Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Ann Thank you for your mail, sorry for the delay in my reply. I have been offered accommodation at a hotel in Southampton but was advised by my breast nurse not to take up the offer as she thought I would be lonely, my appointment could be at 9am and I could be back at the hotel by 10am, and then I would be alone all day, so that decision is on hold at the moment, but the option is still there. At the moment,because of lockdown, the ferries, hovercrafts to the mainland have been drastically reduced, I am hoping that as soon as it’s over the ferry timetables are reinstated, it’s one less worry to cope with. Take care Ann, lovely to hear from you.love Lesley  xx   ... View more

Hi Jane, Thank you for your 2 mails, sorry I have been slow in replying, the weeks go by so fast. Firstly my condolences to your husband and yourself on the loss of your brother in law, it’s sad at any time but all the more poignant the loser it gets to Christmas.  I am glad that your lymph nodes were clear Jane but sorry to hear that your margins were not, but next time your surgeon will get the little b..... for good, the next couple of weeks will fly by and your op will soon be here and done. I can understand about the self isolation but sadly it’s something we have to do before going into hospital. i haven’t heard about my radiotherapy yet, I spoke to the breast care nurse yesterday as I too have a lump above and through the scar but like yours they also told me it’s possibly tissue, they also told metro watch incase it got hot and red because of infection, but it’s not so I think all’s good there, they also told me it can take up to 4 weeks from referral for radiotherapy, so I can give them another couple of weeks.Mind you, because of lockdown our ferries and hovercrafts have been drastically reduced so I would find it difficult to get there at the moment. Like yourself Jane, I too have had great support from everyone, family friends and this site, it would have been worse without you all. Take care and please keep in touch Love Lesley xx ... View more

Hello again Jane, I am so pleased that your operation is over and that you are home again. Glad to hear that your surgeon thought it had gone well and I wish you well for your results on Wednesday. I am waiting to hear from the oncologist in Southampton regarding the radiotherapy, apparently it can now be 5 sessions in a week and then it’s done, but also can be longer - 5 session per week for 3 weeks, so it all depends on what the oncologists plans for me are. Obviously I am hoping for the former, mainly due to the fact that I have to travel across the Solent each day and would rather do that for 1 week than 3, as you say it’s going to be very tiring, but I won’t be the first to have to do it and undoubtedly not the last either. Then after the radiotherapy it's 5 years (possibly more) on Tamoxifen, but it’s a small price to pay, and I am so thankful. Take care Jane, please let me know how your results go. Love Lesley xxx ... View more

Hi Jane,  Thank you for your letter, I am hoping that you are now home safe and sound after your operation and that you are recovering well, you’re probably feeling a bit sore but you will feel better as each day passes.  My results appointment went well, the surgeon told me the margins were clear after the removal of the tumour and the lymph nodes removed (2) came-back as negative which was good news.  The next step is radiotherapy which probably will start-in around 4 weeks time,  one bug bare is I have to travel to the mainland to have the treatment, but hey ho I can cope with that, don’t know the time frame yet, but after the radiotherapy they are putting me on Tamoxifen for at least 5 years possibly longer, I am so thankful that I had that mammogram, it was estimated to be 8mm but when it was removed it was 16mm, so it appears that it had doubled in size within a few weeks. Anyway, Jane, I look forward to hearing from you, whenever you feel well enough. Rest up, take care, Love Lesley xxx ... View more

Hi Jane, Thank you for your reply, no worries about delay, just write when you’re free. I understand totally about the need for wire free bras after the op,I already had a sports bra but found another front opening one(Velcro) on E Bay which I have found very comfy, I also wear them at the moment at night (keeps you uptogether). I am recovering very well from my op and have not been into much discomfort, I am either a tough old bird or very lucky, i was expecting to be black and blue but I haven’t bruised. I was prescribed liquid morphine to be used when needed and paracetamol which I took regularly for 2 days, then thought I was becoming zombie like so now just take them when needed, I never had the need for the morphine at all. I didn’t stay in bed, my partner is very protective of me and wouldn’t let me do a thing, he’s relaxing a little now and I’m actually allowed to wash up occasionally, seriously, he has been brilliant. As regards the special wash liquid you were given,I didn’t have anything like that, I live on Isle of Wight. Try not to be too anxious, the hospital staff are amazing and I’m sure will take great care of you. Do you have to have a wire inserted before your op? I did, it was all done under local anaesthetic and was pain free. It is to guide the surgeon to where exactly the tumour is especially if it is small and cannot be felt on the outside of your breast. Anything else I can help with Jane before Thursday,please don’t hesitate to ask. Are you in just for day surgery? Take care and rest up. Love Lesley xxx ... View more

Hi Jane, Thank you for the message, surgery went well on Monday, it was a very long day, I had to have a wire insert in the breast clinic before going to day surgery, I finally went into theatre around 3pm , all the hospital staff were amazing and so kind. I have to go to out patients for the results next Wednesday, but have been told unofficially that it doesn’t appear to have spread to the lymph nodes as they came back clear from pathology. I am well and truly being spoilt and not allowed to do a thing at home, my partner Alistair is looking after me very well. I wish you all the best for your surgery next Thursday, I will be thinking of you and hoping  that all goes well for you. I think exhausted is the right word, we all seem to feel that we’ve done 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. Good luck Jane and lots of love Lesley xx I look forward to hearing from you whenever you feel well enough xx   ... View more

Hi Jane, Thank you so much for your message and good wishes for tomorrow.  Iam due to go in at 8.30am and to be honest it really can’t come quick enough now. I had my pre assessment on Friday along with a Covid test(negative thank goodness). Good luck to you also Jane on 29th and please keep in touch. Love Lesley xx ... View more

My operation has been postponed until 19th October, nightmare! I was so hoping that it would be done 12th,  ... View more

Hi Stayzen Thank you for your message, it has given me a boost to read your story which as you say is very similar to mine. I am having my preassessment on Friday and operation is planned forMonday which can’t come soon enough. Thankyou for your good wishes, I will let you know how it goes. Big hug Lesleyxx ... View more

Hi Jo, sorry that you find yourself in this position, what a shock for you to be diagnosed after your first mammogram, I can’t offer any advice I’m afraid as I am newly diagnosed  myself, I didn’t feel a lump either, my surgeon told me that no one could have felt it but was picked up solely by the mammogram. I wish you all the best for your future treatment, it’s not too long until Friday and hopefully you will have some answers then. I’m sure that others on this lovely forum will be more helpful than I have been, and I send you healing thoughts and hope your treatment goes according to plan. Big hugs Lesley xxx ... View more

Hi Grannyp, Thank you so much for your message,  sending you every good wish for your surgery on Saturday, sorry that it has been delayed for you due to various reasons and.ike you say once the surgery is over then the cancer is gone.  I am hoping to have a good chat with my Breast care nurse on Thursday as she is due to phone me,  Thank you again for your kind words,sending you healing thoughts and big hugs. Lesley xxx   ... View more

Hi Jane, Thank you for your reply, I agree it’s a big shock, I only joined this amazing site yesterday and by reading other people’s posts I am beginning to realise that there are a lot of people having to deal with a lot more than me, I wish you all the best for your journey too Jane and thank you for your kind thoughts and wishes or my upcoming operation, I just want it over now so the sooner next Monday gets here the better, please keep int touch, it’s good to know someone of a similar age is going through the same treatment, Big hugs Lesley xx ... View more

Good advice Evie, thank you, will definitely take a notebook and pen with me at my next consultation. Big hug, Lesley xx ... View more

Hi Evie, Thank you for your reply, yes this was my first post, my cancer is a grade 2 and the operation is a lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy a few weeks later. The lymph nodes appeared to be okay  on the mammogram images, but the surgeon said about injecting a dye into the nipple during the op which will travel to the lymph nodes and depending on the results will maybe take some away.  I am speaking to my Clinical Nurse  later this week so will ask her to confirm this.......so much to take in,when you’re  at your lowest. Hugs,Lesleyxx ... View more