Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi @Sab53  It sounds like you will be great. Get your core as firm as possible without straining and shoulders really flexible and stretched. It was a few weeks, but once it started I was glad because I got fitter, prepared food, shopping, house etc. I had mamo on 4th April and surgery 23rd June. I think it was because I was across 2 hospitals and holidays. Oh and I ate loads of cake and cr4p to put fat on my belly 😂 😂 . I wasn't advised that! I asked to start Letrozole while I waited. Hope that helps, good luck tomorrow x x x ... View more

Forgot to say I'm 57 ... View more

Hi Sab The deciding factor for me was that I wanted to look and feel like myself. I thought with everything else going on I would feel mentally stronger. It is also a bonus to lose the tummy flab.  My plastic surgeon said to me "You are going through something awful and I am going to give you something fabulous". She has. I am 10 weeks post op and I feel mentally strong, I have had lots of lovely comp!iments and although it has been sore I think it would have been anyway. I got myself as fit as possible beforehand (not that fit!) by daily swimming and increasing walking and looked forward to a good sleep! When else do you get a 10 hours sleep 😁 and Hope it helps you.  Ps you can ask to speak with a volunteer through the someone like me scheme. I did and that also helped me xx   ... View more

Hi Artura Thanks for your support, I think it's standard belt and braces to check all removed tissue, I'm so glad they did. I have plastics check in the morning and then radiotherapy starts Tuesday. I wear M&S mastectomy brad they are like t-shirt style and comfy as they are slightly padded. The best corset I found for me were on Amazon. Gotoly women butt lifter shape wear! I wouldn't have worn it while scar was healing in case of dragging, but now they really suit me  I've got a few.  Hope your op goes well. Wishing you lots of luck and great boobs! Xxx   ... View more

Hi lovely ladies Great to hear your progress  Sorry I haven’t been on for a bit. I’m 8 weeks post surgery tomorrow and still wearing day and night bra and corset support.  My surgeon said 12 weeks for support  although nurse said 6. When I take them off my Diep is so heavy it feels like it will drop off! Also when I had the other reduced they found cancer and so I’ve had to have lymph nodes removed and now radiotherapy which I get measured for today.  So pleased you’re being offered nipple reconstruction so early, I’ve been told 4-6 months is earliest for next stage to cosmetically reduce DIEP a bit and do nipple, but could be 1-2 years wait on NHS so may have to go private.  But that was before the other cancer was found on left so could be longer.  Good news is all cancer is gone and I’m doing okay  I’m walking a lot and got up to 18k steps one day on a short break   i have physio on NHS and they’ve given me exercises which tire me more than walking  xxc     ... View more

Hi @lisa89  I’m nearly 5 weeks post DIEP op, but in reconstruction of other breast they found another cancer, so I’ve just undergone lymph removal on that side too.  I don’t have little ones but I do care for a 92 year old so other end of spectrum! My tips are plan and manage in advance and say yes to all help.  My husband worked when I was in hospital and took leave when I came out, it was tiring for him but thoroughly recommend that.  Each one of my friends have different loves, so I asked them to do the things they’re good at: shopping, cleaning, tidying, dog walks, dishes. Say yes to everyone I got so many flowers it made me cry (the silly things), because they got messy and I couldn’t lift and my husband had too much to do, I had a relative do them.  Ive had people stay over on rota and although it’s a bit different it makes sure someone is on hand for care for Mum at all times, otherwise I’d be tempted. I’m really conscious how much it’s put on hub so it’s given him relief too. Don’t be tempted to over-do and start to pick your little one up, I split my t-junction at the bottom when I just tidied the house, this is apparently common and it’s put me back. Pre-cook and pre-prepare food and above all look after you. You are number 1 now. To use the example of an oxygen mask when flying you can’t help others until you help yourself.  I wonder if between now and September you can choose a chair or 2 in the house that your 1 year old can climb onto on their own and you can kneel down to or sit on and they come to you. Call it the cuddle chair and make it a game at first through August.  They get onto the chair for a BIG cuddle, keep practicing so it becomes automatic if they are upset to go to a cuddle chair. Just a suggestion.  Hope that helps, the wait is the worse, please ask questions if you want.  Kaz xx ... View more

@LMH  Have you by chance got a drain hole still on the T-junction? I didn't get my infected one drained and so it's been a daily yuk of seeping through gauze and into bras. I had dressings clinic yesterday ad they put iodine patches on a couple of 'wet' areas but just gauze on T-junction of the infected breast. Then because the iodine has worked amazingly well elsewhere, I can now see the bottom and there's a perfectly formed hole the size of one of those straws you'd put in a child's box of juice, just on the reduced breast that's leaking, the reconstructed one has closed up.  Not sure what to do?  ... View more

@weejeannie  So pleased to hear that it’s gone well for you and you’ve got the first bit over. I think that’s a massive hurdle for you and great you think they’re cute too! Give into the tiredness, it’s a great healer. I’ve had a couple of hitches along the way, firstly one of the drains snapped inside me on removal, but it was a quick 15 minute op and was sorted and now I have an infection and a leak on my reduced boob, so I’m loaded with antibiotics. I can feel the rest of me healing though and think with something as major as this there may be challenges to overcome. I’m looking forward to getting the tape off on Friday.  I was expecting my results today, but they’re not through for another week due to pathologist workload 🥺 ... View more

Hi @LMH @Louise, Between Christmas and New Year always a time for feasting in my book! You’re welcome to share the bionics 😁  I’m glad you’re pleased with how it looks. I’ve got my oncology appointment around 6 today by telephone as husband had taken Friday off for plastic and dressing appointment. Can’t lie, I’m counting the minutes.  Pain is lessened by the day, but I had my other boob reduced a bit and perked at the same time and it’s got a pesky infection. Went back to hospital Monday night and was seen straight away. Absolutely brilliant care.  What day are you back for your results? Xx ... View more

Hi Jeannie,  Just to say I’m thinking about you and wishing you all the best for your surgery in the morning. See you on the other side. love Kaz xx    ... View more

Hi Louise,  It sounds like you are doing so well with your exercise, I agree about the waking soreness. I’ve just bought one of the over the door ropes from Amazon as I think it helped with the mastectomy arm in hospital.  I’m sure I’m not the first but I’ve decided to call it my bionic boob 😁 😁 .  Xx ... View more

Hi @weejeannie  I found the wait the worse and it’s been better since I got going.  I had a bit of a weird night last night as I think the stronger drugs left my body, but then I slept well, walked a bit today and slept in between. I’ve come to bed having walked 4.5k steps. I’m really pleased.  I kept the pain killers topped up and it’s allowed me to walk quite a bit in hospital and straighten my body well, without stretching it.  @LMH Do you have puckers at the sides of your tummy scar that pull and weep a little?  @weejeannie Please ask if you need anything I’m happy to help xx ... View more

Hi Louise i came home yesterday after immediate DIEP reconstruction, I can’t believe the results are amazing.  This time last week I went in with 2 full and large size breasts (HH) and today I have 2 full and large size breasts, (potentially a F), made from my own tissue and considerably more perky than this time last week.  My tummy is flat and most of all I feel like me.  I am a bit of a patchwork quilt at the moment out of clothes, but even in underwear the scars aren’t visible. For me, it’s a gift cancer couldn’t take from me. My tummy has kept my identity as a woman. i May be in a honeymoon period, but today I thoroughly recommend it. Happy to answer questions and hope it helps xx   ... View more

Great to read this, thank you. I'm going in today for surgery in the morning. x ... View more

Ooh thanks so much. I like the sound of that (in a wierd and desperate kind of way!). I'm in limbo now as the cancer surgeon has Covid and then the plastic surgeon is due to go on holiday last week in May, so my guess is mid June at the very earliest, although I've also been referred to another hospital too but they haven't even contacted me yet. I used to do pilates badly too and may taken that up again in the meantime. Thanks so much, you've been really kind xx ... View more

Thanks vanmac, I will definitely take your advice and glad the counselling helped. £100 per session seems really high. I've been able to get 5 counselling sessions through a business insurance but will have to pay afterwards, but I think it will be worth it because if I can't process my own stuff I won't be able to work. I'm in my 4th year of training as a counsellor at the moment, but I have had to stop all client work, as ethically I may not be able to focus on the clients I was seeing, whilst going through so much. I'm also a hypnotherapist and reiki practitioner and ironically as part of my personal 'giving-back' commitment had been supporting some women for free with breast cancer. I've had to stop all hypnotherapy work too, whilst in limbo, but doing a bit of Reiki to give me some purpose. Hope your recovery continues. xx     ... View more

Thank you for sharing. Sorry to be thick but I have so much to learn! Did you go without a nipple for some time and then have some nipple from your left breast taken to put on the right one? Is that what's called a nipple transplant? My right affected breast is HH and the plastic surgeon is saying he can only get a C/D out of my stomach (I've been eating cashew nuts to try and grow it in the meantime 😄 ), then he will reduce the left breast at a later date. I wonder whether to ask about lipo? Have you been allowed to go back to the gym? I've been swimming daily and am really going to miss it. How long was it before you could go back to exercise? I can't beleive how many questions I have in this long wait. Sorry to bombard you. xx   ... View more

Hi That sounds really good. I'm made up you responded too. Do you mind a couple of extra questions? Did you just have one done and then it made bigger through liposuction and not have to have the other reconstructed to match?  What's the nipple transfer procedure please? My cancer surgeon has said she likes to spare the nipples but the plastic surgeon favoured making one. It's a few weeks away and I would be really grateful of information. Thanks again xx   ... View more

Hi Sarah That does sound positive, so pleased for you. How long was it between your surgeries or did you have both done at the same time?  Many thanks xx ... View more