Breast Cancer Now Forum

Had my angiogram yesterday and also met with the breast care nurse who gave me my op date - yay! It’ll be on the 27th February, so just 3 weeks to wait. She also showed me photos of previous DIEP patients and I must say the results looked very good. Certainly put my mind at rest. Plus a free tummy tuck thrown in - gotta look on the bright side! ... View more

Delly - Apparently just behind your armpit is a good place to pinch to get an idea of body fat in general. My initial reaction to being told I needed a mastectomy was to ask to get both off and reconstructed at the same time, but have come round to the idea of leaving the right, now cancer-free, side alone. I hope I don’t regret it.  So sorry to hear about your Mum and brother - what a lot you’ve been through.   Life would be so much easier if we got to handle just one thing at a time. Hugs x ... View more

Oh delly, you’ve really been through the mill! It wasn’t until treatment was all over for me first time round that it really hit me mentally and I went a bit haywire for a while. You didn’t get the luxury of some time to deal with all the emotions before you were plunged back into it all again. Plus having to deal with all the recon stuff - that’s pants. Hope you can get that all sorted soon.  I’ll be having immediate DIEP recon - hence the angiogram as there’ll be blood vessels to reconnect. I met the surgeon a couple of weeks ago and when he was having a look, he pinched the fat on my back while mumbling to himself - Good, plenty to work with there. 😂. So I’ve felt no guilt stuffing my face ever since cos he needs enough for a D cup! ... View more

Survive.  Seriously, that is the word that came into my head. Anybody else think that or is it just my weird brain? ... View more

Hi Delly   Thanks so much for the support! I was giving myself a hard time about being down but when you pointed out that 3 WLEs was a bit much I thought, yeah it’s been tough, give yourself a break!   Where are you in your own treatment atm? ... View more

Hi Jencat Yes, waiting is horrible especially when your mind is racing and imagining the worst. Big hugs.  I have to go back to hospital on Wednesday for a pre-op angiogram so hoping to get my op date very soon. Just want to get it over with now.  ... View more

If you don’t mind me asking, Jencat, how old are your daughters?  If they’re adults, I don’t know if there’s any point in trying to protect them from worry. If they’re anything like me, they’ll already have consulted Dr. Google. If you share with them how things really are, they’ll be better able to support you and feel less helpless. Easier said then done, I know! ... View more

Hi Jencat Thanks for your reply. Glad I’m not the only one having a mope! You’re right, it’s great to have supportive friends but also exhausting sharing what’s going on and trying not to burden dear friends and family too much. Finding the balance is tricky! ... View more

Hi paintedlady, I’m in a similar position to you. My first diagnosis was in 2010 - grade 3, invasive, no node involvement. I had lumpectomy (like you, needed 2 goes), chemo, radio, herceptin, 5 years tamoxifen and am now on letrozole. Despite all that, I had got my life back, qualifying as a teacher in 2013 and cancer was just an occasional worry.  Then in August last year I was called back after a routine mammo and found out I have DCIS in the other breast. I’ve had 3 surgeries since then but the area of abnormal cells was much larger than expected so I’m waiting for a date for a mastectomy and reconstruction, followed by radiotherapy. My pre-op assessment is this Friday.  I have to say I don’t really know most of the time how I feel - it’s such a jumble. One day I can be really positive, relieved that it wasn’t secondaries and that I don’t need chemo this time. The next day I’m in bits that I’m going to lose a breast and frustrated that I can’t work (as a supply teacher, if I don’t work, I don’t get paid).  So virtual hugs to you. This is not an easy path we’re on - cancer casts a long shadow - but we will get through it, just like we did the last time.    ... View more