I come on forum to take my mind off my own problems and try to help others it calms me,. 

Billy 

Hello sugarpuff

I had my mastectomy in october 2015, i too was told that my ultrasound and scan showed that my lymph nodes looked as though they were working, however the two nodes in my breast tested positive for cancer and I had to have a full lymph node clearance. 

I had my lymph nodes removed a month after my mastectomy. I think the main thing to remember is that having these removed reduces the chances of a recurrence. My oncologist was very positive. I have continued to be very positive and really changed my lifestyle. Very little alcohol and lots of healthy food. I do lots of exercise and swim four times a week. I have regained full movement of my affected arm and can do breast, back and front crawl. 

The lymph node clearance took longer to get over than the mastectomy but i kept doing the exercises many times a day.

I wish you well, keep positive and try not to get anxious easier said than done I know but it really is one day at a time. 

Be kind to yourself, identify someone who you can go to for support, one of my friends became my breast buddy and i knew i could go to her when things got tough. Only used her once but it was helpful to know that she was there for me.

If you want to help me look after yourself and try to relax 

Thank you Mags

i do feel more positive than I did yesterday when I got the news.  I am hoping that as nothing showed up on the scans, and I have no discomfort or swelling, that that is a positive sign, fingers crossed  

do you mind me asking...did you need chemotherapy as well? This is my big fear, I’ve known all along that I need radiotherapy, but chemotherapy is a much bigger hurdle in my head.

Were that health conscious before your diagnosis? I must admit that although I find nutrition really interesting, I am not the best at it!  And I do like a cheeky drink or two!  However, when I was diagnosed I actually became afraid of food and drink and drank gallons of water!  After my op, I’ve slipped into bad habits again, but this new news has made me rethink again.

Im so glad your story has a happy ending, and thank you for sharing with me, it really does help 

Em xxx

Hi Em

Yes i’m afraid i needed six sessions of chemo followed by three weeks of daily radium.

I had 11 lymph nodes taken out and 9 of these were positive, plus the two sentinel nodes had been positive so really i had no choice.

Chemo is not pleasant but it needs to done and you get through it, once you get to number three than you are on the home stretch.

radium is much easier. Do you have a maggies centre near you? they are an excellent resource.

i was not as health conscious before my illness, yes i liked healthy food but was overweight and liked my glasses of wine.

So now i make huge efforts to eat healthily and only drink low alcohol or non alcoholic drinks very rarely.

I really feel for you just now, you are in a horrible position of not knowing things for definite and your mind is in  overdrive.

When is your next appointment? 

take care of yourself, and include your family in how you are feeling. x

Thanks Mags

i haven’t told any of my friends or family yet, I will, but only when I feel I have turned the corner to a positive conclusion.  My husband knows and he is a fantastic support, very calm, and always optimistic, exactly what I need at the moment.  And I like being able to talk to my mum and dad normally, if you know what I mean!  Plus I don’t want to scare my children who are 11 and 12.  One of their friends just lost his dad to cancer at Christmas.

You must feel good being so active and healthy now.  Since this all started in May, I’ve lost 1 and 1/2 stones, which is good but I wouldn’t advise it as a diet plan!

I haven’t heard of maggies, but today a spoke  to a Macmillan nurse and she helped calm my anxiety.

Thank you for your support, it really means the world to me

Em xxx

Hi sugarpuff tell your young ones there old enough to notice your behaviour is different you don't have to be grusem explain your ill and nead treatment to make you well again, as things go on they might want to help you,. 

Billy 

Hi Billy

thanks for the advice, I will tell them, but not just yet.  I prefer everyone to be “normal” around me.  It helps me not to have to be worrying about how my loved ones are feeling, and helps me to sometimes forget what is happening and be normal myself.  I had hoped to have told everyone by now, but with the news about my lymph node, it’s set me back.  My hope is that I have the op to remove more lymph nodes soon and get back some good news, then I will tell everyone xx

Hope you are right, when i was diagnosed i told, family friends and workmates there was no difference in how they were with me it was marvellous because i was worried things would change,. God bless.

Billy

P.s that includes the grand children,.