Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Julia Ive been thinking about you. Hope all went well on Friday and you are home recovering with your family. xx ... View more

Good Morning its almost 5am and I’ve been awake for a while! Yesterday I had my mastectomy. Went to theatre about 9.45 woke up in recovery at 12.45 feeling totally alert. I was back on the ward by 12.30! After 3 cups of tea, toast and about half a gallon of water I was home by 4.30! What an amazing set of NHS professionals I met yesterday.They all went out of the way to calm my nerves before and then to tend to me afterwards. I had/ have very little pain. I’ve already looked at my wound and it looks fine ( not sure what I was expecting) and I realised very quickly that it’s still me. I know there’s a long road ahead, but right now I can truly say I feel pretty good, so much better than this time yesterday. Guess what I really want to say is, for me a least, the reality was so much better than I anticipated 😊 I hope this helps to ease the worry for you somewhat. I am going to take it easy and relax over the next few days but will be thinking of you xx ... View more

Thanks for that Julia, I hadn’t really thought of it that way! Of course the staff will be brilliant- I haven’t found a single one so far that hasn’t been. I’m planning on doing a lot a reading  the next couple of weeks, hopefully in my newly landscaped garden and with some sunshine 😊 If you’re happy to share let me know what you’ve had published and I’ll give it a go xx ... View more

Ah Julia, Im sorry to hear that. At least now you know and once the initial shock wears off I hope it brings you some comfort to actually have a plan. I have no doubt that you will face it all with courage and positivity! It’s becoming all too real for me now. This time tomorrow I should be at the hospital and waiting for my surgery. Although Im scared, I will just be pleased to be getting on with things. I keep telling myself that once the op is over then every day will hopefully show an improvement and I will be on the road to recovery.  I know there is still a long way to go, but have decided to focus on each step as it happens and am trying not to get overwhelmed by it all.   Thank you for your welcome and kind words Evie, it’s comforting to hear from ladies who have trodden the same path, so to speak 😊 ... View more

Hi Julia Sorry for the delay -I had a crazy sort the house out day yesterday! Partly to keep my mind busy but also because my Sister will be coming to stay to look after me and I don’t want her to think my standards have slipped 😂 I’m pleased you have your Daughter back with you. My Son is the same age and is also due home soon after finishing Uni. I had to tell him via FaceTime as well and I actually got my full diagnosis on his Birthday, whilst he was home.  I’m not sure about a future reconstruction, nothing was mentioned about that. I think I have come to terms with having a “falsie” but until It’s a reality who knows? I hope you get your treatment plan soon. As many others have written, it seems to help when you have some idea of what will happen and when. I’ve found that the people around me, on the whole, have been brilliant, but it is certainly a case of judging their capacity to talk openly rather than mine! I find the “ it will be fine” brigade the hardest to deal with, because yes, hopefully it will be, but right now it’s not and I really need to be able to acknowledge that fact!  I am very lucky that ones of my best friends has been through this 4 years ago and is also a District Nurse, so her thoughts and advice are helpful. As she said “. You may be in for a shitty few months, but you will come out the other end of it”. For some reason that just gave me comfort. Take care and keep us updated Karen x ... View more

Hi Jukat This is my first post as your post really touched a chord with me. I’m a little bit ahead of you. Diagnosed with Grade 2 Invasive Lobular. Had MRI and confirmation that it is one area about 6 cms big. CT scan shows it hasn’t spread, thank goodness. I am having a simple mastectomy and Sentinel Node biopsy, no reconstruction on Friday. Due to the position, my only option for reconstruction was a L D Flap and I felt it was a step too far for me. I don’t know if I will need further treatment afterwards and am praying I can avoid chemo but know that I have no real control over the next steps. So far, I think I am coping well, but sometimes it just doesn’t feel real… like Im on the outside and simply going through the motions. Maybe this is my way of coping! Im scared I will have a total melt down after the surgery and can’t imagine what I am going to look like. Lets hope that like many others on here we master whatever is thrown our way and come out the other side stronger than ever! 😊 ... View more