Recovering from Mastectomy

Hi

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted something. Nearly 7 month ago i had my last chemo treatment and nearly 6 month ago i had my mastectomy and lymph node removal.

The recovery has been very slow and i wonder if anybody has experienced similar things. My breast (or lack of it) and under the arm still feels very tight, especially when I stretch my arm. I also still have quite a bit of flab under my arm which I was told originally is fluid and the body will absorb it.

I feel like an old woman most of the times, especially when I have been sitting down for a while. When I start to get up my knees ache and also when I go up the stairs. I have also had to start taking Letrozole. My pelvis area aches and I’m getting a bit fed up and are disappointed that the recovery from the chemo and operation ist taking so long.

I always used to be amazed by women who run for charity after they had chemo. I’m glad when I have a day when my aches are not too bad.

I know I’m doing a lot of moaning but i had to get it off my chest. I also know that things have improved but I never thought that I would take this long.

  • Hi Cilly

     

    I read your post thinking that I could be reading about myself. I was diagnosed last September, finished chemo Jan and had mastectomy in February.with herceptin injections til Dec and letrozole for 10years.

    I've still got tightness in my wound area and swelling, but mine is above the wound. I find it uncomfortable to lie on my side and yes I feel as though I've aged about thirty years.  Some days are better than others.  I do get out for a walk most days doing between 3-5kms at a time and feel better for it.

    I think it's all part of the recovery process...but really doesn't help when you feel so rough.

    I fully expected to feel back to how I was before the diagnosis by now but I think it's going to be a long haul.

    Fingers crossed we feel a lot better soon.

    Feel free to message me.

    Lulu

     

  • Hi Lulu

    Thanks for replying to my post. I’m sorry to hear that you also seem to be having the same problems as me.

    It is amazing how much this whole treatment has taken its toll.

    I went swimming for the first time yesterday with my self altered swimming costume as I do not yet have my swimming prosthesis. That was really enjoyable and I have booked another session for tomorrow.

    i still have a bone density scan and an MRI for my spine and pelvis to come. I was not given the herceptin injections, something I might ask my oncologist about at the next appointment.

    Does the 1959 after your name mean your year of birth? 

    I hope for both of us, that we will be feeling better soon.

    kind regards

    Cilly

     

  • Hi Cilly

     

    How did you guess??bit of a giveaway really.haha.  yep great 60th birthday present.

    Mine is her2positve which is why I'm having herceptin injections.

    I'd love to go swimming again, but this bod is not going in our local swimming pool as it is at the local high school where I work!!! Sight for sore eyes for the kids.

    It's strange how different authorities do things differently..I've not been offered an MRI fir spine and pelvis....but did have a CT scan at the begining.  I'm getting fitted for my prosthesis on Thursday...cannot wait. And then dexa scan on Monday.

    Lulu

  • Hi Lulu

    That is so weird. I thought the same last year as I turned 60. A birthday present I could have done without.

    My Cancer is her2 positive as well. Strange that I’ve not been told about those injections. 

    The reason why I am having an MRI for my spine and pelvis is because of the pain in my pelvis and apparently the spine and pelvis is done in one MRI. I also had a full body bone scan to make sure that the cancer has not spread anywhere else. Luckily I’ve been told that there is no sign that it has spread. I had to ask for all of those scans to be done which is really annoying. It should be standard treatment. 

    Is there no other place where you can go swimming?

    Cilly

     

  • Hi Cilly

    We live in a small village so it's quite a trek to the next nearest which I can do without...I'll just carry on with the walking.  Living here is great as even when I was shielding I could get out for walks across the fields at the bottom of the road and not see a soul....but has it's downsides too...an hours journey to the hospital every time ..but that's ok....my husband says "it's a day out"

    I'm surprised you've not been given herceptin too, but like I said before .. different authorities so who knows.

    Definitely got mood swings with the letrozole, not bad ones...just tearful...which is strange as I didn't cry at all until after all the chemo and the op was over.  But my girls are coming home this weekend...first time since February  ..really looking forward to it

    Lulu

  • Hi Lulu

    That sounds great Living in a small village. I’m in London and this lockdown has really been a time to spot all the idiots who are not taking this pandemic seriously.

    i also have been doing lots of walking but I find my knees ache and I have always preferred swimming to walking.

    It’s great that your daughters are coming to visit. I’m going to visit mine and my granddaughter in a couple of weeks. 

    I’ve noticed that I seem to lose my temper quite easily which might be the Letrozole otherwise I have not yet had too many other side effects like some people have described. Hopefully it will stay that way.

    Take care

    Cilly

     

  • Hi Cilly

    How are you doing now?

    I don't feel much different...still swollen and stiff under arm... hopefully will feel better in the near future.

    My lovely girls were home for a week and we had a wonderful time...didn't do much but spent so much time together which is what it's all about really.  How about you...have you managed to see your daughter and granddaughter yet...hope you have.

    Received my proper prosthesis....feels so much better than the softies but gosh it is heavy....feels ok when wearing it but when you take it off...didn't realise boobs weighed so much. Haha...mind you I suppose it depends on how big they were in the first place....no wonder I lost so much weight once I'd had the mastectomy.

    Back to work on Tuesday....feel a bit anxious but they have got systems in place so I'm not going to pre-judge.

    Hope everything is ok with you 

    Take care

    Lulu

  • Hi Lulu

    Same here. Still have a wobbly lump under my arm and feel stiff and tight around my chest. The real prosthesis is much better than the soft one and it wobbles like a real breast. I remember when I went to the hospital to pick mine up. It was quite surreal. I walked home with a fake breast and fake nipples in my bag and thought,‘ I hope nobody robs me, or they will be in for a shock. 

    I went to see my daughter and granddaughter which was nice. We did some baking together. I also enjoy my swimming.

    I’ve had a bone density scan and it showed up that I have Osteopenia. That’s probably because of the Letrozole Tablets. In September I’m going to get my first Zometa injection. It’s never ending. My knees still ache  when I’ve been sitting down for a long time otherwise I’m ok. 

    Hope work will not be too stressful for you. Wish you luck.

    Take care

    Cilly