Welcome to Cancer Chat Lin1312.

I know you're wanting to hear from others who have had a mastectomy so I've had a look around the forum and wanted to put you in touch with [@Littledeb]‍, [@Jolamine]‍ and [@rileyroo]‍ as they all have had this operation and now that I've mentioned them in this post they'll hopefully by along soon to say hello and share their experiences with you. 

I hope this helps and wish you all the best for your surgery when the time comes.

Kind regards, 

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi lin ... welcome to our little club ... 

There's quite a few of us lasses on here that came on here, just like you (myself included) who were waiting for a mastectomy ... all feeling Simerla to how you are now ... it's the fear of the unknown , I think looking back ... but one by one, we had our op ... and wer all still here, helping others that are waiting ..

I was surprised how little pain I had with operation... more tender under my arm where the lymph node was taken ... but looking back, I wish I'd known how o.k it was ... although if I'd been younger, I think it would have effected me more ... I am a grade 3 her 2 lady ... and was so worried by the grade 3 ... I really thought I'd not come through the op ... so was so surprised how I felt after ... I just looked at it, not as having a boob removed ... but that they were taking out that pesky cancer ...

If you go on rilleyroos thread you'll see their journey on there, all the highs and lows, and yet they still have a few laughs too ... hopefully they will pop up on here to help you through too .. they are amazing lot ... I'm sure it will help you ... take care ... Chrissie x

HI Lyn,

I have had 2 bouts of cancer. The first time was 8 years ago when I had a lumpectomy and the second 7 years ago when I had  a double mastectomy. I’m afraid that I cannot answer any questions about reconstruction, as due to previous gall bladder surgery, I was not a suitable candidate for reconstruction.

As Chrissie has said, I was surprized by how little pain I had and I was able to sleep on my side right away, despite having both breasts done at the same time. I see that you have already had a lumpectomy, so this should be a piece of cake for you.  I had less trouble with the mastectomy than I had with the lumpectomy.

I made a couple of shoulder bags to pop my drains in, so that I was ambulant from the start. I had been advised to do this, but in the event, the hospital provided some bags if I needed them. I had one messy experience, when one of my drains came out whilst I was I the loo on my second day post-op. I pulled the chord and staff were there in minutes to help me clean up and change. I had 6 lymph nodes removed and was a little tender under my arm for a while. I bought a small heart shaped cushion, which I could pop under my arm and found this very useful after surgery.

The staff in the hospital were all very attentive and so nice that I had no complaints whatsoever. I also felt much happier after the mastectomy than I did first time around, because I felt that all of the cancer had been removed and there was no problem with margins.

When are you due to have your surgery and what type of reconstruction have you opted for?

I am here for you if you have any further questions re your mastectomy. There’s no point in my telling you not to worry, as I’m sure that you’ll still do it irrespective of what I tell you. I did, but I must confess that I had to ask myself why, once it was all over.

I hope that all goes as well for you as it did for me.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you whenever you want to talk.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Chrissie

Lovely to hear from you. I'm also a Grade 3 Her 2+ lady plus Er+. Couldn't just have the one cancer lol. I've already had 11 lymph nodes removed when I had lumpectomy. I had a seroma and then cellulitus after op for 're-excision. I've come through it all ok plus the chemo. 

Like you I've got to the stage where I just want my breast removed to know the cancers definitely gone. I really do want mine rebuilt. It's a mental thing with me not so much about vanity.

I'm seeing my consultant and plastic surgeon next Tuesday the 3rd so will be able to update you.

I'm so pleased you didn't have a lot of pain. I didn't with my other ops so keeping my fingers crossed all will go well this time.

Did you have reconstruction if so how did you find it?

Thanks for answering

Lin x

Hi Jolamine

Lovely to hear from you

I too had problems with the lumpectomy. I had a seroma and cellulitus but I think that was all to do with having 11 lymph nodes removed. 

I've got through all that and the chemo and feeling pretty good.

I'm seeing my consultant and plastic surgeon on Tuesday 3rd so will know more and be able to let you know what's happening.

I did wonder about the drains and what to do with them. I will probably make a bag as well.

The things we ladies have to do lol

I'm opting for an implant for 're construction as I already have implants.

Consultant worried me a bit at last meeting as she said it may not be done all in the one op.

I'm getting fed up with not being my normal self. As my best friend says I never was normal lol but you will probably understand. 

I know it's a long road to travel still but I'll get there. As they say patience is a virtue but I'm running out of it

Will keep you updated

Lin x

Hi Lyn,

I had 6 lymph nodes removed the first time and my surgeon tried to remove more from my other arm second time around. Unfortunately all he got was fatty tissue. I can still have ‘tender times’ where the lymph nodes were removed, even though I had no lymph node involvement at all. Driving over speed humps was very uncomfortable for many years after my first surgery. I was glad to have my own bags for the drains as they were more substantial than the disposable ones handed out by the hospital.

We all get pretty fed up with all of this medical intervention at times, but we’ve just got to put a brave face on and get on with it. I suppose that we’re lucky that we have such care. Many people in other countries are not so fortunate.

I hope that your appointment on 3rd goes well. Don’t forget to ask why you may have to have both procedures done at different times. If you’ve come through so much after your lumpectomy, a mastectomy should be an absolute breeze.

I look forward to your update.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

I had a mastectomy and reconstruction last Tuesday. I am new to cancer as I was diagnosed on 2nd May 2019. My whole experience so far has been as good as can be expected I think. I'm a bit battered and bruised, but the pain is manageable and my reconstruction is amazing. From going in for mammogram to now, the nurses, surgeon etc have been great. Do you have a personal nurse? 

Hi DEGS,

Welcome to our forum.

I am so sorry that you have had to have aastectomy too, but glad to hear that you have had such a good experience with it all. Getting a diagnosis like this is always scary, but it gets easier to cope with once the initial shock abates and, you know what you are dealing with and how you are going to do it.

It is great to hear that you are so happy with your reconstruction. Yes, I have a breast care nurse. All of us usually get allocated one at the time of diagnosis. You will find that you can turn to her at any time. I have had 2 bouts of BC in the past 10 years and I count my nurse as one of my best friends now. She has really been so helpful that I cannot praise her highly enough.

Do you need any further treatment planned and have you had your pathology results back yet?

Do please stay in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you I'm new to posting but realise who I ever I speak to they may not quite understand how I feel. I recently had masectomy in right breast, felt surprisingly ok afterwards and doing my exercises and all good. Then the future hits me. How can I meet someone again.. they will have to be a so special person and I'm trying not to be selfish because it's hard meeting anyone in normal circumstances but I'm allowing myself to never have an intimate relationship again..please tell me this might be my thoughts and not how it is??? Victoria

Hi Victoria,

Welcome to our forum.

I am sorry to hear about your recent mastectomy. Have you had reconstruction after it, or do you plan to have any? I had a lumpectomy in 2010, then a recurrence a year later, when I had a double mastectomy. Unfortunately, I couldn't have any reconstruction, due to previous non-cancer related surgery.

Prior to diagnosis, I was always extremely proud of my bazzukas, so it was quite a change to suddenly be left with nothing. My thoughts originally, were similar to those which you are having now. I then went on to have 5 eye operations, 2 knee replacements and 2 full open gall bladder operations. This has left me with scarring in both breasts, from navel to groin and on both knees. 

Contrary to what we are led to believe, there are men out there who choose you because of who you are -  not solely because of your attributes.  I was fortunate to be married already when first diagnosed. It was a challenge for us at first, but, if anything, our relationship is stronger now than it was before.

Can I ask your age? This may make it different for you. I was 60 when first diagnosed. You will find that going through your surgery and treatment will make you a stronger person. I could very easily have given up and shrunk into myself for the rest of my days, but we only have one life and, as far as I'm concerned, life is for living, so I took the decision to  embrace it. Intimacy is a natural part of life, so we have worked around that too. I must admit that it's not what it was before, but that's true of a number of things after a cancer diagnosis. I have discovered a new me, but I have still lived a very worthwhile life for the past 10 years.

It is early days for you yet, but I do hope that you decide to live life too. Cancer will change you, but don't let it beat you.

This is just my experience. We all react differently, so I hope that others will come along and give you the benefit of their experience too. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx