Hi

I think you will know if it's infected 

it may feel warm to touch and be red 

any worries go to the gp even if it's out of hours

i have had exactly the same as you I'm now 

3 years down the line just had my annual 

mammogram and it was clear 

the reconstruction take a while to get use to

and although my new boob is smaller and higher with a small balance I can wear 

just about anything even a full cup bikini 

this does not make any difference to the shocking diagnosis it does make me feel 

ok about myself 

I have been with my partner for over 30

years and we still have an good physical relationship we had to figure things out but with patience it's still very good 

stay off google but get as much information 

as you can from the breast care nurses

i found it difficult to find things out and it was year before anyone told me about the balances you can get free 

I hope all goes well for you 

Hi Ang,

Welcome to the forum.

I totally agree with Joanieb. If your breast becomes significantly infected you will not be in any doubt. It is likely to be swollen, red and extremely sore. Let's hope that your antibiotics do the trick and get rid of your current infection If they don't, make sure that you go back for another course.

Are you planning any further treatment after your wound heals?

Do keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thankyou - very reassuring and lovely to make contact via a forum with people going through similar things. I joined a couple of Facebook groups but ended up leaving, I’m sure for the same reason you have advised about avoiding Google! I am going to attend monthly meetings organised by our Breast Care team.

Thank you. I have another follow up appointment with my surgeon on Thursday so we will take it from there. I have not got further treatment planned thankfully (at the moment) – just 5 years on Letrozole. This is actually my second lot of breast cancer – the first was 27 years ago when I had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy. Now at 63 years old I am managing each day as it comes and relaxing a lot! Last time I had three boys 7 years and under, so it was a very different experience both physically and emotionally.

Hi Ang,

I hope that your appointment with your surgeon on Thursday goes well. I am sorry to hear that this is your second bout of breast cancer. I expect that it is quite different for you this time with a gap of 27 years in between.

I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 9 and 10 years respectively. I had a lumpectomy first time around followed by Tamoxifen and a double mastectomy second time around followed by Letrozole for 6 years. I stopped taking this in July 2017.

I hope that your surgeon is happy with your breast on Thursday and doesn't find any infection present.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Interesting, - our journey's have some similarities. You are correct about the difference from 27 years ago. I live in Maidstone in Kent and they have a dedicated centre and team and I feel very well looked after. Not that I didn't 27 years ago, but it seems much more joined up and supportive. Did you have any issues with Letrozole? Tamoxifen was fine but I am sure it made me put on weight (that's my story anyhow! :D) 

Hi Ang,

I am glad to hear that you have faith in your care team and are happy with how they look after you - this makes all the difference. I had issues with both Tamoxifen and Letrozole. I felt extremely emotional on Tamoxifen. poured on the weight with both, had joint, memory and concentration problems, night sweats, insomnia, eyesight problems, etc.

I stopped taking Letrozole after 6 years, in July 2017. Since then I have managed to lose 5 stones and still have more to lose. I have had both knees replaced and have had 5 eye operations and, am now feeling better than I've been for years.

I agree that diagnosis, treatment and aftercare now seem much more joined up and supportive than they did 27 years ago. My mum had primary breast cancer for 12 years before she developed secondary BC in her liver, lungs, brain and bone. There is just no comparison in the care that she received and that which I have experienced.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for you on Thursday.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hello again

So sorry - I completely lost the link for this forum!!

Good news is that I didn't have an infection. Still getting used to my new boob though!!

You sound as if you have been through it with the drugs!! I was on Tamoxifen 27 years ago, the only noticeable side effect being that I put on weight. I have never got back to my pre-Tamoxifen weight - I basically like food! - but if I can anticipate the same from Letrozole, especially now I am post-menopause - I had better put more effort into watching my weight.

Hi Ang,

I'm delighted to hear that you didn't have an infection. I haven't had any reconstruction, but I imagine that your new boob will feel strange for a while. I certainly put on weight with Tamoxifen, but continued to do so with Letrozole.

At the time, I felt so low that I wasn't too worried, but I would certainly be more aware about my weight from the start if I had to do it again, as it wasn't easy to lose weight afterwards.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx