Hi everyone, just thought I'd give you an update, as I had my post op assessment today. It was the best possible news I could have had. They took 20 lymph nodes out, none of which had cancer showing. There was no sign of either tumour and no cancer cells in any of the breast tissue. They still want me to have radiotherapy as a precautionary measure and to reduce the risk of cancer coming back. Hope you are all OK. Xx

Hi Pippin24   That's amazing news!  Well done you!  Radiotherapy will be a breeze after everything you've been through.  Do you know how many sessions you will need? 

All good here thanks.  Had a poorly pup for a couple of days but she seems to be much better today.  My last immunotherapy session is scheduled for 21 November - all being well (e.g. bloods are ok and they can find a vein for treatment!) I will be ringing that bell!  

I'm meeting up with the "Moving Forward" ladies on Monday evening for dinner and a catch-up.  I'm looking forward to that.  Am also out to dinner tonight lol. Thank goodness for my PT to help me work it all off!  He's gradually increasing what I do and I am definitely feeling better for it.  Yesterday he introduced light weights and I found out I couldn't quite straighten my left arm directly in front of me!  That was a new one lol.  So I'm working on that in between sessions too. 

Hope everyone is doing well.  

Carol xx

Hi Nedb 

I had a double mastectomy.  For me I had two drains each side and a pump each side so six tubes in total.  Like you my husband had to drain and measure fluid but just once a day.  When my fluid went below 20 for two days they removed drain.  Took 10 days for all 4 drains to come out  xxx 

It seems every trust / surgeon has their own direction so be guided by yours

wishing you well with your recovery 

xx

Hi NGS, so pleased that you got the reassurance that cancer has not spread to the bones, that's fantastic news. Annoying that the letrazole has been causing you issues, I started that this week, so will have to see how it goes. I'm getting nerve pain in my arm pit and down my arm, since having surgery. It is quite tiring  when the pain is there all the time. I'm going to contact macmillan nurse tomorrow, to see if there is any cream I can use to ease it. Where does peripheral neuropathy affect you?  Do you use any cream or take any meds for it? I have a ct scan tomorrow, to check on the lung nodules. I also have to go back for wound check on Wednesday. So annoying as it's only a small section of tummy wound that just won't heal. It's not very nice as it's a gsping hole which has to have dressing inside now. Lucky hubby is willing to do it at home in-between hospital visits

Had a lovely evening out tonight with the kids. We went out for a meal and onto a show. Fairytale of New York, which was Irish  and Christmas songs, plus Irish dancin̈g. So glad I actually got to go. Hope you've had a good weekend. Xx

Hi Pippin,

I'm glad to hear that you were out tonight and I hope that you all enjoyed the show. I hope that all goes well with the CT scan tomorrow and that your wound is healing a bit better, by the time you go to get it re-dressed on Wednesday.

Jolamine xx

Thanks Jolamine, it really was so lovely to be out with the family and the show was great. Just a regular scan to check lung nodules, that showed in first ct scan. Hopefully, they will still be the same. Not so worried now, since finding out all lymph nodes were clear. Will let you know how wound check goes on Wednesday, unfortunately I think it will be a slow process. Hope you enjoyed your weekend. Xx

Hi NGS thank you. I will be going to get mine taken out today but get abit of swelling on the hand in the morning when I wake up but then it goes down. Is that meant to happen. My upper arm underneath it hurts quite abit too. I am.going to.mention it today when I go to get the drain out. 

Hi Pippin,

Here's hoping that the CT doesn't show anything new. Finding out that all lymph nodes were clear must have been a great relief and I know how much that reduces your anxiety. You must be getting pretty fed up with your gaping wound, but I suppose that you just have to remain patient.

We had a good weekend thank you. We went to see an illusionist at the local arts centre on Friday night and it was a very entertaining evening. 

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, I'm not so anxious about getting the ct scan results this time, due to the fact all my lymph nodes were clear. I think this means that the cancer is less likely to have spread. The tummy wound is not very nice, just fortunate that hubby isn't squeamish, so can do the dressing in-between hospital visits. Think it's going to be a very long process unfortunately and I can't get out for my daily walks. Sounds like you had a really good weekend, always nice to go to an entertaining event. Any update on your tilt test appointment?

Hi Pippin,

I now have a date of 18th December for the tilt test - it can't come soon enough!

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, sorry for the late reply, I didn't get a notification, seems to happen sometimes. So pleased to hear that you have an appointment for your tilt test. Really hoping this will finally give you some answers. On my way for my second visit to the hospital this week, this time for wound check. Hoping they might come up with a better option of treatment, as at the moment it isn't improving. I've also git an appointment next week for radiotherapy scan and markings. They said I'll receive my schedule at the appointment and should start a couple of weeks later. A bit of a trek to this hospital, so will be a tiring few weeks. Had some bad news yesterday regarding my dear old mum. She has just been diagnosed with breast cancer and they suggested surgery early December. She doesn't want surgery before Christmas, if at all. She's had several surgeries in the last few tears and at 88 I think she's had enough. As a family, we just felt we were coming out the other side of a difficult time,  only to be pushed back into a new battle. I'm really heartbroken. Xx

Oh Pippin I am so sorry to hear this and truly gutted for you and your family.  As you say you’ve just started to come through the other end of one battle and what a blow to hear this news. 
my thoughts and prayers are with you all 

xxx 

Oh Pippin I am so sorry to hear this and truly gutted for you and your family.  As you say you’ve just started to come through the other end of one battle and what a blow to hear this news. 
my thoughts and prayers are with you all 

xxx 

Thank you, we need all the prayers we can get at the moment. We will get through this, we are a very close family. How are you doing at the moment? Xx