I am sorry to hear you are going through this .  My diagnosis is the same, but I have 6cm at the bottom of my breast and a 1.5cm under my nipple.  I am having surgery on saturday.  I haven't been prescribed any medication since diagnosis though.  X

Hi Jovie

so sorry to hear of your diagnosis I send you wishes and hope your surgery goes well and you have a good recovery. Thank you for your message i appreciate it. Keep me posted on your progress and keep positive through the process. They say to me it’s been caught early I hope you can take comfort that someone else is on this journey and you are it alone xxx

Hi Sarah,

I'm glad to hear that all went well with your pre-med - another thing ticked off! Many people develop white coat syndrome when they attend a doctor or hospital, This causes their blood pressure to raise. Three hours was quite a lengthy appointment, so it's no wonder that you felt exhausted.

Not long now until your surgery will be over and done with - I'm sure that you'll be glad to get it out of the way before Christmas. I shall be thinking of you on 20th.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

Thank you for your message xx All ready now and packed my hospital bag today so feeling all ready now to get this C out and enjoy Christmas with the hubby

You take care of you too and hope you are well 

Kind Regards

Sarah xx

Glad all went well with pre-op. X  Not long to wait now. Stay positive.  I got results yesterday.  There was no cancer in the margin of second op, so very happy. Next is radiotherapy.  I have some fluid removed Thursday. Going  back Thursday next week to check as a small bit of infection left to clear .  Wishing you all the best.  Take care. Jovie xx

Hi Sarah,

It's good to hear that you are all ready. It's a pity that you date is so close to Christmas, but I'm sure that you'll just be glad to get it over and done with.

Please let us know how you get on with your surgery, when you feel able.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jovie,

I am delighted to hear that your margins were clear, but sorry to hear that you have a slight infection still. It is good to hear that your care team are going to check on this again next Thursday - here's hoping that it has healed by then.

They will probably leave your breast to heal for 6-8 weeks, before they start you on radiotherapy.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

I did wonder if they would wait until the infection has healed before starting radiotherapy.  

To be honest it will be nice to not have to keep going to the hospital for a few weeks, as I really don't want to pick up any bugs that are going around.

Kind regards,

Jovie xx

HI Jovie,

I'm pretty sure that they won't do any radiotherapy until your wound is fully healed, so make the most of this time, without having to travel to any from hospital.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx 

Hi 

surgery went well and I was home by 9pm on the evening. Sore and painful but I was surprised how well I was considering. The day was long as there at 7 and op was 2.40 in afternoon. No drain so that’s good too.

They have remove a lot of the boob and there is a massive difference between the 2 but as long as they have got everything they needed out all is ok with me 

back on Monday 23rd Dec for dressing change and see consultant 

results of biopsy won’t be until into the new year but the surgery of removal they did went well is what I was told

Next day I started the arm exercises and feel I have good movement and no pain so keep continuing these through the day 

I met so many inspiring people going through different things and just talking to them it was emotional but the same time comfortable we are all on our own journeys the love in the room was felt

now for rest and recovery xx will keep you posted when I know the next plan. Hope you are both  ok too and keeping well 

sarahlou

xxx

Hi saralou,

I am so glad that all went well and you are now recovering.  Drink plenty and lots of rest.  You got this.  Have a lovely Christmas.  

Jovie xx

Hi Saralou,

I'm delighted to hear that all went well and that you didn't need a drain. You're doing well if you are managing your exercises already. Keep doing them every day, as it does make a difference,

Please keep us posted on how you're doing.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Saralou,

I'm delighted to hear that all went well and that you didn't need a drain. You're doing well if you are managing your exercises already. Keep doing them every day, as it does make a difference,

Please keep us posted on how you're doing.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi,

just update to let you know I am 1 week and 3 days in recovery. Not had pain as such just aches under the armpit xx went back for dressing change Monday after the Friday and they said all looks ok.

struggling with the stockings as so tight I have to take off for a couple of hours when moving about just to have a break but then straight back on

when do you remove your dressing ? My next appointment for results is 22 Jan so I can’t wait until then and the nurse did say remove when your ready and shower but leave the steri strips to come off when shower. They didn’t give me any time to leave on or when to remove 

Can’t wait for the nice soak in a bath 

hope you all ok and keeping well

Take care

sarah xxx

Hi sarah,

I am glad to hear that all is OK.

Yes the stockings are really difficult, but maybe they have given you some too small.  I did get mine changed as they too were too tight and too long.   Could you ring your cancer nurse and ask them to help.  I wore mine for 2 weeks, then another 2 after op 2, so was ready to chop them off  

On the cancer side i had the dressing change on day 10,  and then dressing off on day 15,  the stitches dissolved over the next few days.   But I did have a small infection.  On the non cancer side I had dressing off on day 10. 

Once you see you have healed nicely, then you can have a bath.  I have only just healed nicely after second op.  I start my radiotherapy on 13th January.  Every day for 3 weeks.   ( weekends off).  

The 22nd will soon be here, so not too long, maybe get yourself a nice book to read. 

Jovie xx

Hi Jovie,

lovely to hear from you and that you are doing well after 2nd op. Hope the radiotherapy is ok and not causing you any issues.

i have nearly fully healed just a few more days with a fresh dressing on the one area but the armpit is now free from dressing and just sore around the scar

The only thing I noticed is my upper arms underneath the skin is sore and sensitive I put this down to the lymph removal, I just keep moisturising and also ice pack each night as I have a small lump too but the swelling is reducing daily

stockings I have survived only have 3 mores days just at night so all good and can’t wait to burn them lol 

so looking forward to that soak in bath I bet you enjoyed that lovely xx it’s so much more relaxing 

when is your next appointment and do you know any further plans or results xxx

sending you strength and love xx you got this and are so strong

its true what they say we don’t know how strong we are until we have no choice but to be strong

Sarah

xxx

Hi Sarah, 

I didn't have any scars underarm from nodes removed, the took mine from the main boob scar, so I had really bad pain in armpit and numbness, which I still have the numbness in under the top of my arms and underarm.  

I start radiotherapy on 13th till end of January , then I don't see the surgeon till March. I haven't been told any more of what's next .  I think it's just regular scans to make sure it's OK.  Well that's what I am guessing, as I asked the radiographer and she said on my notes it doesn't say anything after radiotherapy.  

I do remember Jolamine saying make the most of my time before radiotherapy as I am not looking forward to a 22 miles each way journey every day for 3 weeks.

Know that we are all in this together and I am proud off you . It's a very lonely time as everyone else is just getting on with life. And it seems just like it's you and your thoughts.....what's next, what if's,  and why's.  But just remember we are amazing,  and to be sending lovely messages even though we are fighting our own battles is awesome and shows how  we are .

Jovie xx

Hey,

the pain doesn’t sound nice and I know the feeling. I do feel the exercises and ice packs work wonders as long as you do them through the day. I’ve been doing them every hour and then ice pack on evening xx they hurt but it does ease pain

22 miles is such a long way bless you it’s a shame they can’t do it any nearer to home xx mg journey is about 40 minutes but depending on what time my radio therapy is the travel time can change for me too

fingers crossed that this is your final process to hospital chick and then just ring that bell and live your life to the max xx you are so strong and together we fight this *** 

on the 22nd Jan I will know when radio therapy starts and results so I’m off work until then. If they say radio don’t start until 3/4 weeks later I am going to get back to work (I can work from home) so this will keep my mind busy then have the time off whilst radio therapy happens xx

going away for a couple of days this week so be nice for different scenery 

you are amazing and these chats keep us going 

stay strong and happy 

sarah

xx

Have a lovely time away xx

Hi Sarah,

I hope that your recovery is going well and that your under arm area is not too painful. I found this area uncomfortable for quite a few months after surgery. I couldn't help but smile at your complaints about your stockings. Try to persevere, as you don't want lymphoedema. I have ended up with this in both arms and legs and have been wearing compression arm sleeves and stockings for the past 15 years. These have been most uncomfortable. I also have thicker compression garments to wear at night. Fortunately, although these look horrendous, they are more comfortable to wear. I have recently moved house and the sleeves that have been provided down here are a lot more comfortable, but don't stay up properly - work in progress, but I think that we ae getting there at last!

I am glad to hear that you now have a date to get your results and discuss further treatment. Enjoy your few days break in the meantime.

Jolamine xx

Hi Jovie,

I'm glad to see that you don't have much longer to wait before you start radiotherapy. I'm sorry to hear about your under arm pain and numbness. I found that this took quite a few months to settle. It sounds as if you are doing all of the right things, so just keep on with what you're doing.

Jolamine xx

Hi Jovie

The weekend away although was cold it got me

In the fresh air and lots of walking , I was exhausted by afternoon but did me the world of good

felling ok apart from the sorness in armpit and stiffness but continuing to do exercises daily

did a bit to much the other day at home and by the evening couldn’t lay left or right and ended up going into shock with shivers. I kept calm took pain relief and lots of pillows and ice pack, Won’t be doing too much to soon again as it was horrendous pain I just cried.

this week had friends visiting so has been nice and broke the days up for me

starting to get that nervous and anxious feeling now as appointment is on Wednesday xx

i Spoke with cancer nurse and she said I will have to have a CT scan as well before the radio therapy xx

i hope you are ok and well

Sarah

xxx

Hi Jovie,

just checking in on how you are doing and thinking of you

sarah xxx