Hi BigJean,

A very warm welcome to our forum, although I'm sorry for the reason you've joined. I hope that your results on Tuesday can help to put your mind at rest. Even if the news is not so good, it helps to know what the next moves are and puts a more positive slant on things.

I suspect that the pain in your back is consequential to your diagnosis. We always seem to think the worst and develop all sorts of additional symptoms. In most cases this seems to be due to stress.

I have lost my mum to breast cancer and, have had 2 bouts myself within the past 9 years. Waiting for results is always one of the most stressful times of a cancer journey. Try to keep yourself distracted by other pursuits and do your best to stay away from Google. The fact that you are healthy and have never smoked, should stand you in good stead with any treatment needed.

Do please keep in touch and let us know how you get on on Tuesday. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine ,

thank you for your kind words . I’m so sorry you lost your mum and you going through it twice . I am not going to let it get me down just back from a big walk with my family and I feel great . That’s the weird thing I don’t feel sick at all . 

I’ll let you know how I get on on Tuesday but I am ready to fight 

talk soon xx

Hi swiperbaby

i know I have to have chemo and radiotherapy but yes like you thought resullts would be to say they took it all out. I know with lumpectomy they have to have clear margins etc but surely there is no clear margin with my op?

i stopped the pain relief when I came out of hospital thinking I was ok haha needless to say by the next day I was popping the pills on a regular basis. I’m just taking paracetamol and ibrofren and it seems to be doing the trick. The nerve pain is a shocker when it happens. I’ve actuallt been known to let out a little yelp  

when do you get your results? Mine is 5th June x 

with regards to driving I was told when I can do an emergency stop and be in control of the car. My mom had a lumpectomy and waited a week and was ok to drive but I think it’s the node clearance that seems to be worse. I was hoping to do short journeys by end of this week x 

take care x

Hello

my breast nurse said the same thing when you can do emergency stop  I drove day 6 after lumpectomy but this s different thing as I’m having tightening down inside of arm I need to do more physio I know here doing it now and it’s hurting when I push the stretch but if I don’t do it I’ll end up with poor range of movement    I plan to drive in a few days I’m heading for a walk now 

My margins ended up terrible this time and I’ve been told I need mastectomy my nodes were clear I have one badie but after node clearance the rest were good thank god I was more worried about this I’ll get over the mastectomy now 

Regards s

Hi MeJules,

You've caught me out with this question. It's been so long since I had my mastectomies that I cannot honestly remember. If I'm  correct, all post-op tissue is sent to pathology and, is again analysed to ensure that it concurs with your biopsy results and to see that the entire tumour has been removed. If any lymph nodes are removed at the same time, this is when you'll find out if any more are infected.

I can recall getting a lot of details about my lumpectomy, but not much at all about my mastectomies. Perhaps someone else can answer this for us?

I am sure that you will be glad to get your drain removed tomorrow. I still have discomfort in my arm and underarm after all this time. I think that most of us do, but we can cope with it.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Swiperbaby,

I was referred to a physiotherapist after I came home following my lumpectomy, but left to my own devices following my double mastectomy. It certainly helped me to see the physio and, I didn't need to attend for long.

The nerve pain can certainly stop you in your tracks, but watch out for the side-effects of Gabapentin. I had to stop it when I found myself getting forgetful and having difficulty in concentration.

As far as I know, you can drive as soon as you can safely do an emergency stop. However, you are possibly best to confirm with your consultant, preferably in writing, that you are safe to do so, as we live in a very litigous society.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi jolamine

no drain out today. They decided to leave it in til Friday as still too much coming out. 

I asked about what results I will get next Wednesday and the cancer nurse said in effect it should be it’s all out and how many lymph nodes were infected. The less nodes affected the less chance of reoccurrence so I’m hoping it’s low. Also they will be able to say if it there were precancerous cells in the chest wall , what grade and what stage. Not going to lie thought it would only be good news hereonin and start the chemo/radiotherapy so bit of a reality check for me. Just got to wait for results next Wednesday and take it from there . 

Hope you are ok x 

Hi Mejules,

I'm sorry to hear that you have to wait until Friday to get your drain out. I know that this is disappointing when you were expecting it out today, but you will probably benefit from keeping it in for a few more days, if there is still a lot of fluid coming out.

I'm glad that you asked the nurse what to expect of your results next Wednesday. It is always wise to ask your care team about anything you don't understand.

Here's hoping that it is all good news for you then.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi everyone 

Thought I would let you know that I started Chemo today, my wound still isn’t healed but we decided we needed to get going otherwise delaying it further could impact on the outcome for the cancer. 

Bigjean, my onco said today that mine is treatable and curable... thought I would let you know as it is language they would use.

I have had a really long sleep, and I’ve got a lot of tablets to take and I have to do some injections for 5 days starting Thursday, not really looking forward to that but needs must. And regular visits to the nurse to have my dressing changed. 

How did the head shave go? 

Take care.

WL

Hi Woolylamb,

I'm glad to hear that you are on your way at last. Here's hoping that your wound heals up soon.

I hope that all goes well with your chemo and that you don't have the same bother as BigJean had to start with. Be good to yourself and rest/sleep when you need to.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

hi WL 

good news you have started your chemo And good to hear your cancer is both treatable and curable.

hope your wound heals quickly and chemo doesn’t swipe you off your feet too much me lovely x

take it easy and take care of you x

Hi WL, 

great to hear you have started on your treatment. 

Thank you for your words of encouragement too that your oncologist said . 

I tool the plunge and got my hair shaved, I felt much more in control as it was very upsetting as it had started to come out quite a lot over the weekend. It feels a bit weird with the hair gone but hey it will grow back . 

Take as much anti sickness tablets as you need and get plenty of rest and drink lots of water. 

Take care of yourself. 

Xxxxxx

Hi WL, 

great to hear you have started on your treatment. 

Thank you for your words of encouragement too that your oncologist said . 

I tool the plunge and got my hair shaved, I felt much more in control as it was very upsetting as it had started to come out quite a lot over the weekend. It feels a bit weird with the hair gone but hey it will grow back . 

Take as much anti sickness tablets as you need and get plenty of rest and drink lots of water. 

Take care of yourself. 

Xxxxxx

Hi big jean

i was thinking ahead about when my chemo journey starts if to shave and take control rather than wait and after reading your journey I think I will follow your choice. I hope you are ok and resting x

take care 

Hi Mejules , 

I’m so glad I did it . I thought I would have been upset but I wasn’t my Hairdresser did it for me , my husband was there with us we ended up having a good laugh ( he told me it took years off me !! ) . 

The tiredness has hit me big time but am feeling really good . 

Hope you are keeping well too and resting. 

Take care xxxx

Hi big jean

That sounds - not sure this is the right word -  lovely and I would likely my partner and kids there too. To be part of the journey. I am toying with the idea of going quite short now I’m readiness for the shave.

glad you are not feeling too bad albeit very tired x 

take care

Hi BigJean,

I'm glad to hear that you have done the deed and that you feel good about it. It's almost like taking ownership and control back over your own body, rather than leaving it to fall out as and when it likes.

I'm glad that your hubby went along to the hairdressers with you and that you had a good laugh about it all. Sorry to hear about the tiredness - that's one thing that I haven't found a cure for. Just give in to your body's needs and rest/sleep whenever you need to.

Thinking of you.

Jolamine xx

Hi Mejules , 

i still have a bit of “stubble “ , so not too drastic! 

It was good to have my husband there as support even though he did try to put me off doing it . 

Best of luck with yours and let me know how it goes  

j xx

Hi Jolamine, 

yes im v glad I did it now and your are right I feel much more in control. 

I can cope with the tiredness just about it’s hard to have to give in to my body’s telling me I need rest when I never sit still !! But it could be worse and I’m thankful I’m able to rest when I need to . 

Thank you as always for your lovely message. 

Hope all well with you 

j xxx

Hi BigJean

Notices you mentioned tiredness, one of the tablets I was given I was recommended to take in the evening rather than the morning asnit causes drowsiness, just wondering whether that is something to talk to them about....bit of a long shot.

i had my head shaved today, no emotion at all which I was surprised about.

Touch wood, the only side effect I have had is heartburn, so I am knocking peppermint tea back at the minute. Give myself my first injection today so not sure what impact it will have.

Hope all is well with you.

WL

Hi Woolylamb,

I'm glad to hear that  the head shaving went without a hitch today and, that it wasn't too emotional for you.

It's great to hear that heartburn is your only problem at the moment. Here's hoping that the rest of your treatment is plain sailing too.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi WL , 

thank you for your advice re the tablet for tiredness I will check with them this week when I am there . Can’t believe this Friday I’ll be having my 3rd session of chemo! Weeks are flying by !!

im so glad you got your head shaved and you weren’t emotional it feels good to be in control. 

Hope you are keeping well and had a nice weekend. 

I went to my brother in laws 40 th was very self conscious about wearing the wig and was more worried if anyone said anything!!! 

I don’t think anyone noticed ( well if they did they didn’t say anything!!) anyway had a good night . 

Take care 

j xxx

I ha£ all my hair shaved off too as it fell out in clumps I did try the cool cap could not bear the ice cold lol it grew back I’m waiting fo4 another Brest tissue operation on Tuesday I’m praying he gets it all don’t want a 3rd operation the surgeon said it might require 3 operations trying to stay positive I’m on daltrapan injections only one more tomorrow morning I go into hospital 2pm tomorrow operation Tuesday morning I’m not worried about chemo just get past this cancer jean x