A warm welcome to our friendly forum. You have come to the right place to talk to other ladies who have had chemotherapy and a double mastectomy. I just wanted to let you know I have changed your title to make it more specific - this will give it more visibility on the forum and increase the chances that someone who has been in a similar situation before will pick it up.
You will meet some wonderful ladies here who will I am sure guide you and share their story with you about how they coped with chemotherapy and with the recovery following a double mastectomy. One name that springs to my mind as having mentioned having had a mastectomy is [@Jolamine] and I am sure she will be along soon and talk to you about how it all went for her at the time.
We have detailed information about chemotherapy here which I hope will help you know what to expect from the first session. More information about the mastectomy can also be found on this page.
Our nurses also have a great helpline you can ring on this free number 0808 800 4040 - they are available 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday so don't hesitate to ask them any question you may have.
It must be difficult for you to be going through all this whilst also being a carer for your husband. I hope you have some support around you to help you cope in the coming weeks.
Sending you my very best wishes and I hope everything goes well with your treatment and surgery.
Keep us updated on how things go for you if you get a chance!
I am so sorry that you find yourself in this position. Can I ask what ails your husband and whether or not he needs a lot of care?
I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 9 years. The first time I had a lumpectomy and a year later, I had another primary and had a double mastectomy. Believe it or not, I found it easier to have the double mastectomy than the lumpectomy. I was advised to have radiotherapy the first time around, but, due to procedural errors, this never happened.
After my mastectomies I was advised that I didn't need any chemo or radiotherapy. I had Tamoxifen after my first operation. When it returned within a year, I took Letrozole for 6 years. I stopped taking this 1½ years ago.
I was advised to bring 2 cloth-type shoulder bags to carry the drains to my chest. In the event, my hospital provided these and it made things so much easier than trying to walk around with 2 drip stands. I understand that not all hospitals provide these, so it may be worth asking your breast care nurse before you are admitted for surgery.
The other thing that I was advised to do was to bring in nighties/pyjamas which opened down the front. This made it much easier for examinations and re-dressing my wounds.
Do you have anyone who could help you out for a while? The biggest problem I had after surgery was total exhaustion. I could fall asleep anywhere, which was most unlike me. Now, 9 years on, I still tire very easily, but I am not as totally and utterly exhausted as I was then. I couldn't even look after myself, never mind anyone else. I never had chemo, but I understand from others that this can increase the tiredness.
It might be worth talking with your breast care nurse or social worker about this, as they might be able to help you to bring in carers, for your husband, until you are fit enough to take over the reins again.
Have you started with chemo yet? I do hope that this shrinks the size of your tumour, before you have surgery. How many sessions of chemo are you sheduled to have?
Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have. I am always here for you.
