Breast Cancer Now Forum

I've come to this a bit late, but in the hope that my experience may help others in the future...   I became allergic to dressings after my first WLE 6 years ago.  So when I had to have a Mx earlier this year, I told the doctors and nurses.  In the end they used 'glue' to fasten the wounds together and no dressings.  I woke up from the DIEP with no dressings on breast or stomach.  My only dressing was on my arm where they had to take a vein.  I was in hospital for 5 nights and a bit worried about the wounds bursting, but I had no problems at all and everything has healed really well 7 months on.  And no blistering! ... View more

Thanks ladies.  Will be a bit more rigorous in my massaging! ... View more

Hi Orchard, thanks for posting this.  I am about 3 months away from right Mx and starting to think about a replacement nipple!  Did you have it done under local or general anaesthetic?  How long did the procedure take?  Any discomfort (realise that sounds odd considering we have had Mx anyway, so other things might be less of a big deal!!)?  TIA for your advice!  Morris Bird x ... View more

Mags - hope the dressings are off soon and not itching too much.  Last time round I turned out to be allergic to dressings, so they didn't use them this time.  And the wounds were super-glued together!  I suppose as I stayed in hospital 5 nights, they could keep a closer eye on me.  Once the last drain was removed on day 6, I was able to come home and take it easy.  I was a bit worried about pulling it apart as I moved, but by being careful it was fine!   Now nearly 3 months on, the scars are doing really well - lots of massage with bio-oil - and the swelling has gone down.  Just a bit of tiredness if I overdo it.  But the aches and twinges do go soon enough and I was able to stop taking pain killers within a couple of weeks.   Hope everyone is doing well. ... View more

Hi Mags2   Sorry for delay in replying - my life has been taken over by watching tennis - one bonus of being on sick leave at the moment.  I hope your mx went well.  I haven't taken any hormone medication either time.  I do wonder if I should have taken something after my first encounter, then it might not have come back, but the hospital were very dismissive in my case.  Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing?  Best wishes x ... View more

Hi Dizzy   Well done for organising this!  I have participated in the other thread from time to time and would be interested in meeting up with other singles who have been/are going through treatment.  I live in West London so anywhere central would be good.  Hope to see everyone some time.  xxx     ... View more

HiMrs 007   What a great post and I wholeheartedly agree.  Everyone's experience is different, but for newbies on the forums, I think it is helpful for them to know that some of us have a reasonably good experience.   I am on my second diagnosis of DCIS.  6 years ago, it was an immense shock as I thought I had a healthy lifestyle and didn't have any symptoms. I had 2 WLEs to clear the margins, followed by 3 weeks of radiotherapy.   This time round, there was no choice but mastectomy.  I chose the DIEP procedure with an immediate reconstuction.  Although I fell into a small minority (one percent apparently!) who needed a vein taken from the arm, and this made the operation much longer at 11 hours, I have made a good recovery.  I have taken it really easy and listened to my body.  Still having some days of tiredness, but no problems with any  of my 4 scars!    Thankfully, the path and lymph node analysis was negative, so I don't need any more treatment.   I cannot quite believe it has all happened to me.  Second diagnosis was in February, I had the single Mx on 13 April.  So it's been a very quick process.  I am sure various factors contribute to a good recovery - postiive attitude probably does help, though I am a glass half empty person! - and living alone might also contribute as I think it makes you get on with life.  And I am sure the summer sunshine and early mornings help too.   Good luck to everyone out there and I hope your experience is similar to mine!  xxx ... View more

IllyB and others   Yes the loss of a breast does seem relatively minor compared with what others have gone through.  At least I can say that now that I am through it!  I had a single DIEP on 13 April with a bit of a hiccough when they had to take a vein from my right forearm as well (apparently happens in 1% of cases!).  But pathology was clear and so was the lymph node they removed.  So no more treatment - I cannot have radiotherapy again having had it 6 years ago, but at least I don't have to have chemo or medications either.  And after feeling like a huge, heavy lump attached to me for a few weeks, now I hardly notice it and the scars are healing nicely.  Though it did remind me to be careful this morning when I picked up a slightly heavy shopping bag!  Was telling a friend about my experience, only to hear later from her that she had a lumpectomy last year, followed by a ghastly experience with chemo and now radio.  That really made me realise that a mastectomy, while drastic, if it is the only treatment needed, is relatively bearable.  And I can get into my trousers more comfortably again!  Hope everyone else is recovering well too.  xx ... View more

Good luck for Wednesday! ... View more

Hi Mael   I've responded to you on a different thread, but on the assumption that, like me, you were going in for a DIEP.  Now I see that it is a luimpectomy, you can ignore a lot of what I said!  6 years ago I had 2 WLEs also at Charing Cross.  Both of these were done as day surgery so I didn't need to stay in.  But I too live alone and they only let me go because I had friends with me to accompany me in the cab home and also to stay for a couple of days.  Then, as now, I used a pillow lengthwise to enable me to sleep better - I also prefer to sleep semi-prone if possible.  I haven't had much discomfort and was able to sleep on my side pretty much as soon as I got home - also now with a mastectomy.  This may be because I am small breasted (34C), but we are all different!   Cats are fine - I also have two.  One is not a lap cat so wasn't a problem, the other was fine on lap, but had to be shoved off if he tried to get on my chest or tummy!  Only problem I have now is bending down for the food dishes, but that is related to the tummy tuck rather than the breast!  The reality is that I am glad of the company of the cats - nothing like a cat purring to soothe you!!  Just take it easy and make sure you have lots of treats - my masseuse has been coming to the house and giving me reflexology and facials and that makes me feel so much better!!  Good luck with it all. xxx ... View more

Hi Riverside Dawn   I developed mouth ulcers a little longer after you, probably 2-3 days and they got worse and worse, along with a really dry throat.  Eventually worked out that they are a side effect of Naproxen, one of the pain killers they gave me and so I stopped taking them.  Focussed on paracetomol instead.  Took about 3 or 4 days for the ulcers to disappear and it was really uncomfortable for a while.     Morrisbird ... View more

Hi Mael   Sorry for delay and hope this is still in time to be useful!  Overall, my experience of Charing Cross was good - some admin problems, but quality of care was good.  I haven't had many problems, especially compared with others who have posted on this forum.    There was a delay on the day of admission so I didn't get into theatre until midday (after arriving at 7.30am!) and then because my surgery was unusually long at 11 hours, I didn't get onto the ward until nearly midnight that night.  But that is all a bit of a blur because of the effects of the anaesthetic!  I was a bit surprised at having to walk up to the operating theatre or rather the anaesthetists room (I have no recollection of going into theatre!!) from the Riverside wing, through various corridors, and up in the lift.   Anyway, there were 4 people who had the DIEP the same week as I did, so they have lots of experience in doing this procedure.  They do make you get up quickly - in my case on day 2 although the surgeon wanted me up on day 1, mainly because of the DVT potential.  We were all on ward 10 which has the most spectacular view in London - I could see all the main landmarks from my bed or rather the chair next to the bed.  Just as well as I couldn't concentrate on anything for the first few days.  So didn't read anything on Kindle or even managed to play games.  I was relieved that people brought me Hello magazine and also the Evening Standard as that was all I felt up to.   At Charing Cross they leave you in your gown throughout, so I didn't need the pyjamas or even the dressing gown I took in.  They give you non-slip socks to wear so you don't need slippers either.  And I only put the bra and Bridgets on to go home.  I had taken dry shampoo but on day 4 one of the health workers washed my hair for me, so I didn't need that either.   What I found really useful were the eye mask and ear plugs.  For the first night it was me keeping everyone awake with my hourly flap checks, but after that it was someone else.  Also the wards are mixed healthwise (female only) so there were people with all sorts of ailments and some of them were up and about at night.  Eye mask also helps if you want to doze during the day, assuming nurses have let you go back to bed!   Food was dire!!  The menu looks good but the reality is different.  It was the main reason I wanted to go home.  So, have people bring you some snacks that you like - in my case cherries and grapes, as well as nuts.  They also seem to have overlooked the laxatives in the first few days, so I ended up pretty uncomfortable as the pain killers give you constipation!  A friend brought me prune juice which helped and then they started on the laxatives.   A physio will visit you with the BCC exercises and I was also told to do deep breaths to help with the tummy.  For the first couple of weeks, the tummy was really tight like a drum and you have to be careful getting in and out of bed.  One the nurses rolled up a towel for me and secured it with micro tape and that was really helpful.  The breast was just a lump on my chest at the beginning, though once the pain killers wear off, I agree with someone else on this forum that it feels like a bowling ball strapped to your chest!   The nurses, as with anything in the NHS, were really mixed.  The was very experienced in mastectomy care - she gave me lots of tips and also did the towel thing for me.  First couple of days I had Nimco (?) who was also good.  But there were agency nurses at different stages and some of them had no experience of looking after the flap so that was a bit worrying.   I had a friend stay for the first week, then have been fending for myself since then.  Friends have helped with shopping and also taking me out.  Recovery has been pretty good - all the consultants seem very pleased with the healing.  I take vitamin C and zinc anyway, but that has been attributed with helping the healing process.  Have also done the exercises religiously and have been massaging the scars with bio-oil.  Physically, it is going well.  Though I was a bit disconcerted to find that I have a 2 inch bald patch on the back of my head - I cannot see it, but others can!  Turns out it is the result of lying in one position for 11 hours of surgery and I am assured the hair will grow back eventually!  I have also had problems with my ankles, again because of the length of surgery.  And last week the tummy scar bled a tiny bit.  I was advised to stop massaging it for a while and to cover it with gauze so that the scab isn't rubbed off repeatedly by my underwear.   Speaking of which I am still wearing the bridgets and bras 24/7!   Main problem has been fatigue.  For the first few weeks I took naps every afternoon and have spent quite a few mornings in bed, but then found it disrupting my night sleep.  So am trying to stay up through the day.  I still get up around 9am and potter.  Seems ot vary a lot - I was quite exhausted last week, but have been more energetic this week (perhaps the sunshine helps!).  However, I went into town yesterday on the tube for the first time, and did get rather light-headed later in the day.  So am trying to be more realistic about what I can do.   Sorry, have a rambled on a bit, but I hope this was helpful.  Overall I rate Charing Cross highly.   Do send me any other questions you might have and I will try to answer.  Good luck!  xx ... 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I'd endorse what Belinda has said.  I had DCIS 6 years ago and had 2 WLE to remove it all.  But it appeared again at my annual mammogram last December in the same breast.  I had a DIEP Mx on that side and, although I am still in the early stages of recovery, it has gone better than I had hoped and also have had confirmation that they didn't find anything else in the tissue or lymph node.  This means that I don't have to have chemo or medication - radio was out as I had that before.   Julia - neither time did I have a lump or any symptoms.  Both occurrences were picked up on a mammogram and confirmed by biopsy. ... View more

Julia   I had immediate reconstruction by DIEP, though I fell into the one percent who have to have a vein taken out of the arm to supplement what is available in the tummy, so my surgery was longer (11 hours) and this may have affected how long I stayed in.  I was in for 5 nights and as soon as they took the drains out (what a relief!) they let me go home.  All the time I was in hospital they kept me doped up on pain killers.  I had the button morphine but only used it once. As others have found, the tummy was worse than the breast to begin with, though it is now the other way round.  At home I took paracetomol for a week, mainly at night.  But I didn't find the pain particularly bad, more discomfort.  Now, 5 weeks on, as it is healing, it sometimes feels a bit sore or itchy, but again nothing that needs any medication.  I see it more as the body healing itself.  All in all, it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be - just need to stay positive and trust the hospital staff.  Good luck x ... View more

Thanks ladies, that's really helpful.  I'll invest in an electric shaver and try some gentle deodorants. ... View more

Back at home after DIEP exactly a week ago. Took practically everything that was recommended on this thread, however didn't need much of it!! I guess hospitals vary. I was at Charing Cross where they kept us in gowns the whole time, so didn't need PJs or dressing gowns, or change of clothes. What I did value were the mobile phone, chewing gum (couldn't clean my teeth for a few days), portable fan, eye mask and ear plugs (first couple of nights it was me disturbing everyone else with hourly checks, then it was the next lady!), small newspapers and magazines (couldn't concentrate on the kindle at all), prune juice (to help with the constipation). That's what I can think of for now, but if anything else occurs to me, will post again! Off for another lie down! ... View more

Rubykins - hope it all went well for you last month.  I am going in at 7.30 tomorrow morning so feeling a little apprehensive.  But as others have said, it also feels quite surreal - not sure that it is really happening to me.  I've checked my bag and it contains everything that anyone has ever recommended on these forums so weighs a ton!  Guess someone will have to carry it home for me!  I've been using a DVD from Maggie's centre for relaxation and meditation and also yoga nidra to help me relax every day. Both now downloaded onto the iPad so I can carry on with them.   And am focussed on the fact that this time next week I should be back home and getting ready to watch Poldark in the comfort of my own living room!  Sending good wishes to anyone else in the same boat.  xxx ... View more