Breast Cancer Now Forum

I’ve got 15 days then an extra 4 days.  5 days at the boob, 15 at the lymph nodes above the clavicle (overlapping the 5 boob days!) and then an extra 4 day at the tumour bed.  They’re really chucking everything at it.  ... View more

Hi Elisabeth, Just wondering if you had the boost radiotherapy too. If so, did it make the tissue even harder? I suppose it’s a bit hard to tell if the boost makes it worse.  Emma ... View more

Hi Yvette, Sorry you are having to go through this. Yes, I'm 4 weeks post-op now. I did decide on the LICAP and  I couldn’t be happier with the result. My breast looks the same shape as it was and is only a tiny bit smaller (plus he got all the cancer out  😊 ). Where the ‘transplant’ is is hard and a bit lumpy to touch, and there is very little sensation in the skin but I’m ok with that.  My lump was also on the outer edge, about 2 o'clock.  I should say that someone I met during treatment hasn’t had such a good result and will be having some further surgery to correct the shape.  Also, you do get quite a big scar, stretching from just beneath the beast all the way round to the back. Mine’s about 7 or 8 inches long. But it’s healing well and I can accept it. My mum calls it a battle scar.  My side is quite tight and I'm still struggling to lift my hand as high as I'd like, but that's mostly because of the cording in my arm-pit and it's definitely getting better each day. I found a good leaflet here to explain the procedure: https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/leaflets/files/5137Plicap.pdf I also found a video of the procedure, but I'm a biology teacher so it really helped me to get my head round it, most people probably wouldn't want to watch it but I can send you the link if you want. Would you like me to send you my photos of what it looks like now and how I was marked up before the procedure? I think I will also write a blog article about it soon as it seems to be still a relatively rare procedure and people are struggling to find the information they need. Best wishes, Emma PS. I'm having a nightmare finding comfy bras that are small enough. So far I've found that Sainsbury's have some good ones.   ... View more

Glad the op went well but so sorry to hear about the nodes and further surgery.  wishing you the best xx ... View more

Hi Rose, I had a LICAP and all nodes removed on December 21st. I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have although I haven’t had my radiotherapy yet.  I was really unsure about whether to have the licap or just the lumpectomy as I am very small busted and slender, so not much fat to transfer on my side. They planned to remove an amount of flesh that was the same size as the original lump, about 3cm, plus extra for margins. This could have potentially been about a third of my boob! I even took in some play doh so he could show me so I could visualise it a bit better 🙈 My surgeon didn’t seem particularly confident about either in terms of final appearance and they only had one photo at the clinic and there aren’t many online.  However, I couldn’t be happier with the result. My breast looks the same shape as it was and is only a tiny bit smaller (plus he got all the cancer out 😁 ). Where the ‘transplant’ occurred is very hard and there is very little sensation in the skin but I’m ok with that. I’m not sure how permanent that will be.  I should say that someone I met during treatment hasn’t had such a good result and will be having some further surgery to correct the shape.  Also, you do have quite a big scar, stretching from just beneath the beast all the way round to the back. Mine’s about 7 or 8 inches long. But it’s healing well and I can accept it. My mum calls it a battle scar.  Hope you’re doing ok.  Emma ... View more

Hi Aqua,  Hope you’re doing ok.  I felt sumitro how you mentioned, a bit of a fraud! I expected to feel awful and to experience far more of the side effects they warned me about.  I actually found EC the hardest mind you. I started with 4 cycles of paclotaxil and carboplatin, which at the start was surprisingly easy. I even managed a run on the days before treatment and only ever felt rough for 2-3 days.  EC wiped me out for about 5 days though and nausea wasn’t nice although they change my meds for that which sorted it out for the next cycle. Each cycle was worse for tiredness unfortunately but only had 3 and have just finished. Having finished now, looking back, I found the whole experience surprisingly tolerable although I’ve been fortunate not to be working (or unfortunate depending on your point of view).  So I’d say enjoy all those good days (of which there will hopefully be plenty), and as you get more used to noticing how your body copes and responds, and how you feel, use some time in the run up to the next treatment getting in all the treats and nice food and drink.  wishing you well emma ... View more

Thanks everyone. It’s so amazing to be able to have this support.  Another question, again a bit specific, but I’m struggling to find suitable bras for immediately after surgery since I’m 36AA. Best options ie soft, seem to be nursing bras! ... View more

Great idea, love it 😁 ... View more

Great advice, thanks Evie.  Yes I got shown the drain the other day - was slightly alarmed! But she did say they give you a bag. How on earth do you sleep with the bottle? I guess it goes on the floor? I'm sure they'll tell me. Surgeons are a unique breed aren't they? I think they definitely prefer their patients unconscious on the table. I'm a biology teacher so I like to know as much as I can about it all and I think I've been slightly irritating him with all my questions  😆  Or I'm just being paranoid. It's hard to make the same relationships and interpret body language with the masks and social distancing I think.    ... View more

Great, thanks Shi. Can you tell me about the sticky dots on door game? x ... View more

Thanks for getting back Elisabeth and describing your experience, I really appreciate it.  At the moment I’m very slightly more in favour for the licap.  I don’t think I’m too bothered about the scar, I’m a bit weird, I actually found a video of the licap procedure and watched it which has made me feel better about it. The less I have to speculate and let my imagination run wild, the better I feel. If only I could find some photos of both procedures, after radiotherapy, on a small bust with the lump in the exact same place as mine and I’d be much happier with my decision! 😆     ... View more

Hi Sailorgirl,  I hope you don’t mind me getting touch. I am trying to decide whether to have licap or just lumpectomy.  I have very small breasts and will have radiotherapy afterwards but the team don’t seem to be able to give me much idea about how the lumpectomy will look afterwards.  the lump to be removed was 3cm plus extra for margins and it was right on the outer edge of my left breast.  I’m terrified of waking up with half a breast after a lumpectomy and that it’ll be ages before I could have reconstruction because of coronavirus. But if it ended up not looking not too bad I’d be happy to just leave it and wear a prosthesis I think.  Id also hate to have the licap and then after radiotherapy it looked rubbish and they can’t fix it cos my skin is so fragile.  There just seems to be so many unknowns so it’s so hard to decide.  Would you mind sharing your experience? X ... View more

Hi Lou,  Thanks for your response to my other posts. I can’t reply there as it’s been closed.  Hope your appointment went well and you got the answers to your questions.  Emma ... View more