Breast Cancer Now Forum

I am almost sure it's not the same time of mesh. I had a pelvic floor repair some years back but without mesh-the gunsel surgeon said there had been lots of issues with it so he didn't use it anymore but he did explain it was an artificial mesh not animal tissue. Strattice is pig tissue that has been de-pigged if that's the right word. I had bovine pericardium- cow tissue from the muscle around the heart that had been de-cowed. It is supposed to be neutral to human tissue so less chance of rejection. So a bra cup type pocket is made and stitched to the chest wall and the implant or whatever slots into it. Holding the recon in place.15 months since my silicone implant and still no feeling in chest apart from tightness underneath where the pocket was sewn on. But I do a lot of yoga and stretch classes - but I'm blowed if it's going to prevent me getting on with my life. I can't cope with post surgery bras due to the same issue as the band underneath isn't deep enough. I've bought some Bralets from M n S which are comfy but not very supportive to my normal 64 yr old boob! Ah well.... You sound to be having a really rubbish time. ... View more

Bumping this. I had L mastectomy and expander implant Jan 2015. Having chemo and herceptin for most of 2015 has delayed implant exchange until yesterday. I had the op at 5pm and was home by 8am today. I had a teardrop implant which looks and feels fantastic!! And just one drain. So pleased to get all the tubes and the port removed at long last. Although I will be taking it easy for a few weeks my arm is mobile and there is hardly any pain. So pleased that I can now think of buying decent post surgery bras and lovely summer tops this year. ... View more

Sorry- had 2 out of 3 FEC ... View more

Hi I had l side mastectomy and temporary expander implant Jan 2015 due to grade 3 invasive multi focal BC, er/pr- and Her2+++. 1 positive sentinel node. So I started chemo Feb 2015- managed 2 out of 3 due to neutropenia. Then had 9 out of 12 pacltaxel and 9 herceptin jabs. And I'm still here! Just waiting for my implant to be replaced then I'm good to go. In May I started seeing a homeopath who gave me several remedies to combat the side effects. There isn't a one size fits all, it depends on what s/e you have. I also was given other remedies such as Arsen alb for anticipatory anxiety (around hospital appointments, jabs, heart scans etc). I'm currently taking a mega strong hypericum remedy which is helping with peripheral neuropathy in my feet and hands caused by the paclitaxel.abd something else for my up and down emotional state. None of these can be bought over the counter and I did my research to get the best homeopath I could find who has an understanding about traumatic illnesses. It's not the condition per se, it's the way the cancer diagnosis and treatment makes you feel, which is being treated. Alongside the standard treatment and medications which are given you - not replacing it. Mine is definitely worth her weight in gold and has helped me cope over the past few months in ways which standard medicine can't. ... View more

Still got peripheral neuropathy in hands and feet. Fingers swollen, knuckles shiny, can't get rings on. Hair about an inch long now, I look like an old English sheepdog that's had a trim. But I had my last herceptin jab yesterday hurray! See the surgeon end Oct to discuss permanent implant surgery sometime after that and the oncologist in Dec after I've had another heart scan. ... View more

Cruise sounds lovely! Was your surgery for reconstruction? Hope your recovery goes well. I'm just hoping my forthcoming final implant surgery lives up to expectations, looking back the expander implant mastectomy was a walk in the park relatively speaking, compared to chemo which was just about the worst experience I've ever had (and there's been a few). When I go to the oncology unit for my herceptin jab the sound of those machines beeping away brings me out in a cold sweat! I'm hoping that numb feet will return to normal at some stage. My hair was a bit of a shock, I used to be a redhead! Now mousey grey with a white Mallen streak at the front. ... View more

Congratulations hope you can start to get on with things now. I had my last taxol 17/6 and three weekly herceptin jabs till October. Then temporary expander implant swapped for permanent one probably November. Still got terribly numb feet and fingers but hey I've got a centimetre of mousey fluff on my head now!! Hope everyone is managing to get through the aftermath ok. It's been quite a marathon but the winning post is in sight somewhere over the horizon!! ... View more

Now over five months after expander implant and I can lie on my side. Still lumpy as I had some saline drained off during chemotherapy so not a good match. BUT the most important thing is that it feels like part of my body and not an alien under the skin although still a bit numb. It has softened and dropped slightly so feels more natural. Now chemo is over apart from herceptin jabs till October, I am not having any more inflation, will be having my permanent teardrop silicone implant surgery October/November time. So I'm reassured that things will and do settle down, give it at least six months minimum and looking forward to a good cosmetic effect next spring. ... View more

Having had neutropenia with FEC, my oncologist changed the planned three lots of three weekly docetaxel, to 12 lots of weekly paclitaxel. Roughly larger amount, just split into thirds, with less side effects. I got peripheral neuropathy in fingers and feet anyway, and feeling pretty rubbish to be honest, like I've been run over by a bus, nose bleeding etc. So I'm stopping at pacltaxel number 9, which the onc says is cumulatively as much of a dose as a full wallop of docetaxel. Which is next week yay!!! However, to rain on my parade, the bc nurse rang me and said I need to see surgeon to discuss having 15 daily (over 3wks) rads to axillary lymph nodes. An hour drive either way for a daily 20 min zapp...What!!!!! So feeling absolutely flattened (no pun intended) now as I thought I would only need my expander pumped up a few more times, then replacement implant surgery. Oh and 6 more three weekly herceptin injections. Will post about the axillary node zapping on another thread..... ... View more

Congrats at getting through it all! M and S do icelollies in pineapple coconut and lime which just about cut through the tastebuds. Fresh pineapple ginger and lime have been the flavours that have kept me going. M and S stem ginger cookies and Gu keylime pies are what my friends know to bring round when they call! ... View more

When I had mastectomy l side done in Jan for high grade dcis diagnosed Nov 14, query invasive but unsure, the surgeon decided half an hour before theatre, to ditch plan for permanent implant. For surgical reasons at the time, about healing as I am an ex smoker. I had a temp expander put in. Was I annoyed! Am I glad I trusted his opinion even though I was pretty hacked off at the time. When the path lab report came back after mastectomy it confirmed that it was invasive, very aggressive and a sentinel node was affected. I am in the middle of a fairly lengthy chemo regime and herceptin jabs and won't be having my lovely new boob till all this is over. It is a horrible year but just getting on with it a day at a time and having to adjust to lots of changes and disappointments, but it won't last forever, just tough on me cos I am normally a very impatient person. I am sorry for sounding like the bad fairy at the feast, but please trust your surgeon- ask for his rationale- or get another surgeon second opinion which any doctor worth their salt will agree to. You will get what you want eventually, but it may take longer than you anticipated. And sorry for putting the wind up you, hoping that when you do have surgery there will be nothing found that would require additional treatment. Big hugs to you at this awful time- but please go and talk to your surgeon armed with loads of questions and hopefully you will get a satisfactory explanation and outcome. ... View more

Thanks nattyoo and pjw ... View more

Oh heartfelt congratulations on getting through it all! Take care of yourself and have a wonderful holiday. Thanks for your support and encouragement - hope the recovery goes well. ... View more

The peeling skin and split skin round nails is a real pain. I covered up my thumbs with plasters and the splits healed- and then split again right next to the old splits. Handcream only helps a bit ... View more

Had my weekly paclitaxel dose reduced this week by 25% as my feet have gone dead. The 5th yesterday wasn't too bad although I did get the overwhelming urge to get up and run out of the hospital screaming even though I was connected to the drip. So fed up with it all, but gave myself a good talking to - soon be over, cross another one off the calendar..... ... View more

That is a good tip - achieving one thing.... I try and do one thing a day other than get out of bed and have a wash/get dressed but that goes by the wayside half the week LOL! Washing up is today's challenge!  Can't believe I used to have a brain, a career, a social life, an active life -walking, cycling, swimming, birdwatching...... My cat is a good listener though..... ... View more

That's the spirit! I'm on the weekly lot and a bit behind everyone else, will I be the only one left here in July when everyone goes whoopee and clears off, skipping into the sunshine? ... View more

Just think worriedsick in two weeks it will all be over, keep going lass just think of the summer! I've spent all weekend in bed too. And my eyelashes have fallen out and I've put on 6lb in ten days, my tum is sticking out further than my boob, feel quite depressed and nose won't stop scabbing and bleeding despite the naseptin cream the onc gave me last week. And if one more person says I look well I am going to ..... their lights out! Moan groan - roll on summer! ... View more

I had three nodes removed two sentinel and one axillary after mast. One of the SNs had macroinvasion so having chemo at present. I was asked if I would participate in the POSNOC trial- randomly selected for either full node clearance or not. Surgeon recommended full clearance but I refused and also refused posnoc trial as it would just be my luck to get full node removal! I know I have taken a risk but it is on my dominant arm side and couldnt go through rest of my life with lymphodoema. Thought having to have chemo after one positive node was enough to deal with for the next few months, the ongoing herceptin jabs, the wait for my expander implant to be replaced in the autumn, no hair for months on end, being lobsided and still wearing unflattering surgical front fastening bra, moan moan...must be feeling a bit better today! ... View more