Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi, I think on this forum you will find many many different answers and this will probably be based around how we are coping with the diagnosis and what we do for a living. im a nurse and am used to exercise 6 days a week. I was tired initially in week 1 but after that felt fine. I took 3 weeks off just because I wanted my results first, which then resulted in more time off as I had to get a 2nd excisional lumpectomy. no tiredness this time round but again took 3 weeks off to cover my results. Im lucky enough to get a phased period of return for 1 month with the option of extending this. Can you get phased return - you are entitled to ask for it. I based my ability to return on how I felt after long walks - if too tired then I knew I wouldn’t be able to cope with a full day on the ward. Try giving yourself wee goals at a time and remember we all heal differently. good luck xx ... View more

Hi Milly, that’s great news - hope you feel well enough to have a wee celebration. really pleased for you  xx ... View more

You’ve really been through the wringer. hopefully haematoma resolved and you are back on the road to recovery. be kind to yourself and allow yourself extra time to recover from this as well. I got clear margins after 2nd op so just waiting on radiotherapy plan. take care xx ... View more

Following this with interest. im a planner and in my head it was all sorted / op 23rd November then Radiotherapy done and dusted by Feb then life resumes. however margins weren’t clear so a week post op now from 2nd lumpectomy (results awaiting) and now looking at radiotherapy mid April. been a long slog as I was diagnosed in June but had to go on letrozole first. would be delighted if I was sooner than 12 weeks but the way my wee journey has gone I doubt it. anyhow I’m looking at the delay as time to get some fitness back.   ... View more

Hi Milly, all went well for me today - had a fabulous anaesthetic- no pain and home mid afternoon 👌. I had the company of another lady who also had surgery the same day as me in November tho this time round she was in for a mastectomy. have to say though for both of us it was so nice to see each other again and I think it made it a nice experience today for us both. it was good to be able to speak freely and openly face to face with someone else on this journey. We even hope to meet again at our results clinic - funny how new friends can be made in these situations. thoughts turned to you today also. Hoping it went well and you don’t have nasty anaesthetic side effects - home or overnight stay. nothing beats your own bed although an anaesthetic hangover sleep in a cosy bed comes a close second. take care  xxx🌼🌼🌼🌼 ... View more

Hi Milly, I got my results last week - lymph nodes clear but didn’t get clear margins so due for another lumpectomy on 11th January, also have pre cancerous cells nearby but they aren’t concerned about that 🤔 it was only 1 area that wasn’t clear which is the reason a mastectomy hasn’t been suggested. ive been on letrozole since July and it’s felt like a very long drawn out process and radiotherapy for me doesn’t start until 12 weeks post 2nd surgery providing clear margins are achieved this time round. I’m 53 and it was picked up with my 1st screen in April, Good luck with your surgery and recovery xx     ... View more

Sorry to hear the news of your results 😘. no words of wisdom for you im afraid - just good wishes. my results were postponed from Monday until tomorrow 🤞🏼🤞🏼 xxx ... View more

Hi Lynnie, I was diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer in June. been on letrozole since July to shrink it so was able to go for wide excision 3 weeks ago. wasn’t ready for mastectomy unless absolutely necessary, Tumour removed and basically fat rejiggled about to fill in the space. get results on Thursday so see if margins clear enough. if not then mastectomy it will be and I’ll accept that as I’d tried other options. good luck with your decision. take care x ... View more

I received a call yesterday - I have an appointment on Monday for my results  🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼 ... View more

Hi Yorkshire J, good luck with your results and hope you get good news after MDT. I was told 2 weeks for results so tbh was expecting a letter this week but nothing. I know my surgeon will be operating on Tuesday so hopefully will be after that. take care xx ... View more

Hi Yorkshire J, I had my op on a Tuesday and removed the dressing on the Thursday and have been having full daily showers since. Steristrips still firmly fixed - they take a while to start to fall off - not concerned re that as I’m a nurse. letrozole was started pre op as I’m strong oestrogen receptive and it was to try and shrink the wee bugger else it was probably going to be mastectomy - thankfully it worked greatly hence just the wide excision. still waiting on my results which is worse than waiting for the op. im a planner and can’t really plan for my usual activities for next year until I know what the plan is going forward. Bonus is the time off work has meant all my cupboards have been cleaned and decluttered- so fed up of Netflix now 😂 take care dp xxx ... View more

Hi, just wanted to say that I’m also waiting for results the same as you and Yorkshire J. been on letrozole since July and had my op 2 weeks ago today hoping that margins are clear and that’s it’s just radiotherapy that is the next plan but just waiting to here. take care xx   ... View more

Hi Beth, pre-assessment for me today but not an issue as I work as a nurse so I asked for one of my previous colleagues to do that. Feels strange and a bit more real now things are being processed. I like to compartmentalise so I’m looking at it as tick - that’s that one done now onto the next. one big worry that I don’t have now is returning to work too early - I have critical illness cover and they just confirmed my claim on Monday so that’s a big relief and gives me options now for my future. will send good vibes your way on Tuesday xxx ... View more

Oh Beth, So sorry that you got that result - quite shocked at the difference in the 2 results. have you had time to process this yet ?? Will be thinking of you in the lead up to the 9th. take care and please try and stay upbeat  xxx ... View more

Hi there ing  letrozole isn’t that pleasant is it. ive not had joint pains but did have awful nausea and dizziness to begin with. Gp prescribed old fashioned antihistamine which helped combat those side effects. I’ve been on it for 4 months now and had ultrasound today for sizing. Wee bugger has reduced from 23mm to 8mm which means wide excision lumpectomy is on the cards for me now rather than mastectomy. I take mine at bedtime now which I think also helped with the nausea. try switching when you take it and speak to pharmacist about the brand. im ok with the one I’m on (accord) but I have seen threads where people are better/worse on different brands. take care xx   ... View more

Hi Beth, I’ll give that book a look when I’m reclining on the couch post surgery. saw my 4th consultant today and got fab news. letrozole has shrunk the bugger from 23mm to 8mm. surgical option now is lumpectomy and radiotherapy (mastectomy off the cards now phew) and will get the op in 4 - 6 weeks. happy that I’ve finally got a treatment plan and more importantly a surgeon that I like and trust. ... View more

Hi Beth, Boy do I know all about the waiting!!!! was diagnosed with invasive lobular at the end of June and still waiting for treatment plan to be decided. Originally told breast conserving surgery with recon then radiotherapy and surgery would be mid August. Mag seed inserted mid July then saw my 3rd consultant who wanted me to stay on letrozole  (auld Wifie equivalent of tamoxifen - I’m 53) for 2 months more to try and get shrinkage. I’m a 34d and apparently not big breasted (big enough for me) and where my wee bugger is it wouldn’t have a good cosmetic outcome at present. Fast forward and it’s now mid October and still to be seen at clinic - 28th October. Desperately to get this ball started so I can start planning for races next year (long distance runner🤦‍♀️) ive seen 3 different consultants so far and the one on the 28th is Endocrine and will be the 4th. Hipefully neither of us will have to wait much longer. take care xx   ... View more

Thankyou Tili, I am going to take your advice and call one of the nurses on this site xx ... View more

Thanks Julia, I think I’ll bite the bullet and ask for a change of consultant. Tbh it was worrying me that I had to put myself in the hands of the one who first of all told me categorically that I didn’t have cancer. I was struggling in convincing myself to have faith in him. sorry that you are having such problems just now and wish you a speedy and full recovery from your infection xc   ... View more