Breast Cancer Now Forum

Fully understand the two different sized boobs. I hate mine. I have had mx on left breast plus reconstruction with expander and after months of stretching the skin I had a saline implant. New boob is ok but remaining boob is bigger and droops. True what they say one boob is like a 20 year olds and the other looks like. 53 year old. I am getting an uplift on my good boob which I hope will fix the misery of finding bras, bikinis etc that fit two mismatched breasts. Unfortunately I have now waited nearly two years for this to happen and still no appointment then who knows how long before I get a new nipple. Can't believe how long it is taking. I can't plan anything, knowing my luck I'll book a holiday and get an appointment for the same time. I'm only 53 and would like to enjoy myself before I sink into old age not care if my boobs don't match. Basically really fed up being at the  mercy of NHS waiting lists. Feel like I have been forgotten about but as far  as I'm concerened the "job" is not finished yet. Winge, winge listen to me, sorry. 🤕 😷 ... View more

Hi, I am hoping to have my "good" breast uplifted - my surgeon was very keen to do it. I have been waiting 6 months since last consultation and it has been over a year since I had my left breast reconstructed with silicone implants (still waiting for a nipple !!) so I am desperate to have matching boobs. Can't buy bras with 2 diferent cup sizes. Just wondered if everyone else has had to wait this long. Don't want to pester the surgeon if this is the normal waiting time. Find I can't plan ahead knowing my luck I'll book a holiday and then get an appointment for the same time! The longer it takes the more I'm starting to lose my nerve. ... View more

Wow I feel your pain. Removing my drain was agony, i nearly fainted. Felt a bit of a woose but find it more painful than the mx pain. Year on now and have forgotten all about it although when I was due to get my permanent silicone implant my first question was "please no drains"  Going for an uplift on my good breast and pray it does not involve drains. 😤 ... View more

How did it turn out? I'm hoping to get this done at the Royal too ... View more

Had my masectomy with expander and implant done exactly a year ago today. Your message has brought it all back to me. I felt awful. My boob was solid and sleeping on my back for weeks was uncomfortable. Hated sports bras and will never wear one again. I walked holding my boob with my arm like a bird with a broken wing. Took me eight weeks to go back to work. I've since had my inflations and silicone implant done and things are much better. I can wear "proper" bras even underwired. Waiting to get an uplift on other boob to even things out. Only by reading your message have I realised how things have improved for me and will do for you too. Not going to lie you will have some crap days ahead but this time next year you will be your old self again. Hey I even wore a bikini oh holiday (lost weight after the surgery ) PS take the painkillers. Tramadol helped me. ... View more

I am impressed by how much knowledge you all have about your condition. I had to look up what some of the terms meant. I know it is my fault I became an ostrich and stuck my head in the sand. I had my first mammogram in December, my only thought being, great an afternoon of work do some Xmss shopping. Week later letter asking me back as scan "unclear. Still no alarm bells ringing, I must have moved during scan and it was blurred. Total disbelief to be told they had found "something" Biopsy followed (scary) results 2 days later. Was told I had calcium deposits and would need them removed and 5 weeks of radiotherapy. Was told that I did not have cancer but to have the op just to be safe. I had my operation in a day surgery and told to come back in 10 days. My scar was bigger than I had expected and my left boob was left with a dent where the tissue had been removed. After 10 days I went back I thought to get my dressing changed only to be told quite bluntly that all the pre-cancerous cells could not be removed without disfiguring my boob further so I was told I needed a mastectomy! Like you I didn't want to tell anyone except my husband,daughters and family. My poor Mother still can't understand why a MX with no cancer! My work are quite understanding but I heard one girl mutter "off work for 8 weeks and she doesn't even have cancer" I do feel a bit of a phoney when I read some of your stories. I used to dread the phone ringing in case it was someone asking how I was. Course I am going to say I am fine thanks, no one wants to listen to a moaning Minnie . I have had people say how much better they feel after speaking to me as I am so positive. Huh they should see me some mornings when I do 't even want to get out of my bed. I find myself staring longingly at my lovely bras and bikinis I had bought for my summer hols. They don't fit anymore, Will go back to my work in 2 weeks and go back to being the joker and smiling when told how lucky I am to have caught the cancer so early. Grr Grr ... View more

Had my 3rd inflation which was OK but PS started talking about having an uplift in my right breast! First time this had been mentioned. I said "no way" once I had the expander and port removed and the implant in place I never wanted to go into hospial ever again. Afterwards I hada good look at my boobs and can see that my good boob is always going to droop more. Considering the uplift now but wonder what happens. Firstly will there be any drains . (I hate them and they hurt when being removed and I have a good pain threshold) I assume there will be more scarring but will it be numb like the reconstructed one? If I go ahead with the uplift does it get done at the same time as the expander removal? ... View more

Hi, just joined forum today and read your post Zuleika. I had a mastectomy on my left breast. 6 weeks ago. I consider myself lucky as I do not have to have any chemo or radiotherapy as my biopsy discovered pre-cancerous cells and although they may never have caused me problems I was advised to have the breast removed. I am having reconstruction using tissue expander and saline inflations. I am quite slim but my boobs were a 34d . I recovered quickly from the mx finding the removal of the drain the most painfull thing. My port for the inflation is very prominent and looks like a rib sticking out. Was very uncomfortable wearing a bra or bending even sitting for long periods started to hurt. Long to be able to sleep on my side, only comfy lying on my back at the moment. Just started the saline inflations and although scared stiff after using a numbing gel on my port I had no pain at all. Only had two inflations so far and cannot believe my boob can stretch any more slightly worried about the next inflation . Didn't realise how long I had to keep the expander and port in place after inflations finished, been told it could be another 4 months and that I may need an uplift in my right breast . Trying to look on the bright side as I am fortunate not to have cancer but also wondering if it was really necessary but as you say I have to put my trust in the hospital team. Sorry for the length of this moan, will keep it shorter next time. ... View more