New to this forum

hello,

I was sent this link by a friend and have been reading some of the posts. Firstly, I wish you all a full recovery, a massive reduduced stress and anxiety & future happiness to all.

my name is Jayne. I’m 54 live alone now that my only daughter joined the Army a year ago. I lost my father 18 months ago and it had the most horrific traumatic effect on me. I lost over 35lbs in weight and just fell into a deep dark depression.

At the time my daughter was already in training so thankfully didn’t see me walking from room to room sobbing uncontrollably. 3 months later she was posted to the Middle East to fulfill her dream in an amazing unit. 

I However was left alone for the first time in our home in 20 years, her room empty, my dad gone & broken. 

My mum is amazing she’s 85 she had a mastectomy 44 years ago after feeling slight ruff skin on the right cheast bone area. 

Her oncologist at the time warned her that there may be a possibility  of a dip in her breast as he knew it was nasty and took the  perimeter   Surrounding the area too. 

She woke up with no breast at all a full right mastectomy right down to her chest bone removing all breast muscle too. She has a scare from one side of her body to the other. 

I was 10 at the time & I remember that we (my brother & sister were only to refer to it a “C” as back then the word cancer itself was so very shocking. 

Thank the good lord above my mum got through and although never had reconstruction and is brutally scarred, is alive, beautiful, strong and just an amazing lady. 

A month ago I went for my regular 3 year mammogram and two days later got a call back. I was so sure it was because I was fidgety but was told that the mammogram showed I had bilateral breast cancer. 

Ive had the op, and also 3 nodes under both armpits which thankfully came back clear. However the histology report from the lumpectomy showed another 3 cancers in the Perimeter on my right breast .

I’ve just come home from a 2 hr meeting with the gene clinic who did 3 tests Braka 1&2 plus a newer test.  That was horrific, confused and very depressing making me feel as if there’s no light at the end of the tunnel and lord help me if even 1 of the 3 come back positive. 

I had a targeted breast MRI last Friday and tomorrow I see the surgeon for the verdict I am wreck .

I’ve not told my daughter anything this past month when we’ve managed to speak, I just knowit would put her in a massive tail spin and she would crash, leave her service and ruin her life long dream . 

My mum is with me for everything single  test and that too makes me feel so guilty as she’s been through so much and loosing my dad for her after a great 65 year marriage has also shaken her to the core. Now she’s got to go through this with me. 

Im just so so so confused, scared, and can’t focus on a thing. 

I would be so grateful to hear some positive stories

please reply

thank you for reading my story 

jayne

 

  • Thanks so much Chrissy that was such a lovely reply & I really can’t stand my sister-in-law it’s all true. She’s perthetic inconsiderate selfish small minded bitter cow, just do not get what the hell my brother see in her. 

    Anyways moving on. I was supportive get my verdic today from my surgeon ( she already told me that th the  tumours that were removed on the right side they found three additional cancers within the perimeter and she booked me a targeted MRI scan which I had last Friday. Today I get a call to say the MRI has picked up other things and now needs to be passed on and re-reads more  thoroughly . It’s put the fear of g-d into me to be honest. I’m sure they’ll take of my right breast. Bust I just pray that all.

     tomorrow I’ve got a targeted ultrasound and drainage on the right side as there is so much fluid builds up and that hurts like hell as there is no anaesthetic and they just stick a needle in like popping a balloon. Strangely I don’t have any on my left side at all and that’s smooth and no pain whatsoever.. But the right side is bumpy swollen disfigured and hurts . 

    I’m not having a good day at all and again it more waiting and waiting and waiting ..... 

    still feel terrible about not telling my daughter but she’s so happy abroad doing her thing, your free and in love for the first time ever with such a lovely boy. I just don’t want to put this in her head. She’s got absolutely no control over what happens so to start just putting her in a tail spin now I just feel is wrong. She’s 21 but as there’s only ever been just us although she dependent and living overseas, she’s very very attached me me and this is something that would just frighten her so much she’d screw up everything .

    i think I’ll just wait and see what’s what. 

    My mum had a mastectomy at 41 shes now 86 and so amazing. I was 10 at the time and I remember being on holiday and she felt this small area of what seemed like ruff skin. 

    When we came back she saw her doctor who took her into surgery, but she wasn’t  warned  And just woke up without the right breast , cut under the muscle to the bone totally concave. She was in hospital a month. 

    She told me it took her 10 years to really come to terms with it and also couldn’t bare to look at herself, but now says she regrets not having reconstruction and that she wished she would off. 

    Shes wears a prosthesis and always looks so smart no one would ever know, but she knows, and now she has to watch me. It’s terrible for her. 

    When did you have your op? Would you consider a reconstruction? 

    Lovely to speak to you my love 

    sleep well & I’ll check back soon

    jayne xxx

  • It’s good that your eating little but more often now, I also have absolutely no appetite & in the past 18 months since my dad passed away I lost 36lbs and in 5’8 I looks ill but I’m just not hungry so don’t think about food. 

    However saying that we MUST eat, it’s vital to feed out immune system so please keep it up & just try and avoid sugar as much as possible . 

    Mom on  fruit bran cereal  About 5 tbl spoons full every morning, not much during the day, maybe a banana or 1 slice of toast but in the early evening I eat fish usually with veg & potatoes. 

    Even wentbto the Toby carvers last week & had a plate of roast veg & some turkey (it was lovely) 

    its great that your reading , I used to read loads but can’t focus so I stare at the TV and rarely know what I’m watching, it sends me of to sleep. 

    Its great your getting out too, you’ve got your confidence back to go to the library and that’s marvellous, well done you. 

    Sleep well my friend 

    Jayne xx

  • I’m so pleased I made you smile, it’s great you reacted like that and saw the funny side of things .

    im trying to be positive but I’m so in limdo right now, I’ve had bilateral surgery but the histology report sad 3 more cancers were found. So I had to have this targeted MRI last week. 

    Today I was supposed to see the surgeon but the breast clinic called to sat mire things have been picked up in the MRI and needs to be read more   Thoroughly . So another week to wait and get through. Tomorrow I’ve got an ultra sound and drainage of fluid in my right side only. . 

    Tjink its time for a cuppa and sleeping pill.

    Lots of love to you 

    sleep well 

    Jayne xxx

  • Would you consider a reconstruction? Mum says it’s her biggest regret, but you’ve got to be ready and do it when you feel you want to 

    I spoke to a lady who has a mastectomy at 37 and for her 50th had the reconstruction, she’s 55 now and said it’s the best thing she’s rver done and can’t belive now it took her 13 years, but she just wasn’t ready. So in your own time 

    thank you for your kind thoughtful response, I’m very anxious and stressed especially after loosing my day then my daughter joining the army. My brothers kind in a dutiful way but I have very little support from people who really understand , so I genuinely appreciate your kind words sleep well my friend 

    g-d bless you 

    Jayne 

  • Hi Jayne...

    My niece works on the oncology unit sometimes .. she kept asking me if I'd want a reconstruction... but honestly , it really doesn't bother me .. when I first put on my "falsy" in the hospital, under my tea shirt with no bra .. and asked the lass and her hubby who was visiting at the time .. and we got on really well .. so asked them what they thought .. well the hubby said "you'll have to change your name to one hung low "  it had slipped down ... well I couldn't stop laughing ... and you know l just think my lovely surgeon took my boob but gave me something far more precious.... time ... time to see my amazing granddaughter grow up .. 

    If I'd not had a masectomy, I know I'd not be here now ... so I think, its better to have one boob, then not be here... it's getting your head around it .. you can either feel sad about loosing a boob, or happy coz the rest of you is still here ... l had my op in July 2017 .. and had a grade 3 cancer ... so it looked pretty bleak .. and just now make every day as full of life as I can .. and make loads of memories for my granddaughter ...

    She knows I have only one boob .. and when she looked one day, before I could stop her ... she yelled "nanny how are you going to feed babies now" she was only 5 then ... and every so often, asks me if it's grown back ... she's fine with it all, because of my attitude ... but I know for some they find it hard .. but the alternative is far worse ... and no, I wouldn't have a reconstruction even if l could ... 

    Chrissie.... x

  • Your amazing chrissy

    and insparational I completely agree with you about being her with one boob or not at all and it’s great you have such a warm and loving relationship with your precious granddaughter. 

    I do remember when my mum had her breast removed she was 41 and I was 10 & I asked her the same thing ‘when will it grow back’.  I guess having a beautiful brilliant mum of 85 with me today after what she went through 44 years ago I should feel more positive and see what a great mentor she she, but I’m a wreck inside, this past week my stomach has been hurting, my back hursts and I just feel

    that I’m riddled with disease. 

    My surgeon was suppose to see me yesterday but cancelled as the breast clinic said additional things have been seen on the MRI and they need a specialist radiologist to read it before she gets her knifes out again. So now got another week to get through 

    this morning I’ve got a ultra sound and more needle draining with is so bloody painful.

    hay ho another day to get through 

    feeling lost

    love to you 

    Jayne xxxxx

     

  • Hi Jayne...

    Well I've got my boxing gloves back out, to fight in your corner ... I've had my weak days too .. it must be gutting to get more thrown at you ... and feeling overwhelmed... so I'm vertually holding your hand right now ... 

    Hold on in there hunny ... your not alone ... let us know how you go ... you've deff got a fighting spirit even if you don't feel you have right now .. being brave .. that is the word we use for those who are scared witless but still doing what you have to anyway.... that's brave ...

    Sending you a vertual hug... chrissie

  • your so lovely Chrissy and make me smile 

    I had a scan today and he said the new lump is a small blood clot & they did a needle biopsy and dispersed it. 

    Mother than that he said both breasts so far seem ok. Now the MDT will make there conclusion about a mastectomy next week, another lumpectomy or lazer. 

    Finally the W/end off so I’m gonna just relax be positive get those pink gloves fastened and get back my fighting spirit. 

    G-d bless you sweet lady 

    lots of love 

    jayne