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Mastectomy

Annienanny
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I am struggling with my emotions after LB mastectomy in December 2020. I have had previous lumpectomy surgery of same breast in 2013 with radiotherapy treatment so total mastectomy was only option this time.

I am not sure if my low moods are a result of letrozole medication or shock of physical results or both! 

My breast care nurses have referred me for counselling but due to covid demands my appointment is delayed.

Is it just me crying?

  • Hi Annienanny and welcome to the Cancer Chat community.

    It can be very difficult adjusting to life after a mastectomy, both physcially and emotionally, so do be kind to yourself for how you're feeling.

    I'm glad you've brought this up with your breast cancer nurses and hope the counselling, when it begins, will help. In the meantime, I hope this information I've found on the Breast Cancer Now website will prove useful.

    I'm sure some of our members who have been on this journey will offer their support and advice to you soon but if you'd like to talk things through with one of our cancer nurses, do give them a call. They're available on 0808 800 4040, Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m.

    Kind regards,

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline

    Hi Annie

    I had a mastectomy nearly a year ago now and I still cry all the time. Which is why I searched out the forum to find someone who felt the same.

    I did have reconstruction at the same time but it wasn't successful so at the moment I have an expander in which my consultant is going to expand very slowly to hopefully do an implant but as I had to have radiotherpy there is a chance this may not work and it terrifies me because I find it so difficult to.come to terms with.

    Then when I get upset I think I should just be grateful that the cancer has gone which of course I am, but it is so.much more than that to deal with.

    Sorry had a.lot to let out but I guess what I'm saying is I'm a year on and still cry so.dont be so.hard on your self x

  • Offline in reply to Trissie

    Trissie

    I am hoping that counselling and talking to someone who knows what I'm going through will help, unfortunately everything seems to be delayed due to covid 19.

    After talking to breast care nurses they have suggested not taking letrozole for 4 weeks to see if my emotions improve but that will just mean finding alternative medication and hope they suit me better.

    As for reconstruction,  i couldn't have reconstruction at the time as I had previously had cancer in same breast, which included surgery and radiotherapy, so now I have to wait, that could be 2 to 3 years! I'm not sure I can cope for that long.

    I know that surgery removed my cancer but it left me feeling less of a woman, I feel some of me is lost and i won't get ME back.

    I hope your journey is successful and you can continue with your reconstruction as soon as possible. 

    We will get through a lot of tissues.

    Best wishes and friendly hugs. X

     

     

  • Offline in reply to Annienanny

    Hi Annie 

    I can totally relate to all the emotions you are going through. I'm on tamoxifin and hadn't really thought of it affecting my emotions.

    As I think it is just the thought of only having one breast for the rest of my life and never feeling normal.

    But at least we know we are kinda normal as we are both having the same feelings.

    As you said we will get through this.

    Sending you lots of support and hugs x

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