Hi butterflywing

Firstly I'm so sorry to hear of your diagnosis.  I went through something similar in 2023.  I found a lump and was referred to the breast unit and it was a whirlwind from there once the biopsy results came back positive.  I was convinced it was a cyst (as I'd had one before in the same location) so didn't take anyone with me for the results appointment.  Needless to say it was a bit of a shock.  Mine was about 3cm in the end but it was triple negative (non-hormonal) with no real understanding of how it happened as it doesn't run in the family. 

Once the results came back, follow-up appointments were very rapid and a treatment plan was soon in place.  I had 6 rounds of chemo, 7 rounds of immunotherapy followed by a lumpectomy (which by the time the chemo had finished, they couldn't find any cancerous cells so took tissue to make a clear margin).  A couple of months after the surgery I had 9 rounds of radiotherapy.  I'm happy to say I've been clear now for just over a year and life is very much back to "normal".  

I know it's scary but once the diagnosis is confirmed, you will be offered so much support from your breast cancer nurses, oncologist and treatment team you won't feel alone.  Sadly there are lots of ladies on here that will have been through something similar, and they will all support you too.  

Good luck with your biopsy results.  It sounds like it's been caught early as it is a small lump, so don't think the worst yet.  Just listen to your consultant and the professionals but don't be afraid to ask questions. 

Am here if you need to talk.

Carol 

Hi Carol ,

Thanks for replying .. My head is all over the place ! One minute I'm relatively positive  then something hits me and I start to believe I'm going to be given the worst news possible and I won't be here to see my grandchildren grow up . I worry I'm going to loose my hair ( stupid I know considering the bigger picture ) but every thing seems so massive at the minute.  I'm up and down like a yoyo with a big black cloud of fear hanging over me . 

Hi Jolamine

Thankyou for your message 

As far as I know the operation went well . Didn't go down till 4.30 yesterday so was a long day but was home by 9 which was nice .

Don't feel sore at all today ( at the minute ) and feel really well so am.hoping that's normal and not me just on a post op high !  xx

Hi B!

So glad it all went well and you are free from pain this morning! Well done you! All the very best

V x

Hi V

Sorry its taken me a while to reply , I didn't have my op till 4.30 yesterday and.got home at 9pm .

Op went well and I'm relatively pain free and up and about today  infact I'm probably in danger of doing too much if I'm not careful !

The op was no where near as bad as I thought it would be , one minute I was awake talking to the anesthetist about mushrooms the next I was waking up in recovery ! 

Keeping busy with the garden sounds like a good distraction  but take care of you first . Your what's important!!

Sending you lots of love ️ xx 

• I am so pleased you are feeling better about it now.So we are both now going to see what comes next .I shall take deep breaths and carry on knowing that the group will be there to help 

Thanks B you take care too - you're going to be busy with all those arm exercises! ️ I recall how important they were when I had a lumpectomy, they certainly prevented any swelling. 

Your email was reassuring, as am starting to get a bit nervous now. Keep telling myself it'll be okay, but will celebrate once it's all over on Thursday!

Sorry you had a long wait for your op, it certainly seems the hanging around is the hardest!

Keep us posted on your progress...

Love and blessings 

V xx

Hi V 

Have done the exercises but also managing to use my arm quite a bit to. Hubby has washed my hair and I've managed to dry it by holding the dryer and keeping my elbow resting on my knee so I'm not holding all the weight .

I've managed to get dressed and am going out for a walk shortly  .

Try not to worry about the op , it really was alot easier than I imagined  ( easy to say I know.) 

Please keep messaging if you want to chat .

Sending you love and calming prayers   ️  xxx

You are so sweet B! Am so impressed you are doing so very well, it gives me hope as I live alone and don't have live in help. I think the getting dressed bit was a major concern of mine, but sounds as if you are doing exceptionally well.

I pray that you continue to go from strength to strength now, bless you!

I have a nuclear lymph node scan tomorrow - it's all go isn't it?

Love and more blessings 

V xx

Hi V 

It definitely is but going to nucleur will help pass the time . I had to go to nucleur yesterday as well,  I didn't have a scan just the tracer dye injected , I think my surgeon used  probe during surgery to find the radioactive lymph nodes .

Dressing wise I've put a normal jumper on today  . My friend who is a nurse just told me to put operated side arm in first so I don't have to raise arm above my head and then put the rest on  and do it in reverse when I take it off .

Hopefully you will find day to day tasks easier than you anticipate.

I'm taking ibuprofen every 4 hours in the hope it eases or prevents swelling  but so far haven't needed the codeine the hospital gave me.

Keep messaging , always here for you xxx

Oh yes,I think it's the same for me, just assumed it was a scan! Thank you so much for your positive reassurance about the dressing bit. Am sure it will be easier than I imagine.

Amazing that Ibuprofen is all that you need today, that is great

Will always be here for you too!

V xx

If its just the injection then that was easy , 5 minutes and it was done ..Longest bit was waiting for a porter to take me back to daycare .

I stayed in my own clothes till about half an hour before the op which I thought was nice and I wasn't put in a bed on a ward  I sat in a room with other ladies due to have the same or similar op that day so that was nice . Made it feel more relaxed somehow xx

If its just the injection then that was easy , 5 minutes and it was done ..Longest bit was waiting for a porter to take me back to daycare .

I stayed in my own clothes till about half an hour before the op which I thought was nice and I wasn't put in a bed on a ward  I sat in a room with other ladies due to have the same or similar op that day so that was nice . Made it feel more relaxed somehow xx

Oh wow this is really helpful bless you, its so hard to know what to expect and all the paperwork doesn't really help put it into perspective but you have! I've checked the paperwork again and I am having the injection tomorrow afternoon followed by a CT scan so am not worried about that. Will just have to wait a good two hours from the tracer before the CT scan, but it sounds like you had the tracer and your op on the same day?

I may be put in a bed on a ward on Thursday because I am staying over for one night, but maybe the bed will be allocated afterwards, who knows, either way I know the team in my local BC clinic are lovely so it will be okay...

Just one question, were you able to take your mobile phone in with you? They say no valuables so am not sure if mobiles can be kept safe or not. From the paperwork it doesn't sound like it!

Love and virtual hugs

V xx

Yes I took my mobile in ( so did all the other ladies) . I even charged mine in a plug socket while I was there .

We were told no valuables but that didn't include mobiles . I think its more laptops etc.

I had my tracer dye put in at 11.15 and op at 4.30 ish .One lady had her tracer dye in and her op an hour later  xx

It would seem strange to be without my mobile, so that sounds good! If I cant sleep, am planning to watch Vera on catchup with headphones in! :)

Ah well, if the tracer is tomorrow perhaps I shall have an early op on Thursday - we shall see!

V xx

Wouldn't surprise me if you weren't down for a morning op if your having your tracer tomorrow. 

I'd taken my headphones but forgot I had them !

What time do you have to be at the hospital for on Thursday? xx

7.00 am! xx

Same time as me .. You may well be a morning op x

I shall know soon enough as the time seems to be rushing by. How are you doing? Feeling tired or okay?

Try not to do too much too soon will you?

V xx

Time always seems to go faster when you don't want something to arrive .

I'm doing ok , better than I expected to be honest . I went out this morning for a walk but have just sat in my pjs and watched a film this afternoon.  I've made lunch and washed up etc.  I'm just being careful not to lift anything heavy or to over stretch my arm .

What time is your appointment tomorrow ? x

Good heavens that is such good progress and just shows how modern medicine has come on in leaps and bounds! 21 years ago I was in hospital after a bilateral lumpectomy for three days and had drains and bottles that had to be cleared before I could go home. Now look at you, just one day after your op!!!

Appointment is 2.15 for the dye and 4.15pm for the scan..

Sleep well!

V x

Hi Butterflywing,

I am delighted to hear that all went well with your op. It sounds as if you are already making good progress, when you managed a walk today and have been able to do some of your exercises already. Just give yourself time to recover and don't overdo things. Did they say when your pathology results will be back?

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx