I had a total right side masectomy July last year... if you want a chat or have any questions , I'm here most days .. there are lots of us breast lasses on here .. most have had reconstruction... or lumpectomy... [@Jolamine] helped me when I was new to this, she's had a double one ... and really got me through ...
I had a grade 3 her 2 neg oestrogen positive... had a few problems with fluid build up, where it looked like my boob was growing back .. and had it drained twice .. and under arm, where lymph node was taken, ached quite a lot .. still feels weak ... and I was worried about looking at the scar, when dressing came off ... but I was fine ... in fact it reminds me just how far I've come, and I think it's a small price to pay, to see my son and granddaughter grow up ... here I am 17 months on, and feeling really good ..
So take it easy .. don't rush getting about ... and welcome to our little club ... Chrissie xx
Hi. I had a right mastectomy with reconstruction exactly 6 weeks ago today. Went very well and straightforward. Feel free to message if you'd like to chat.
Wow reconstruction as well on the day. My consultant will discuss reconstruction in 6 months time and a reduction on the left im not sure what to do as its early days.
Are you taking hormone replacement at all? i am and having side affects.
No hormone replacement for me. My cancer is HER2+ so only medication im on now is a herceptin drip every 3 weeks for the next year. Joy!!
The reconstruction is just a temporary implant to give me some shape as im getting married in March and wanted 2 boobs to put in my dress lol and as its a strapless one, it needs a bit of cleavage. Due to have 3 weeks of radiotherapy starting soon (will find out when today) and they said it can ruin the implant hence why its only temporary. I pray it doesnt.
The mastectomy I had was a skin sparing one so to replace the impant would be pretty straight forward so not too worried. Just looks a bit strange with no nipple but hopefully that can get tattooed at a later date.
Have you spoken to the consultant regarding side affects as there must be something they can give you?
Sorry, had already posted but just saw this so will give more detail.
My surgery was a complete mastectomy (half my boob was cancerous) with nipple removal, the reconstruction was a fixed implant but, like Dizzle, this might be negatively affected by upcoming radiotherapy, but hpefully not!
I started Tamoxifen last night and am back to vomiting up everything I eat. I believe that should settle down within 3 weeks so hopefully in time to enjoy my Christmas dinner. Once the Tamoxifen has settled they will start me on Zoladex until such times as they remove my ovaries to put me into menopause (my cancer is genetic so having lots of prophylactic surgery).
My mum was offered HRT when she went through menopause but refused. She had been a nurse in her younger years and felt very much that menopause is natural and our bodies are able to deal with it if we are sensible. So she just ensured she had a good diet and exercise. As it turns out her bone density, which was already low due to reasons other than her previous cancer treatment, improved over time and is now very good. But for some people I imagine taking HRT is the best option, different strokes for different folks!
Welcome to our forum. I am sorry to hear that you have had to resort to a mastectomy. How have you been doing since then? You do not say what type of breast cancer you have or what grade it is. Were there any lymph nodes involved and have you had your pathology results back yet?
I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 8 years. First time around I had a lumpectomy followed by treatment with Tamoxifen for a year. The second I had a double mastectomy followed by Letrozole for 6 years. Both of these drugs have side-effects, which seemed equally bad to me.
What side-effects are you having? If you are having sickness, this should settle, but if it doesn't, talk to your breast care nurse and ask if you can be prescribed something to stem the nausea.
I didn't have reconstruction, due to scarring from previous surgery, but manage well with a selection of prostheses and modesty panels.
Do please keep us informed of how you are getting on. We are always here for you.
