Hi Jolamine and Maggiemagpie, 

Surgery went well yesterday, sore boob, as it hadn't fully healed from last time, but not painful as such. Surprisingly, after the horror stories I had heard about the sentinel node biopsy, the armpit seems in pretty good shape! Scar looks minimal and not even that numb. Went straight into doing the exercises today. Went for a walk and had breakfast out with my partner in the sunshine! 

Results on 25th.  Still very anxious about that, and 10 days is agony.  I told my consultant just before op she takes as much as she wants, err on the side of caution, I really don't care what it looks like!  I did tell her to rake the womb and ovaries as well, as I had finished with those too, but she said she didn't deal with that end! She sent a message via the nurse to say surgery went well, although obviously she can't tell the pathology! I just want this to be it, clear margins, no node involvement and on to radiotherapy!

Thanks for your thoughts and concern, it means a lot x 

Thanks for the update. Glad it went well [@Anxious57]‍ Hopefully that’s the end of it and onto the final phase. Good too that the scar in minimal and your out and about.  x

Hi Anxious,

Many thanks for your update. I am delighted to hear that all went well for you. I'm glad that your armpit scar looks minimal.

Now that the surgery is over I hope that it heals quickly for you this time. This is always a scary time when you are waiting for your pathology results and I'm sure that the 10 days will seem to drag. Try to keep yourself as busy as you can following pleasanter pursuits to help pass the time.

I am hoping and praying that the results will be just what you want on 25th.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thanks Jolamine

Your support is much appreciated x 

Hello all, hoping someone will reply and calm me down. Very similar to above DCIS, post op showed 2.5mm invasive. I have had to wait 6 weeks! For lymph node biopsy, finally 24/07 I am having the procedure. It’s been such a hard slot mentally and physically, worrying about the what ifs. I noticed anxious 57 hasn’t signed in since after the SLNB so I’m hoping she had good news and on the road to recovery. 

Hi Whitmic,

I am so sorry to hear about the state that you find yourself in.

You must have missed Anxious57's post after her surgery. It sounds as if all went much better than she had imagined and, she is now patiently waiting for her pathology results on 25th July. Let's hope that it is good news for her.

It sounds as if you have had a rough time since diagnosis and I hope that all goes well for you on 24th July.

Try to stay in the here and now and take things day by day. Don't bother yourself with the 'what ifs'. There's nothing that you can do to prepare for these. It is enough to cope day by day or even hour by hour if need be.

I shall be thinking of you next Friday and, hope that all goes well for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi whitmic

Did you not get my earlier response? 

Anxious57

Hi Whitmic

I don't think my response posted! 

After my second op to get clear margins, I was told there was just 2mm of low grade DCIS which they removed, and got good clear margins.  They took the first 3 nodes, and they all came back negative and clear! 

I went on in September to have my radiotherapy, 3 weeks, 15 sessions Mon to Fri at Mount Vernon, who were fantastic.  Nearly always on time, 15 mins in and out, the painful bit was the journey, 45 mins each way lol!  Apart from a little sore, like mild sunburn, I felt nothing.  I made sure I used aloe vera gel and E45 every day, and did the exercises the hospital recommended to combat any fluid etc.  In fact, I still do the exercises before bed and use cream once a day, the scar is barely visible and I have full range of movement, no pulling or anything. I didn't feel tired either, was gardening and mowing the lawn, maybe not recommended lol!

One year on, I had my first mammogram about 6 weeks ago.  I won't lie, the panic came flooding back, and a nail biting 2 week wait for results, but it was normal and clear!  I'm sure you will be fine, no good saying don't worry, you will, BUT, you will get through it!  Good luck on the 25th, this time next week it will be done.  As my surgeon said after the op, the nasty bit has gone!

Everyone on here helped me so much, I'm so sorry I didn't update! 

Stay safe and well, with love and best wishes

Sharon

Anxious57

Hi whitmic

Yes mentally, being told you have pe cancer to then being told there is invasive, however small, was horrendous.  My surgeon, who was amazing, and I shall forever be grateful to her, did I'm afraid pre first op, utter the words DCIS is pre cancerous, you do not have cancer.  The relief is overwhelming, and then after the op, she said oh, well there was a little node of invasive, but it has gone now, but we need to test the lymph nodes as a precaution.  I hit the floor!  My GP said she should not have described DCIS as pre cancerous.  Purely DCIS is contained in the milk duct and cannot go anywhere, that's the difference. 

Please don't Google.  Easier said than done, I know, but it really messes with your head, as does the waiting for ops and results.  I learned the hard way. Google simple cold like symptoms, and at some point it will come up with lung cancer!!  I guess these days it will come up with COVID-19 too lol!

My condition was diagnosed through a routine mammogram, and I am so grateful we have this. No one could worry more than me, I was born doing it, but I seriously nearly drove myself mad!  It was the lovely ladies on here that helped so much. 

It is only recently I have been able to admit to myself that yes, I did have a brush with cancer. I met a lovely lady in hospital, who was also diagnosed via a routine mammogram, but had a 27mm tumour.  She too didn't have clear margins, so had a second op, and we had the same surgeon, so went through the journey together.  Amazing coincidence was she sold my house 18 months before, and we now do gardening together!  

Please let me know how you get on, sorry for the long response!

Sharon x