Hi I have been refered to a breast clinic and have been waiting 1 week and have had no appointment yet. Has anyone else waited as I have heard people normally get the appointment letter quickly.
I have at least three affected lymph nodes but I expect many more will have to be removed. The surgeon says she has once had to remove 70! I hope I will not add to her record. Perhaps the tablets you mention are to suppress the hormones which promote the growth of cancer cells. I expect my tablets will be similar. It will be interesting to find out.
I had my operation on Thursday and I am delighted with the result of the lumpectomy. The surgeon has made the left breast look completely normal, lifting it slightly so it looks almost a complete match to the right side one! She used dermabond glue to stitch it and I have been careful not to get it wet.
I had to have a complete clearance of all the axillary lymph nodes because there was too much cancer involved and she expects that I shall have to have chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy plus tablets but this will be decided on 24th May when I will be told the biopsy results and next action plan.
I was given codeine tablets along with paracetamol but decided to discontinue the painkillers after one day because they were making me feel sick and bloated and caused constipation! I doubt whether this would be approved by the hospital team but I am used to fibromyalgia pain and this was no worse.
I started the arm exercises the day after the operation and I think they are getting easier to do. The wound under the arm is slightly swollen but this is to be expected.
I am sure everything will go well for you next Thursday. Don't worry. You will be in good hands at the hospital and any discomfort is completely manageable.
I shall be thinking of you on the 15th, so best wishes.
Hi glad the operation went well. I have mine next Wednesday. Then I have to wait 2 weeks for the results of that. Waiting 2 weeks after the biopsy was hard so this will be hard too I think. I also have to wait another 5 weeks for genetics to see if I carry a gene as that will change my treatment plan completely if its positive. I haven't been shown any exercises yet but have a telephone appointment about them on Monday. X
