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Twinks68
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Hello, I’m a new member of the cancer community. It has all happened so quick ( which is good) but nothing has prepared me for the emotional rollercoaster! Five days after being diagnosed I signed up for Race for Life.   I had a mastectomy on 18th April (8 weeks  after first dr appointment) & currently waiting for the oncologist appointment. I have a seroma which only started to leak the day the surgeon removed the dressing. It’s hard to know what’s normal when you’ve never been through it before. Any advice on how to deal with leakage much appreciated. I’m trying not to panic at every twinge or weird feeling! I’m very positive about the whole situation but find the hardest thing is that at the moment I have to live & plan just day by day, I know this will get better when I start my treatment. Time to put the kettle on. Hope you all enjoy this lovely weather for the bank holiday  

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    Hi Twinks,

    A very warm welcome to Cancer Chat.

    I am sorry to hear about the problems that you are having with your breasts, but glad to hear that you have already had a mastectomy.I hope that you don't have too long to wait for your oncology appointment.

    Did your consultant not give you any advice about what to do to dress your seroma? You could either phone your GP for his advice or, phone your consultant's secretary and see if a doctor  or one of the nurses could see you now. They can arrange for a Nurse/Care Worker to come out and change your dressings for you. The best thing to do at present is to bathe the lesion with salt dissolved in boiling water and then left to cool. Use cotton wool balls and dip this into the solution and gently wipe the area with them.

    Waiting for the results of tests is always a scary time. I hope that you get to see the oncologist soon.

    Please remember that weare always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

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    Just want to say hi, twinks ... and welcome ... I had lots of problems with fluid leaking too .. and just left little hole in scar, which weeped for the next 8 months ... jolomines advice about salt water and pads worked best for me too ... mine started from plaster removal too ... it poored out ... scared the crap out of me, as l was on my own ... like you, there's no instruction book ... that's why it's great on here, coz there's always someone who's "been there"  and can help with advice ...

    You see, l stopped planning too, but actually like it ... my life was mapped out with "to do's" but now I just go with the flow ... do things l want too... don't do stuff I don't want to ... book holidays at last minute ... be around people l like ... keep away from ner-do-wells ... and moaners ... quite like the new me ... embrace the new, and love each new day ... but im 63, so it's o.k for me ...

    So welcome and hope you find lots of help on here ... there's always someone to walk with you through this scary journey. . We've all got the same goal ... kick cancers butt ... you can do this... look how far you've come ... and jolomine got me on the right track, when l was new and scared ... sending a vertual hug ... Chrissie xx

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Thanks for replying Jolamine. This is a great place to chat to people who REALLY understand what you’re going through. The consultant was concerned how much bruising there was but said he didn’t want to risk infection by draining it yet. I’m signed of from the district nurse but might call them tomorrow to see what they say. Just had a major fright, sat watching TV & felt something cold on my tummy on the opposite side. It looked liked I’d been stabbed - what a mess! Ive cleaned it up and put some pads on that I got from the chemist. The things we have to go through eh! Never mind could be worse. Onwards & upwards xx

  • Offline in reply to Chriss

    Thanks Chriss, yes I’ve just had a major leak & yes was very scary. All sorted now though. The things we have to go through eh! Never mind, & it’s great to chat with people who really know what you’re going through. Going with the flow sounds like the perfect plan , even for me at 49 . Take care xx

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