Breast Cancer Now Forum

hi had my diep jan 3rd 2012-great start to the year ! told that I need to be off 3-4 months and thats non negotiable.Informed my Gp who gave me a fit note for that amount of time with the advice to come back if required . I think you need to advise the Gp what your consultant has advised you. My stomach is still rigid but been checked out and all is fine . Physio said I could swim from next week and should think about pilates. recon breast has a large fat necrosis but other wise starting to settle down .Removal of lump,nipple formation and lipo suction will only be performed after 6 months as this allows everything to settle.However most hospitals will put you on a"ongoing waiting list" which may mean you have to wait longer. This is a much more minor proceedure and day or overnight stay. hope this helps xxxx ... View more

Hi Lulu and Rattles thankyou so much for the posts . Dont think any one has an easy road and Rattles you sound like your having a horrendous time !I really hope things settle down for you soon. sitting in the early hours your head can be blown off! Just back from breast assessment ..fat necrosis diagnosed !it is huge so needs surgical removal...at least that is something that I can deal with . I am so relieved.Going to have it done when they make my nipple as I have had so many anaesthetics in the past year advised to leave it 6 months [the diep took 11 hours hence the rare hearing loss] I just want to add that throughout the last year I have followed your posts Lulu and I feel you are an inspiration and a fantastic support to many ladies on here thank you and best wishes to you bothx ... View more

Hi all...reading your posts reminded me of how I felt last year. I was diagnosed March 2011. Had all the treatment required and returned to work September. Unfortunately developed pneumonia and was quite ill for a while[they think I have pneumonitis from radio] I was diagnosed with post traumatic stress syndrome in September and have seen a psychologist since [finishing soon].this has been quite traumatic for me as I am normally seen as a woman in control . I have a senior position in the health care setting and manage a home ,hubby and two kids. I had my Diep recon in Jan .I believed I was totally prepared and I wasnt . However I am recovering well and looking forward to going back to work soon. Everyone I talk to [I have two close friends who were also diagnosed in their 40s] feel the same. I agree with the article that you are on a roller coaster but for many of us we will climb off. My biggest thing to learn throughout the sessions was that it is ok to feel what we feel and that given time and support our brains will process it and it will not be so scarey forever. approach your oncologist for referral to counselling as it is now recognised the trauma cancer patients experience and help should be there xx ... View more

hi lisaf back from hospital dressing appointment today . drains all out and one tiny dressing remains ! HB still low so feel quite tired but not in pain and able to move quite well. Everyone is different and I have to be honest I hated the first 72 hours in special care...not for the discomfort but for the heat and lack of control.I now look back and see it was a small price to pay! I am sure your op will be great in Feb and you will have an excellent result !!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ... View more

hiya had r mx march followed by rads.knew I wanted recon as soon as poss. Have a great plastic surgeon who reduced my l breast august.feel a lot better now as I had quite large breasts and felt awkward-the reduced one is great[no need for bra as it is quite pert LOL] going back to work next week...have a very taught encapsulated seroma which is uncomfortable but having a Diep recon beginning jan all being well. feel as though life comming back to some sort of normality....... happy to compare notes if you want more in depth info ..pm me best wishes D x ... View more

well said LuLu if we were in America we would probably have a worse time than in england as not everyone can afford insurance! the nurses who have cared for me in the different departments have been responsive and caring .They have incredably challenging jobs on the whole and whilst everyone dosent treat it as a vocation I would say the majority of them do.As a matron i have in excesss of 300 nursing staff to manage [.I must say via the sisters ]. I am hands on and clinical led with my focus on infection control and the experience of the patient and their families. My job is very stressful at times but so rewarding I will be returning to work very soon. I will have positive and negative things to discusss with my staff but overall I am glad they all helped me. when people criticise the nurses of today I am also reminded of the poor teaches who get it in the neck when the kids do well at their exams ---one thing I have learned is to celebrate all the good and make changes if its bad sorry for the rant -touched a raw nerve ! ... View more

hi I have discussed this with my ps and he reliably informs me that it will go up and down with normal weight changes as it contains belly fat - this is an advantage over the silicone implants as they ar unable to do this and may require further surgical intervention if weght is lost or gained hope this helps x ... View more

thsanks for the responses-they have helped.when we went on friday I thought they would have said the same as they said to me -I was shocked when the consultant said they wanted to put OH on trial with two sisters in nov. the rationale if I have grasped it right was that probability would state that if the mutant gene was present as there were three siblings 1 would show . thinks it may be comming down OH paternal line. one sister very reluctant to do it ,OH and elder sister want to . I can see this causing some upset and I would only want it if it could help our families . we all run the risk -as I know as i was struck with no family history at all! what I dont want is that we may have a chance at preventative interventions for all our girls if we are able to find out. ovarian is an awful cancer [as is breast when it runs amok]the trouble is it is silent until it has caused devastation. am i selfish in wanting answers ?? I feel prearmed is the best way maybe i an selfish as I can cope for myself but not for them. many thanks dx ... View more

hi all not sure this is the correct post to discuss this. dx 2large tubular ductal invasive bc mx and rads followed but thankfully no chemo. felt we were coping . went to genetics and told my daughters 15/17 would be mod rik [up to 33%]and would start screening at age 40. have been back today with OH whose mum died of pancreatic and breast at 66 and aunt who died bc at 36 as blood wasnt collected from affected family before they died they have suggested that my OH and his two ssters are entered into a pilot trial where they are able to have their bloods taken in nov to see if they have the BRACA 1/2 gene. my oh will then be able to be screened for pancreatic and prostrate if he comes up positive. we have two daughters and three nieces who may be affected also. I feel really anxious now as I can see how this may have far reaching affects . the consultant was great and said that she was acting intuitively for my daughters as realistically they had had greater risk to them on both sides- I feel powerless to protect them and this has awakened my greatest fears-any thoughts on putting this into perspective would be appreciated x ... View more

hi arty girl I am due to in in jan 12 in ncle -perhaps we will see each other ! they have a special care bay which is very hot to help the blood supply and I have just been on the ward as I chose to have reduction lift of my healthy breast now instead of after [still may need a bit of tweaking] pm me if you want to discuss further - but good luck regardless x ... View more

hi Jane had mx 29th march this year- 3 tumours and no option . felt traumatised and radio followed .asked to see plastics straight away .was told that I could be considered from 6 months [Nov11] in the mean time I have had a breast reduction/ lift yesterday from an e/f cup to a d cup -very pert and not too sore ! means I will have a smaller prostthesis and I feel better about myself than before . Have decided to go for Diepp abdo recon as angio has shown good vascular supply -organised for Jan 12 as have two girls at home and want a surgery free xmas. Get back to the hospital and let them know what you want....it is time for you to begin to feel you have a say in your health! best wishes to all undergoing this long journeyx ... View more

hi I had my mx 29th march [not counting ..really] and I chose not to wear the comfie as had a seroma and felt sore. I now have my prosthesis and it feels better than the comfie so I wear it when I have to . yesterday I went out shopping with my two teenage daughters when I realsied after an hour that I had my sports bra on and nothing in. My girls werent bothered at all [and I am quite well endowed] I think it is for other people as i would be happy with nothing but not brave enough I am going into hosp 20th august for breast reduction to be followed by diepp in nov I really cant wait as I hate all the faff around it.....good luck to you in searching for the perfect bra-have you thought of taking a bra you like to appliance office and asking them to customise it for you ????? ... View more

hi all came in on the tail end of this post. I believe that there are many factors that can trigger the growth of breast cells [which we must remember are unable to be seen by eye they are so tiny] environmental factors such as trauma may exacerbate the growth of faulty cells [but they were faulty in the first place] I have been told that one of mine may have been there 10 years -good god ! I have been through loss of pregnancies ,death of close family memebers and bumped myself everywhere as I am clumsy and have an active life with two kids and dog !I work in a very stressful occupation [with breast cancer ladies to name but a few] I do believe that to help us we need to do everything in moderation ie stress,exercise ,diet,lower alcohol -no smoking and this will give us the best chance ! I quite like a heated debate -so long as everyone feels listened to .I agree that we cant see each other and therefore comments can be misconstrued- I have read everyones post here and feel that noone is really out to upset anyone else and we all need give each other a little slack..... Im now going out for a Mcdonalds whilst smokng a cigar and swigging my whiskey !!!![LOL] ... View more

hi all just thought Id update you .the arches in the airport are set to go off every so many passengers [department of transport directive] prosthesis would not show on the arch If get taken to one side ask for a private area and they will do this ,as they do it with a lot of people . body scans are quite anonymous in reality so hopefully wouldnt cause distress I feel a little better since taliking to the airline-hope this helps others x ... View more

hi all I am going away for the first time since mx in march. I am quite sensitive to the mx and have to teenage girls also to think about . I always feel nervous in airports any way [think it is the lack of control] everytime I have been through the security I always have to have the pat down search which I think is due to my underwired bras[previously worn] I know that I will feel really anxious now - I think I would prefer the body scanner as you are alone in the room and cant see the person I think I will ring the airport to see what they say everything seems upsetting and hard work -I yearn to be back before the Bc and simply living my life ..... ... View more

I didnt worry about loosing my right breast in March as I was more worried about surviving-however even then I said I wanted a recon I find it weired looking at my body -I am an f cup and still am with my mono boob! when I dont wear my prosthesis I look awkward ..like I have a deformity so I now wear loose tops with high necks [normally size 14/16 tops ]now wear size 18 baggy ! finished rads in june -begged PS to start the recon process I admire everyone who is able to live with the mx and I think that our partners [or partners to be] we still find us attractive as most attration comes from the mind not the body and a pretty bra or camisole still looks good-however for me it is simple equation thoughts around cloathes constantly for the rest of my life versus wearing what I want including tankinis ! I simply havent the time or engy to put in each day with the mx [this is all about me and my feelings -sorry !] xxx ... View more

get them to do one on your finger without the dye and then you know how it feels with a missing breast and encapsulated seroma the look of the tattoos are the least of my worries. my friend had them 5 years ago and says they have nearly all gone and she misses them as they reminded her of what she has gone through and feels they were a bit like a badge of honour. with everything you are going through I know that you can do this -just keep talking to the radiologists and they will help you good luck and hugs as it is never easy x ... View more

my motto with everything I dont like "grit teeth and get it over with"...have a needle phobia myself [ironically Im a nurse]had 7 tattoos ,tiny and really didnt hurt-mind mx made me numb so they could have harpooned me on that side if they wanted [lol] x ... View more