Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi there   i had my results opn Friday, they found 3 tumours 10 mm, 8 mm & 6 mm so the dbl mx was the order of the day, )apparently the larger of the tumours weas a hairs breath from the chest wall, so very lucky that a routine mammogram was performed at the time that it was)   Thankfully lobes clear so no chemo..... again totally surreal feeling of numbness, husband saod aren't you happy? of course i am happy, but still floating around in a land where all this has happened to someone else!   Downside is that as my cancer appears to be BRAC related (not sure whether 1 or 2) i now have to be screened and have my ovaries removed as the risk is quite high fo rm on ovarian cancer....does this ever stop?   Thanks to everyone out there for their support and to the providers of this forum, which has been a life saver!   Melanie ... View more

Hi Francine - apologies for the delay in replying - I work form home, so have been banned from the computer (until today) as it is so easy to log onto  work! Have you had your results yet? mine are tomorrow...... right now still incredibly sore and have difficultiy sleeping, other than that i am fine, how about you? Must admit was a bit naughty and removed all my dressings before i went back to see them, I wanted to see the area on my own... I had the double mx then came home the next day (bit of a shock not to be given any pain meds!!  just take paracetamol if needed!  IF NEEDED!!! could tell she had not had this done!) its not the actual scar, that is fine its the very large ' polo mint' area where my breasts had been! that hurts / aches / uncomfotable all the time.  Hasd to go back twice so far (and 3rd time tomorrow) to have fluid removed from each breast as they keep swelling with 'seroma'.  It was really weird as i had opted to go flat and not have reconstruction, then lo and behold they both keep filling up and i look like i have B cup boobs! Please let me know how your results went   Melanie ... View more

Oh thank you Mel, I AM NOT ALONE......... i was beginning to think i was strange........ ... View more

Hi there - i am in the same position as you i'm afraid, we are both members of a gang we made no decision to join!   I am having surgery on Monday next week for a double mx  due to extensive DCIS was not given the option of anything else due to the extensive nateure.  I have opted for no reconstruction, but this is purely a personal choice - this is a very personal dedison and you will have to steer yourself away from everyone who will want to give you their opinion !  this can be rather irritating... I am fed up with comments on Angelina Jolie - good for her! but she is not me and i cannot afford her plastic surgeon.   Google pictures of reconstruction and no reconstruction, i am aware that some people who are not happy with the stick on nipples opt after a healing process for a tattooed nipple (not for me that route!) and i wouldbe worried about the stick on nipples - my luck they would fall out while in the supermarket!   From researching various sites it appears that there are targets for surgeons to meet of around 31 days post diagnosis for surgery (at least in Wales) my date came for day 33 so that should give you a bit of an idea on time.  To be honest the worst part of the whole thing has been the wait for the date, i have adopted the stance that, contrary to everyone i know that i am in denial, i am not in denial but made a decison not to worry until i know the prognosis following surgery as until then i won't know whether or not it is in the lobes...... but my bcn did state that my 'attitude' will change and i will probably be one of those who loses the plot once i go into hospital on Monday (to be honest lack complete stupid comment made me more determind not to lose it!) but we are all different.  I will admit to right now appearing to be a swan - gracefully going through the last 3 weeks, home, family work etc whilst under the surface my feet are flaying around like crazy!!!! i guess the reality of my situation is that i am trying to keep everything together for my husband and two sons (22 & 24) and am more concerned on hiw this is affecting them more than  being concerned with how it is affecting me (but i guess at some point this will change!)   Just try to read everything you can, this forum has been brilliant especially the thread on the stupid things people say to you....i have had almost every comments and reading other peoples thoughts on this has made me smile and rather more comfortingly aware that i am not on my own going through this, saly there are a lot of us.....   I hope you strat to feel a bit better, not happy none of us will feel happy, but if you take on board as much as you can from this site and other reading matter, you will feel a bit more in control - you can't change what is happening to you right now, but you can feel more confident with knowledge and a little less scared, and remember that I and lots and lotsof other cyber friends whether on the same journey at the moment or further down that path are here if you need us   Melanie x ... View more

Apologies for lack of posting, though i must admit i have ready everything on here and everywhere else on web, i know some people say not to, i have found it very helpful to read  anything and everything - otherwise this is such a lonely process!   I have had a date for a week today (9th Feb) have to be at the hospital for 7.30 am for surgery that morning for a double mastectomy and lobe thingy (can never remember the word for that)...and to coin medical advice so far ....we won't know any more until afer the op!   All been a rather surreal process - fed up with questions as to how am i feeling.....how do you answer i feel absolutely nothing? BCN was no help when she rang a week after diagnosis, oh you will be one of the ones that hits the wall when you go in for surgery.....not very helpful......! i just hope that if i do lose it, it will be when i get home, (and not in ASDA during weekend shop)at least i will be with those that care (something i have so far found lacking in welsh NHS - their total assistance so far has been to give me a leaflet - but at least that give me details of this site!)   any cyber help now would be really appreciated   anyone else feel this strange 'comfortable numb' feeling whilst going through this process, whether currently on this journey, or thankfully successfully finished it? Contrary to medical and family comments i am not in denial, i just feel nothing other than absolutley knackered from lack of sleep the 1am to 4am low points where you are wide awake with all sorts flying around your head.....   thanks for the site, would have been completely lost without it   Melanie           ... View more

Thank you all for your kind responses, it is all so much to take on board right now, i am still 'comfortable numb' almost had a wobble on Saturday, I had intended, after working all week to try and have a weekend to chill and take stock, however, Saturday morning i received my letter to go to the hospital this Friday for my pre-op checks (which usually mean surgery in 2 weeks) and this brought it all to the front on my thoughts and a little too close for comfort. It is all so surreal through I find myself asking my other half all the time if he is ok and also quite concerned with my sons aged 22 & 24 that they are ok and answer any questions they may have (Incidentally my eldest strongly believes i should go for the reconstruction and even consider going up a size!, obviously he is a 'breast guy'..... i already am a 32 D cup so to be honest the loss of them does not really bother me too much, this may change, but right now i am concentrating on the loss of the breasts as not major as i have never believed they have 'defined me' as a person... I am more concerned on the results following the lobe thingy, as until then i really will not know what the future brings.   I won't let the family know that i may not be blue, as that is causing a few laughs right now, and they are greatly needed!   Again thank you all for the replies, it is so nice to know that you are not on your own  xx ... View more