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Glittergirl
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28-09-2013
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25-09-2015
02:45
Hi ladies, I've just turned 45 and after having a mastectomy (left sided) in June 2013, I was very keen on reconstruction. It's a personal choice, I know but I hated being cyclops boob!! I'm quite slim so the only option for me really was implants. Once treatment had finished, I had a prophylactic mastectomy on the other side and expanders put in both in June 2014. Went back to work after 4 weeks. I was expanded every 3 weeks after that (around 60ml a time). It didn't hurt but looked quite odd. I was fully expanded by September 2014. Unfortunately, due to waiting lists etc in my area I have only just (beginning of sept) had the expanders swapped out for implants. The implants, although slightly more in volume than the expanders, look smaller because of the shape (I've had teardrop implants). Nearly 4 weeks post op and they are looking good and quite natural. To look at me now with a vest top or low cut top, you wouldn't be able to tell that they weren't my own! I have had a lot of compliments already!!! In hindsight, I may have gone for the slightly bigger implant again as I had gotten used to the bigger projection I had with the expanders, but on the whole, I'm very pleased with the result. I'm due to go back to work in just over a week, so about a month for full recovery. (I do quite a physical job though!!). Hope that helps. X
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25-09-2015
01:45
Hi, I've had 3 surgeries so far too! Original mx on left side June 2013 to remove cancer, prophylactic mx on right and reconstruction on both sides using expanders June 2014. Had the expanders swapped out for implants 3rd Sept this year (had to wait a long time!!) So I'm nearly 4 weeks post surgery now. How long did it take for your swelling to go down after final exchange? I'm desperate for some news bras but don't want to go too mad just in case I'm still swollen!! I go back to see consultant mid October when we will discuss nipple reconstruction - which apparently can be done under local. So although all my big surgeries are done for the time being, I'm still a work in progress!!! xxxxx
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25-09-2015
01:37
Hi ladies! Just thought I'd add my comments! I have just reached the end of my big surgeries - had expanders swapped out for implants on 3rd September and have to say, am healing quite well. The implants are much softer than the expanders were. There isn't a lot of feeling in either side at the moment (I had double mx - nipples and everything taken away) but I did learn from having expanders in for a while that some of the feeling does come back after a while. I am itching to go and have a bra fitting but not sure how long I have to leave it for swelling to go down. It was just a 'straightforward' swap from expanders to implants so no stretching involved. Am almost 4 weeks post surgery. Does anybody have any advice on this please? Thank you. X
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25-08-2014
04:33
Hi rosie14, I'd say the tightness never really goes away! It lessens! I had my first inflation 3 weeks after the original op to fit the expanders, so I was just getting used to it when they were a bit bigger again and feeling a bit tight! I have inflation so every 3 weeks and have had my third now. I won't be going all that much bigger (they put 60ml in each side every time). Am up to 230ml each side now. I do make sure that I massage them at least once a day with bio-oil, which helps the skin to stretch and reduces the feeling of tightness. I'm not sure what else to suggest to help you reduce the tightness, other than that you do need to make sure you are doing your exercises (much the same as they tell you to do after a mastectomy) to get the movement back. Have you had any inflations yet? xxx
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14-08-2014
06:41
Hi Rosie14, I had a single mastectomy last year and then mastectomy on the other side and both reconstructed at the same time on 3rd June. For me also it felt like the bandages were still tightly on, even when they had been taken off!! The feeling did gradually ease - I think that the muscle and skin gradually get used to being stretched and it doesn't feel as tight any more. It does sometimes feel uncomfortable, and does ache, but it's easing as time goes by. I've recently had my third inflation, which makes my new 'boobs' feel a bit sore and achey for a few hours afterwards, but I don't have the tight feeling any more. Hopefully it will ease for you too. xxx
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10-08-2014
12:25
I would definitely persevere with the cold cap. I used it and a lot of my hair fell out and especially towards the end I felt like giving up using it, but I noticed new growth starting to come through on my bald patches at around chemo number 5 and I think the cold cap protected that new growth. I also used hair fibres (I think it was called caboki, which is actually aimed at men) and that helped a lot. During my chemo I used head bands to cover up the bald patches and about a month after my last chemo I had what remained of my hair cut really short and it blended quite well with the new growth. Although I could pull handfuls of hair out while I was having chemo, it didn't actually take that long after chemo finished before it stopped falling out. I never went completely bald and didn't feel the need to wear my wig either. Keep going. It will be worth it. xxx
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29-06-2014
06:40
Hi folks! I am 7 months on from finishing my chemo. I was lucky enough to keep my fingernails but lost both of my big toe nails. They have started growing back and I would say they are just a bit over halfway back up the nail bed. However, they are not growing evenly and have some big ridges. This means that they are not growing out straight and actually seem to be growing into the skin around the growing edge of the nail. It feels almost like I'm getting ingrown toenails!! (Yuck!) I do run a thin metal file under the growing edge after I've had a shower to try and stop it from happening but one of my toes is getting quite painful. Does anyone have any tips to try and encourage the nails to grow in the right direction or ease the discomfort in the meantime? xxx
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27-06-2014
10:14
No, I haven't been tested for that but my heart rate has only recently started to go up, once I'd finished chemo and started taking tamoxifen. I think it's prob related more to that as I don't have any of the other symptoms. It may be worth asking to have it checked next time I'm at drs though, just to be sure. x
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27-06-2014
08:49
Thanks Daisy Do! Since originally posting this I have been into hospital for my reconstruction op (and got rigged up to heart rate monitors etc as a matter of course just before op). The anaesthetist and surgeon agreed (when I pointed out my heart rate was quite fast, and prob faster due to imminent op) that it was quite fast but that it was strong and regular so they weren't that worried. However they did say that if I was worried about it to mention it next time I see my oncologist for a check up (which will be sept some time). So I think I'll leave it until then and see what he says. In the meantime I am trying to get back to exercise again to keep as fit as possible. Thank you for your support. x
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11-05-2014
11:44
Thanks for your reply, Nicky. I did mention it to my Doc when I went to see him recently and he put it down to me having panic attacks and started talking about relaxation techniques etc. My heart does race quite fast some times so that it does feel like the beginnings of a panic attack but I know it's not. He was reluctant to do anything else about it and basically told me I needed to relax! Perhaps I will try again. Thank you again. x
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10-05-2014
11:33
Hi ladies, I've looked to see if there's a thread about this already but can't find one, but apologies if I've missed it! I was just wondering if anyone is experiencing the same as me? Before breast cancer I was a relatively fit 42 yr old. I went to the gym a couple of times a week, walked regularly, blah, blah, blah. Admittedly I was, through necessity quite sedentary through treatment (mastectomy followed by 6 rounds of FEC 90) but glad to say that all finished just before Christmas last year. My life is beginning to get back to normal, I'm glad to say and I'm cancer free. I have now joined an exercise group, started swimming again and walk at least a mile and a half each day (dependant on the weather). I have noticed that my resting heart rate has increased significantly since having cancer. I have an app on my phone (there's an app for everything these days!!) that takes my pulse when I wake up first thing in the morning and it's in the 80s and sometimes 90s, whereas before all this it was in the late 60s early 70s. I know that the medical profession do not consider it to be an issue unless your resting heart rate is over 100bpm but this does not feel right for me. I know it could be several things - a side effect of the chemo - a side effect of the tamoxifen I'm now taking or that I'm not as fit yet as I thought I was. Has anyone else experienced this? If so, what did you do about it? Is there anything you can do about it? Thank you.
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29-04-2014
11:05
Oh no Hydie! That's terrible and it must have left you feeling very frustrated (among other things!) I hope they managed to catch it in the early stages and it's treatable. 😞 The BRCA gene mutation is in my family, although I don't have it. I had one breast removed last year with the tumour. As I'm coming up to a year post diagnosis and checking my paperwork and am due a follow-up and mammogram each year, (For the remaining boob), so I will be chasing that up. Sorry to hear your circumstances but thank you for the reminder. Fingers crossed that any treatment you have to have is successful. xxxxx
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28-04-2014
10:32
This is good to hear! You must be pleased to be home but I bet you'll be glad when the drains are out! I'm still waiting but I guess that's because I want recon too. Take care and rest up boxofrogs! Hope your back on your feet soon and don't forget the exercises!! xxxxx
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31-03-2014
01:18
Kirstie - I totally know how you feel. I am on the waiting list for surgery but they keep telling me they can't give me a date. I feel like I'm in limbo and can't move on and make any plans until this has been sorted! I just want a date that I can start working/planning around. I don't think the powers that be know how much of a psychological impact this can have on us ladies! I try to keep upbeat but do get quite down about it if I think about it too much. Hope you hear soon. take care ladies. xxx
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24-03-2014
03:34
I think that the plastic surgeons secretary is getting fed up with me!! I have spoken to her, admissions dept, my BCN and the complaints dept. They all keep saying the same thing - that they can't give me a date as there are new cases coming in that require urgent life saving surgery. I have asked to be put on the cancellations/short notice list . Not sure what else I can do really. I'm just hoping that with the start of the new financial year, they may have more available funds and be able to clear the backlog on the waiting list. Take care ladies and thanks for reading my rants!! x
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24-03-2014
03:29
Thank you, Naz, it means a lot knowing that others know what I'm going through. X
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24-03-2014
01:31
Hi Blackswan! I wish I could go private, I'd feel more in control then, I think - that's a big part of it - the control element. I thought I'd have more control over the reconstruction, but it seems not and I remain in limbo land. 😔 Sorry to have a moan, but if you can't do it here!! I hate being defined by cancer and just wanted to be able to draw a line under it and move on. I know I'm not the only one, though and that helps. Take care ladies. xxx
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24-03-2014
01:15
Oh, and p.s. - what I wanted to say aswell is that there's no guarantee but my friend is getting a bit of feeling back in some of the numb areas, so there is some hope. xxx
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24-03-2014
01:13
Hi ladies, I am not as far down the line as you - I am still waiting for my reconstructive surgery, but just wanted to say that I have a friend who had breast cancer 5 years ago now, she had a double mx and reconstruction using expanders and eventually they were replaced with implants. When I was making decisions about what I wanted to do, I had some quite lengthy conversations with her. She also said that her boobs felt like rocks and quite unnatural for quite a while afterwards. It took a while but she says that they do feel like they are 'hers' now and part of her 'new' body. They're not perfect (but then, 'normal boobs' often aren't) but now being at the end of the process, she's glad she did it. It helped me decide that it's the way I want to go too, although reading these threads and talking with my friend, I realise it's no quick fix! I hope you are able to make peace with your rock, Naz and hope I can do the same, when the time comes. After all that we've been through, having to face this aswell seems a bit unfair, but I just have to keep reminding myself I'm still here!! Take care. Xxx
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23-03-2014
04:50
Hi Chris, Like you, I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that going private is the only way to speed up the process, but on investigation it is a lot more expensive than I initially thought, especially if you want to have the expanders replaced with implants. I can't afford that at the moment so am resigned to trying to get on with my life as best I can and putting all the clothes I can't wear at the moment (due to only having one boob) up in the loft for the time being as they currently just taunt me every time I open the wardrobe!! it's such a shame that there are so many of us just wanting to get to the end of the journey so they can draw a line under it. I don't want to be defined by cancer for ever!! Good luck on your journeys, ladies. Please post as/when ops are done to give the rest of us a it of hope! xxx
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