Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Sue; you've been through an awful time and I sense a feeling of isolation in your post and the need for support from somewhere as its not forthcoming from your family.  Are there any local support groups in your area; have you got a close friend to confide in?  It may be that you need to seek counselling through your GP practice.     The emotional upheaval that having breast cancer brings is difficult to understand for those who've never been diagnosed.  Those gremlins lurk in the background.  I was diagnosed around three and a half years ago and can say that I think about some aspect of my diagnosis/treatment every single day and anniversaries of diagnosis/operation are always more difficult for me and I need to find ways of helping me through those days.  Unfortunately I found my breast lump on Christmas Day and nowadays I just don't enjoy Christmas anymore and prefer to go somewhere away from it all with my family and that's my way of coping.   I've also joined a local choir and that has been a very uplifting experience and singing always makes me feel happier and the choir are very supportive of me.    I hope you find the support you need x ... View more

Hi Bella - I know I've decided not to go down the recon route but when I was considering it I was able to speak to someone who had and she was over the moon with hers and said how psychologically she felt much more positive and because of the recon felt able to move on with her life.   Even though I feel I've made my decision about recon I still look at myself in the mirror and feel sad about what cancer has done to me and my body and the fact that I will never get the old me back.  BUT I try and stay positive and as time goes by it gets easier.   I would like to meet up with others because we all need support and for me Fri/Sat or Sundays are best x ... View more

I'm afraid I'm like Soosie; I just can't face any more surgery but really glad to hear that having a nipple reconstruction has made so much difference to how you feel about yourself.  I've thought long and hard about a recon and have met with my Dr twice but I simply can't make the leap to say yes let's do it but that's me.  I'm happy with how things are at the moment  ... View more

Us ladies going through the trauma of a breast cancer diagnosis aren't ready to think about all the risks and benefits of having a reconstruction at the point of diagnosis.  When I was first diagnosed my first thought I must admit was 'well i can have a reconstruction and I'll look ok' but I didn't know then what it involved.  I was never offered an immediate recon and with hindsight I'm glad about this because my feelings about it have changed and I can think more clearly now that I'm 3 years down the line.     The Drs are very good at pointing out the so called benefits i.e. cleavage, looking 'normal' in clothes etc but not so good about telling us about the drawbacks and we need this information to make an informed decision.  In my appointment to discuss recon I was shown a powerpoint presentation which was fine but I felt that the information I really needed was only gleaned by me asking direct questions. I'm very much a 'worst case scenario' person and needed to know what if e.g. the flap fails (they can take more skin from buttock so therefore more scarring again), post op infection rates (as I had a nasty infection after my mx); what happens if you gain weight after recon does the recon grow with weight gain etc.     Anything this website can do to raise the profile of this issue I will fully support x ... View more

Just been reading this thread and musing on how breast cancer has changed me...after my mastectomy I must admit that I yearned for peace and quiet and to get away from the maelstrom that my diagnosis had created.  Immediately after my op I would sit and enjoy watching the birds in my garden and dare I say it but I'm now a bit of a twitcher!  I've started going on birding holidays to far flung scottish islands and even treated myself to the very top of the range binoculars which are fab and along the way have met some wonderful people. x     ... View more

I too have been reading this thread with interest.  I am now 3 years on after mastectomy and was never offered immediate reconstruction.  However at my last check up the Dr asked if I wanted to think about it and I had another appointment earlier this month to discuss what reconstructions are possible? I was shown before and after photos of DIEP/LD and implants and have spoken to someone who's gone through LD reconstruction and is very happy with hers.  However, I just cannot get over the thought of having more scarring and possible muscle weakness and I think on balance that I will stay unilateral so to speak!! ... View more

Hi Helm - I'm going through the same thing at the moment.  I've had the same thing; a little bit of bleeding for a few days then nothing then it starts again.  I was investigated last November when they found a polyp; which was subsequently removed.  The polyp came back all clear but then a few weeks later the bleeding started again would you believe.  So, I'm now having to go through all of this for a second time as the doctors treat each episode as a new bleed.  I'm going in for a D&C next Wednesday as my ultrasound couldn't measure endometrial thickness because of a large fibroid and the biopsy they took in clinic was insufficient.    You definitely need to go through the investigations; hope all goes well xx ... View more