Hello kirstymarie

I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling so anxious ahead of your surgery. Many women express concerns about having a lumpectomy rather than a mastectomy but there are many women who have excellent outcomes without the need to remove the breast completely. 

I'm going to tag in laraj to my reply to you. I know that Lara underwent surgery and a full node clearance last year and is now on the other side of her treatment. She often posts to share her experiences with other women so I'm hoping she'll see my tag and pop by to say Hello! 

If you'd like to talk things through with one of our nurses for some advice and support you're welcome to call them on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. I know they will be happy to try and address some of your concerns and offer some reassurance. 

Sending you my best wishes for your surgery and recovery. 

Jenn
Cancer Chat moderator 

Jenn 

thank you I’d love to chat with Kirsty Marie and share my experience xx 

Kirsty 

I was told a lumpectomy and node biopsy that’s what I had , but I had the auxiliary’s node clearance in a seperate operation 2 weeks later xx 

whst date is your op ? Xx 

Oh mines both on the 29th September xx

Oh mines both on the 29th September xx

Great that you are having it together are you having the node biopsy or are they removing all the lymph nodes full clearance xx 

With the full clearance you will have drains in to come home it’s still ok you can get little bags to hold these so you are able to get up and walk about , it didn’t stop me going out I just put a dress over the top and off I went , you will be ok it sounds scary but it goes very well I promise you xx 

will you be having any treatment? Chemo radio or hormone therapy? 
xxx 

Iv defo gotta have radiotherapy and depending on how many lymph nodes have cancer then maybe chemo xx

Sounds very similar to me 

but lucky I skipped chemo went through all the emotions bought wigs spent a fortune 

but I requested the Oncotype DX test to be sure xx 

What about any tablets hun , tamoxifen ?? 

I started these in November you are a lot younger than me I’m 49 xx but peri menapausal xx 

Was told I may be going on some xx thank you for all you information hun it’s settled my nerves x

Kirsty 

I’m always here to chat or help lovely anything you want to ask , the ladies here helped me so much around my time , I never felt alone as they had been there before me and I could ask honest opinions and not text book .

one year on I feel like it never happened honestly you will be the same things soon get back to normal xx 

Kirsty 

I’m always here to chat or help lovely anything you want to ask , the ladies here helped me so much around my time , I never felt alone as they had been there before me and I could ask honest opinions and not text book .

one year on I feel like it never happened honestly you will be the same things soon get back to normal xx 

:) xx

I’ve recently been diagnosed with the same cancer as you and just had a full mastectomy and node clearance 

Oh really. How are you doing hun? There giving me a lumpectomy which I didn’t expect. X

I’m getting there slowly thank you, I was told initially I was going to have lumpectomy but doc recommended mastectomy after mri scan.. have you had mri x

Oh really. I had mri and CT scan both clear hun. What was on your mri if you don’t mind me asking. Glad you’re getting there slowly I’m *** surgery next week. Never been put under :/ x

That’s fantastic yours were clear.. my initial scans etc showed the tumour was 3 cm but mri measured it 7cm plus alot

of lymph node involvement so that’s why my treatment plan changed so quickly. 
I was sooo nervous to be put to sleep but honestly you’re back awake before you realise what’s gone on. My recovery has been slow as I had drains etc for the first 2 weeks and have had infections but I had a massive op as basically my whole boob and nodes were riddled if you know what I mean xx

Sending love hun xx

Thank you .. I have my first oncology appointment this morning so a bit nervous for that .. is there an app for these chat groups to make them easier to access xx

I just get emails when someone reply’s hun x no app I don’t think x

Rach 

sending you good wishes for your oncologist appointment today hope it goes well xx love Lara x