Hi there chrissy3 and thanks for the post

I am sorry to hear about the worry this lump and your upcoming surgery is causing you.

I hope you have some good family and friends around you to support you at this time. Do let them know about how this is affecting you so they can help and reassure you further.

It is very natural to feel unsettled about having a GA, especially not ever having had one before so do also let the doctors and nurses at your hospital know the anxiety this is causing you.

Do remember you are not alone in this and that so many people go through this type of operation every year without any problems. It is a very straightforward surgery that shouldn't take long and you are usually able to go home the same day.

Try and take good care of yourself in the run up to your surgery by eating a well balanced diet, getting regular exercise, ensuring a good bedtime routine to aid restful sleep and try to distract your thoughts. Some people find carrying out some light stretches, deep breathing and relaxation techniques can also be helpful.

Take care of yourself and I hope everything goes well for you.

Do get back in touch if you wish to or give us a call on 0808 800 4040 if you prefer, we're here weekdays 9-5.

Best wishes

Naomi

Thank you so much xx

Hi Chrissy,

A very warm welcome to the forum.

I am sorry to hear of your anxiety about having a general anaesthetic. Try to place your faith in your care team. They carry out these operations several times a day and very seldom have a problem. As nurse Naomi says, it is a very straightforward operation and will be over quickly. I am glad to see that you only have another 2 days to wait, as this is the worst part by far.

I had 2 bouts of cancer and 1 of pre-cancer in the other breast. These were all found within a year from my lumpectomy. Like you, I went on to have a double mastectomy, just to make sure and I have never regretted this. It is now 16 years since I first had surgery and I still lead a busy and fulfilling life.

I sincerely hope that all goes well for you. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. 

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

UPDATE

I wanted to let you all know that I had my lumpectomy on Monday as planned, and everything went very well.

I was quite anxious about the general anaesthetic beforehand, but it turned out to be absolutely fine—honestly one of the best sleeps I’ve ever had. The team were wonderful and made me feel very safe and much less anxious throughout the whole process.

I sincerely hope I never have to go through this again, but if I did, I wouldn’t feel worried about it now. In hindsight, I think the waiting leading up to the appointments was actually the most stressful part.

Thank you again for your support.