not sure about chemotherapy yet.. I'm hoping i won't need it 🤞 but for now I have allowed myself these 2 and a half weeks between surgery and my appointment with him to be happy and enjoy this feeling of relief and not to dwel on what he may tell me or what my next step in treatment will be... Its exhausting emotionally living from one appointment or procedure to the next with that underlying fear inside you isn't it.. So yeah I haven't thought about anything other then to let my body heal and do my shoulder exercises lol and enjoy my family.. Its been wonderful   If the surgeon says I have to have further surgery I won't be as scared I don't think because it wasn't a bad experience I was looked after so well and everyone was wonderful.. Surgery was such a positive experience I won't fear it again.. If I do find myself in that situation I have decided I will ask them to remove my breast and be done with it.. There was one embarrassing moment during it all... Apparently I had gone to school with my surgeon!! although I didn't remember him he remembered me 😳 which was a bit cringy him drawing around my boob 😂 but funny as well lol   All I would say because you will feel nervous or scared or both on Thursday.. Your operation will take 2 seconds and then it's all over and done with and what your left with is that wonderful feeling of relief... I will be thinking of you all day Thursday and I'm sure everything will go as planned.. Don't be scared because that will be the day you start getting control back.. Oh and that cup of tea after they wake you up is the best cup of tea I've ever drank!   You take care and stay safe during these mad covid times xxxxx ... View more

Oh that's wonderful cdlucy.. I can imagine how relieved you must feel ❤️ I know our journeys won't be easy but I'm guessing it's a whole lot easier when you know the odds are in your favour and you know you're going to be ok 😘 ... Fingers crossed I will be saying something very similar in a days time... Take care and stay safe xxxx ... View more

Thanks for your replies... Its biopsy results tomorrow.. Dreading it but want it to get here now! I still feel scared but my emotions have settled down a bit now... All I know is how all your replies have helped me cope a little bit better so thank you to everyone .. I keep having irrational thoughts like... I've heard so many encouraging and wonderful results from many different women which is brilliant but then a little voice in my head is like.. I will be that one who is unlucky which doesn't help one jot and I hate myself thinking like that but then again I suppose its all part of this process of not knowing my results yet.. This time tomorrow I will be back on here with my results asking for info or some guidance 😍   Sending my love to you all... Stay safe all xxx ... View more

Best of luck.. Hope all goes well for you xxx I was given a folder full of different information on the different types of breast cancer but I will be honest I haven't even opened it yet.. I suppose I just need to process my diagnosis first and I will deal with the rest when they tell me this Wednesday (biopsy results) what type.. Size.. Where in the breast my lump is Best wishes to you xxx   ... View more

We have found ourselves here trying to cope the best we can.. I have so many texts.. Phone calls.. And best wishes which I don't want to sound ungrateful I have lovely ppl around me.. but they constantly remind me of my situation.. Every text turns my stomach because I'm made to talk about it.. But as I've said (I don't remember where or to whom it could of been even on here? ) all I know I feel a little less fragile then I did the day before.. I feel a little more stronger and a little bit more positive! this is definitely a journey none of us asked to be on.. But bad stuff happens to good ppl all the time.. All I know whatever happens I can't give in to the fear because the fear is like the cancer.. I'm choosing to be more positive even though I don't feel it all the time but i will run with it... Sorry for rambling on ladies I'm finding these days that I'm just going on my instincts and probably not making much sense xxxx ... View more