Breast Cancer Now Forum

Yes at night things always seem much worse As I said it is good to have someone who can come if you need them. I had already called the doctor but just felt so wretched that I needed someone with me. My son lives half an hour drive so he came over and stayed the night. But if your family are too far away perhaps a friend could be on standby? Hopefully you will never need them. x ... View more

Hi Gus I live on my own and went through chemo alone. I made sure I researched beforehand on various over the counter medications that I might need and made sure I had them in before I started. I also had some ready meals prepared in the freezer. I had someone take and pick me up from chemo so I didn't have to drive. I only had one bad experience when I was very sick during the night and had to call the emergency doctor out to give me an injection and I did want someone with me during that night so it is good if you can have someone who you can call on, day or night if necessary. I found I needed to sleep most of the time for the first few days, chemo really knocked me out, so it was good to be on my own as I could just do as I wanted and didn't have the pressure of trying to look after family etc. As most people find by week three of each cycle I felt back to normal and could do all the housework I had neglected in the previous weeks! Hope this gives you some reassurance that you will be ok. Oh and keeping in touch with others going through treatment at the same time through joining one of the threads on this forum is invaluable. Good luck Pam ... View more

Hi Sandy. No I don't mind you asking. It was £200 for the two sessions (that's for both not each). Pam ... View more

Hi Sandy I think many trusts do nipple tattooing but I am just down the road from you and had all ny recon work done on nhs in stoke mandeville in Aylesbury but when it came to nipple tattooing I was told by my ps that he didn't train anyone to do it because the turnover was too great so I had to have it done privately. I went to the whitethorn fields clinic in stoke mandeville and you get two sessions a month apart. I am very pleased with the result. The lady who does it runs a lot of training courses and seemed very experienced. Pam. ... View more

Hi Bevzee I had a lump found after mammogram in Dec 2009. After wle failed to get clear margins the path report said two lumps(one behind the other) so I had mx. The path report after that came back showing another two more small lumps so like you four in total plus some dcis. I had chemo followed by radiotherapy in 2010 and am now on arimidex for five years. In 2011 I had diep reconstruction followed by tidy up and match surgery in 2012. So it has been a long haul but I am pleased to report that I am now "out the other side" and things are looking good. The professionals can't give you a definite treatment plan until they have the full picture so things change along the way. Like you back at the start I thought it would be one lot of surgery, radiotherapy and then back to work so just a few months. But despite changes of plan you will get there. Pam x ... View more

Hi. Yes I still look in occasionally too. Maggy I do hope you are doing ok. I had my mammo back in January and got the NED so relief all round. Hate all the emotions that get stirred up at those times though. Good luck Lynn. I've been struggling with coughs and colds too Beverley. Don't think I have felt really well this year yet. Waiting for some warmth and sunshine. I've also been having some stomach problems. Don't know about you but my stomach has never been the same since chemo. Anyway the dr has put me back on the tablets I had during chemo, lansoprazole, so hope they will help. Love to you all Pam x ... View more

Hi Suzy I had my "good" breast uplifted and very slightly reduced in size to get symmetry. I am delighted with the end result. I had a nipple created and slight liposuction on the diep flap at the same time as the uplift and since had areola tattoo done. My scars are fading very well and I am delighted with my outcome. The diep is soft and looks and feels like a real breast. The tummy scar is very long but is fading to a thin silver line. I have absolutely no regrets and nothing but praise for my plastic surgeon. Pam ... View more

Hi Gay I had mx, chemo and rads in spring/summer 2010 and then had appointment with plastic surgeon about recon in Jan 2011. I had to wait eight months for my diep surgery but I know others who have had a longer wait. It does vary considerably around the country. I didn't go into ICU but had my own room for the first few days when they like to keep you very warm and are checking the flap constantly. I was in hospital for seven days altogether. Suzy has given you most of the criteria for this type of surgery but my ps won't do the op on anyone with a BMI over 30. As far as previous tummy scars are concerned as long as they are low enough it's ok. My hysterectomy scar was not an issue. Glad you are recovering well Suzy. I had further surgery in 2012 to achieve symmetry and again a waiting list but not as long as for the diep. Hope all goes well for you. Pam ... View more

Hi Storm. I had a delayed diep and stayed in hospital for a week. I was helped up the next day but stayed in hospital gowns and then nighties for the first five days as I had drains and drips and they needed to check the flap often. Once all those were removed I wore my own pj's. I live on my own and once home I managed fine looking after myself. I started driving after three and a halF weeks. After a few days at home I started taking short walks gradually increasing the length as I felt stronger. By six weeks I was completely back to normal. If you have any questions please pm me. ... View more

Hi all. Hope you haven't had too much snow this time around. We had a few inches on Monday but I wa still ok for driving to look after the grandchildren. Just took me longer to get there! Hope your se from the zoladex and arimidex aren't too bad Maggy. I still get the hot flushes mainly in the evening and night and certainly with alcohol but joint pain has eased. The first couple of months on arimidex my knee joints in particular were very bad. I could hardly get up if I had bobbed down to look at something on a low shelf when shopping! This has disappeared over time though and all I get now is slight stiffness in my fingers. Waiting for results is the pits Maggy. Good that you have your visitors to give you some distraction. Think it's great that your family still want to go with you Lynn. Long may it continue. I did think about booking something ths year but at the moment getting someone in to do some decorating has taken precedence. Hope the appointments all go well Beverley and Lynn. I know we worry about them but they do give us some reassurance. Our confidence in our bodies has certainly dropped. Dont work too hard Wendy. Love to all. Pam x ... View more

Hi jackster. I had my delayed diep in September 2011 and uplift and slight reduction to good breast in May 2012. I think as saffronseed has said most ps like to wait and see how the diep reconstruction settles before they do anything with the other side. Whilst this may seem to prolong things I think it will give you the best outcome in the long term. At the same time as my uplift he also did slight liposuction to the diep and created me a nipple so lots of little bits at the same time! I have now had the areola tattoed and I am extremely pleased with the outcome I have got and feel it was well worth all the extra ops and waiting lists. Good luck with your recon. ... View more

Hi. I had a delayed diep not a tram recon in 2011 and uplift to other side and nipple in 2012. I have no regrets about the whole procedure. I hated being flat and wearing a prosthesis and though a long op I made a good quick recovery with no complications leaving hospital after a week and looking after myself without help. I was back driving after three and a half weeks and doing pilates and looking after grandchildren after six weeks. I love my new look from the recon to the flat tummy. It has enabled me to wear whatever I want and I am so grateful for the skill of the plastic surgeons who can do this intricate surgery. Good luck. x ... View more

Hi. Do hope that your appointment went as well as it could Maggy. I was thinking about you. When you are ready do come on and tell us. How is the job this week Wendy? I have left targets, outcomes etc well behind. I must admit I love not working though I am keeping very busy looking after grandchildren. Did three days last week and due to do two this week! I hated driving in all the snow. Getting to the main roads that had been gritted was a nightmare. So glad that it has gone for now. Love to all reading. Pam x ... View more

Another lovely lady lost. RIP Karen. x ... View more

Hi Maggy. Glad your surgery is done. Hope the drain isn't too much of a problem. At least being on your own means you can get all the rest to recuperate that you need. When do you go back for results? Yes very cold here too Beverley. Looks like more snow arriving on Friday. I saw my breast surgeon's registrar yesterday and he told me my mammo was clear so fingers crossed I don't have to see anyone now until next year. Love to all, Pam x ... View more

Glad your check up went well Lynn. My hospital likes to have mammo first then you get the results from the breast surgeon when you see him. Just got a letter changing that appointment for the third time. Fortunately only by one day! Hate the waiting between mammo and results. Mild here as well Beverley. I will always remember the terrible weather when I had my first lot of surgery (wle) three years ago today. There was heavy snow the day before (that was the night lots of shoppers couldn't get home from John Lewis in High Wyconme and slept in their bed department). My daughter was due to take me in but couldn't get along the M4 because of blizzards so my son came down from Northampton in his 4x4. The roads were deserted down to High Wycombe. Only saw one police range rover. Even in his car we were all over the road several times and the journey took hours down to Wycombe. Don't want to ever do that again. Hope you are doing ok Maggy. Pam x ... View more

I had a delayed diep recon in 2011. My surgeon won't do the op on anyone with a BMIover 30. As has been said the risks of the long anaesthesia time with this op are very real and being obese increase this risk considerably. It is sad that you were given the wrong information at the start. I was told that yes you do need some spare flesh for this op so the best BMI was about 27. ... View more

Hi Cluck. I think I remember you from 2010 as I had my ops in Jan 2010 as well. Like Saffronseed I had delayed diep (in Sept 2011) and up lift and nipple in 2012. As others have said a big op but so worth it. I have just been for my annual mammo and the radiographer had to ask was it a full mx or just partial because the recon looks so good! I was in hospital for a week. Each day doing a bit more. By the time I got home I could potter around quite ok and I live alone and coped fine looking after myself, simple cooking but kept off the cleaning! I tired easily and to start with only walked very short distances gradually increasing each day. I healed with no problems and was back driving after three and a half weeks. I avoided any lifting for six weeks but cautiously started back at my Pilates class at this time and looking after my grandaughter one day a week. Good luck with your op. Pam x ... View more

Hi everyone. Happy New Year to you all. Let's hope for a good year for us all. It's good to see that the support we gave each other three years ago is still as strong as ever. Had my mammogram this morning now have to wait until I see my surgeon in a couple of weeks for the result. When do you have your op Maggy? Love to all. x ... View more

So sorry that you have had bad news Maggy. Do remember you are not alone. We are here for you still. We helped each other through before and we will do it again. Lots of love to you and to all still posting. xxx ... View more