It’s done! Thanks for all the advice. Surgery was straightforward. Lots of codeine afterwards which helped enormously. I was dopey for a few hours then all of a sudden I was back to normal and ready to go home, which I did. Next day I felt so well I went for a fairly long walk in the fine weather. Seriously shocked at how fast I felt better. Consultant came round before and after op to chat through any concerns, before, and to tell me how it went, after. He said the lymph nodes looked clear but couldn’t confirm until after they had been analysed. He was going to see if he could get the results fast so we could meet again sooner rather than later to confirm ongoing treatment. I really hope it is radiotherapy not chemo, but just have to wait.

It feels like this is the start of a new life. I just hope that I can keep the horrid cancer at bay. I’ve been reading books about how diet and lifestyle can help. I’ve been pescatarian for years. My kids are vegan. There seems to be some compelling arguments implicating dairy products in hormone related cancers. Also, lots about increasing consumption of various vegetable, esp. cruciform, etc. Trouble is, apart from eating dairy, I have always been a big raw veg and salad eater. Happy to eat more, but I’m wondering if anybody has any thoughts about diet and lifestyle. When you have a fairly good vegetarian diet and active lifestyle, it feels a bit rotten to get breast cancer anyway., but I’d like to do what I can to help my body fight it.

So glad it went well and really envious that you have a consultant who appears to care for you. I’m not cancer diets as I see no evidence of their effectiveness. So everything in moderation for me; 5 a day, exercise, no alcohol (not difficult has I don’t drink anyway).

i hope the pathology comes back for neg nodes, after all that’s the main thing.

look after yourself x

Hi there! I have sent you a friend request as I think my recent diagnosis might be similar to yours.x

Hi I recently had a mastectomy 19th of dec my decision before hand had a mri and scan which showed it had not spread anywhere the surgeon said he would take out three lymph nodes just to make sure. After surgery I awoke to find out he had taken 19 lymph. Nodes out and just found out they was all clear which was what I had been expecting I now have numbness and am very upset as to why he thought it was necessary to do this I put my trust in him it did not enter my head that he would have taken 19 when he said 3 .I feel that he should have not done that without my permission which I would not have given . I have now asked to see him so he can explain to me why he done it .I was fine about the Breast as I can have a reconstruction but I can’t have my lymph nodes put back. So as a warning to others please make sure they explain what they are doing and not just trust that they are doing the right thing. I know I might sound ungrateful to the people in a worse situation than me but I just can’t help feeling so angry as I now have this for the rest of my life. Xx

Hi June

sorry to hear about your situation but to play devil’s advocate it could be that the surgeon felt your lymph nodes looked or felt abnormal. Hindsight is a great thing however I’m glad you’re getting the chance to meet with him to discuss, hopefully he’ll be able to justify it to you.

take care x

Thank you I will let you know what he said xx

Hi June,

I can fully understand why you are so annoyed, but, as Magpiemaggie said , it is possible that he suspected that something was awry when he saw your nodes.

I had the opposite problem. When I had my lumpectomy, six nodes were removed. A year later I had a double mastectomy  and was told by my surgeon that he would try to test a few nodes, but that he didn't want to remove too many. At the end of the day he removed a fatty lump, but there were no lymph nodes in this.

I was upset about this too, because I still cannot be sure that my lymph nodes on this side are clear.

Kind regards.

Jolamine xx

Really useful post to follow as i am in the same position as gadgetgirl at the start maybe a week or so earlier. Anything else I should ask at my first appt with surgeon tomorrow?

I had a lumpectomy and the removal of 3 sentinel nodes, at the end of January. Following which samples/blood was sent to America to ascertain the likelihood of recurrence. This came back with a score of 12 which was good, as I understand that a score of 24 or more necessitates chemotherapy. As mine was under that score I have to have radiotherapy, starting this week. Can’t wait for it all to be over, have been living under a cloud since the beginning of December. Why does this test have to be done in America? Why is this not available in the UK. It’s the waiting that is hard to take.