Hi,

I am new to the group and BC. I was diagnosed in July. I had  a partial mastectomy with reconstruction 2 weeks ago. Yesterday I went back for the results only to be told that my margins weren’t all clear and I have to go back in on Friday for another op to remove more tissue. I’m also waiting for results of Oncotype test so decide what my treatment plan is. I haven’t been frightened or fazed by anything so far but yesterday I came away really *** off! My wound has just healed and now they are going to re open it. But hey ho. I’m 48 and like you have always been healthy and am crap at being ill. I do hope you don’t become down beat x

Hi Cazrosie - I am currently being offered a lumpectomy (assume same as partial mastectomy) or a mastectomy + reconstruction for a 3.5cm globular tumour. With the lumpectomy they indicated I would go from a B to an A cupsize so offered me a breast reduction on the good side. Size is important to me so I would rather go for a reconstruction to get symetry and also avoid touching the good breast? Are you happy to tell me about your situation? Did you have the same type of cancer? How much of the breast did they have to take? What type of reconstruction did you have (via liposuction or LIDAP)? Di they do the reconstruction at the same time or later after radiotherapy? I am sorry your margins were not clear - did you go for a further lumpectomy? - they suggested that this may well be the case with me due to the globular cancer type that I have. Were you - are you happy with your results? I do hope all went well with you after this post - best wishes Karen

Hi Karen,

Firstly I'm sorry you have joined this club but hopefully the support you can get from this group will help. So I also had a 3.5cm lobular tumour. My boobs were only a B cup too, so not huge. I would say my reconstructed boob is smaller but think it's only really me that notices. Boob tubes are harder to wear these days as tend to fall down on the smaller side :laugh:

I would say they took away a third of my breast in surgery, then used a LIDAP at the time of the surgery to reconstruct. I managed to keep my nipple.  I do have a huge scar and at the time looked like I'd been in a fight with a shark but it has faded really well and I'm actually really proud of my scar. It runs from under my boob, around my side and onto my back. When my margins weren't clear, it was along the bottom section so they just took the remaining breast tissue away, in that area, in another op. I was never in over night and recovered pretty quickly.

2 years down the line, my scar has faded, my breast is not the same shape as it ever was but I'm not that worried. It does have numb areas and you get the sensation of pins and needles when you press it and tingles in your back area! I do have to ask them to be more gentle on that side when I go for my mammograms. But I'm still alive and as far as I am aware, I am now cancer free! So I am grateful for that and can live with a slightly odd shaped breast! Feel free to message me if you want to chat more

Caroline x

Hi Caroline,

I'm still here (though not stalking), reading your last post/s. From the beginning till now, I have been in awe of your trio. Everytime I read, it gives me hope.

Christine, Sam, are you cancer free too?

Much love to all xxx :love:

Vee xxx

Hi Carosie - thanks for your reply - so glad you are happy with your result. I don't know if I am a bit de- sensitised - I haven't felt that I am likely to die - so I guess I have been quite focused on getting the most pleasing visual outcome - over the number of ops/duraction to achieve it. Interesting that you had a lumpectomy with plastic surgery - I was not offered this option - and was told that it wasn't possible - it's not until I read literature that I realised it was - and that I think it is just not available at my centre. I have asked for a 2nd opinion at a different centre that does both - so I get fuller info? do you know of any reasons why someone would not qualify for this? Did you consider having lipofilling rather than LIDAP? If not was this because of how much you had to have removed? Interesting that you had plastic surgery at time of lumpectomy - I wondered whether this would be delayed due to needing radiotherapy and that radiotherapy can shrink your tissues - not sure if they over compensate on size to allow for shrinking? Did you have radiotherapy? If so did you get shrinkage? Also did you get any appearances/colour changes in skin or tissue? do you always get a scar with LIDAP - or does it depend on how much they take? Do you ever wish you had taken a different path. So kind of you to offer your info - I am very grateful - best wishes Karen

Hi Karen,

So, just to double check we are talking about the same procedure. I had what is called a Latissimus Dorsi Flap. This is where they flap a piece of tissue/muscle over from your back. I think most lobular breast cancer results in having to have a mastectomy. My surgeon specialised in the surgery I had so she didn't really give me a choice.  They did it at the same time as my breast surgery as it involves flapping a piece of muscle/tissue over from your back, into the breast. I did have radiotherapy but it didn't seem to affect it. It looks like a normal breast but not as rounded. My nipple is slightly pulled in too. My scar is pretty large as it is a major operation but I was very good at putting bio oil on, which has meant it has faded massively. 
And like you - I didn't really think I was likely to die from my cancer at the time I was having treatment. But I found after everything had finished, then my brain started to process it and I did struggle for quite a few months as normality has changed.

I think it would maybe depend if you have a surgeon who is confident at doing this type of surgery. I was warned that if they couldn't get my margins clear then I would need a mastectomy but to be honest, I wasn't worried about losing the breast. 
x

Vee, I love the fact you are stalking really :laugh::wink:

Hi girls, our number is increasing, I see!

i did write one of my usual long missives a couple of days ago, taking the best part of half an hour, or even more, then I tried to correct a typo, everything turned blue and when I tried to get it back to normal it disappeared and nothing I tried could get it back!

This is an abridged version. 

Welcome back Superwoman, I'm glad you are back with us, still live. Why were your legs so bruised? I know nothing of the surgery you've been through except what you have told us, which is very little, and I have been in awe of your retelling the stories with so much humour. 
Caroline, I knew you would be able to give more information to Vee, than I could, and Sam can add to that. I see you have another follower needing your information and advice, I know you will be able to help her. 
 I'm also glad that you have come through your period of adjustment post treatment and sound very positive again. I bet your family are glad to have you back!  Is your niece still with you? How is she doing?

Vee, reading your other posts I can see you belong to this group. You are treating your present situation with exactly the right amount of bloody mindedness and disrespect that the disease requires.  Good on yer! I hope things start moving come the 14th.  The waiting for action is the worst part of this condition.

Hi Karen, hope you are getting all the info you need to help make your decisions about treatment.

To the other ladies and lurkers :) all good wishes.

Now I have a painting to get back to!

lots of love,

Christine xxx

Hello lovelies!!

Christine - Ahh yes, and yep we are growing (loving the 'we' sound) steadily. I know I belong in this group, I just needed one of you to acknowledge it! My prayers have not gone unnoticed x

Caroline - you won't need a restraining order, but you may just regret that stalking bit. I got me a shiny brand new set of BC buddies who all think the same. (sorry for making you sound like false teeth!). :laugh:

Sam - Even though we will gradually return to our lives pre cancer days, I will always have time for you all my lovelies. You have answered some of my initial worries, but I still have a few things to ask, when I start my treatment. (you don't get off that easy). 

Karen - I'm not sure how to approach things as yet, but I'm sure we will share a word or two about our experiences along the way. Although, the ladies here are exceptional and on point, so I probably won't bring anything new to the table. (I'm here for the beer really).

Im only like this cos I've not started my treatment and not sure of how it will affect me, so I'm getting it "all out there" now. Treatment might just bring me down a few pegs eh? Who knows, it might, I say MIGHT make me worse than I freakin well am now! (Oh Lord help us do I hear?)

Who needs an apple a day to keep the Dr away when I have the power of 3/4/5/6 and counting eh? 

Serve yourselves right. That's what you get for being so nice and understanding :laugh:

Anyhoo, take care lovelies x

Big hugs and much love xxx :love:

Vee (unleashed) x

Hello lovelies!!

Christine - Ahh yes, and yep we are growing (loving the 'we' sound) steadily. I know I belong in this group, I just needed one of you to acknowledge it! My prayers have not gone unnoticed x

Caroline - you won't need a restraining order, but you may just regret that stalking bit. I got me a shiny brand new set of BC buddies who all think the same. (sorry for making you sound like false teeth!). :laugh:

Sam - Even though we will gradually return to our lives pre cancer days, I will always have time for you all my lovelies. You have answered some of my initial worries, but I still have a few things to ask, when I start my treatment. (you don't get off that easy). 

Karen - I'm not sure how to approach things as yet, but I'm sure we will share a word or two about our experiences along the way. Although, the ladies here are exceptional and on point, so I probably won't bring anything new to the table. (I'm here for the beer really).

Im only like this cos I've not started my treatment and not sure of how it will affect me, so I'm getting it "all out there" now. Treatment might just bring me down a few pegs eh? Who knows, it might, I say MIGHT make me worse than I freakin well am now! (Oh Lord help us do I hear?)

Who needs an apple a day to keep the Dr away when I have the power of 3/4/5/6 and counting eh? 

Serve yourselves right. That's what you get for being so nice and understanding :laugh:

Anyhoo, take care lovelies x

Big hugs and much love xxx :love:

Vee (unleashed) x

Hi again Vee,

Yep am still cancer free.  Just trying to get blood tests organised to see if I can stop one of the longer term treatments that I have (zolodex to dry up my ovaries)...will I officially have shrunken ovaries or not I wonder???

You're the part of the bestest group on this site now you know!  Well done to you, pity its all down to us having blummin (andf I'd swear if I could) cancer!!

I'm the sort of person who isn't generally afraid of anything ( well only of cleaning and hard work) but I did find, as I generally do, that information is POWER!!  I did all I could (within reason as you could drive yourself mad) to find out what I could from others who had gone through what I was due to do so, but also bore in mind that we are all individual and therefore react differently. What is is they say plan for the worst and expect the best? I remained optimistic throughout and therefore everything was fine...well, that's my logic anyway and I'm sticking with it, flawed though it may be.

Being called nice and understanding is certainly a first for me, thanks (I think??).

Sam x

Hi Vee,

Just wishing you all the best for today. Please let us know how you get on.

Christine xxx

Hi Christine, Caroline & Sam,

Hope you are all ok and behaving yourselves? Thank you for remembering today x

The result of the 2nd biopsy didn't reveal anything sinister. Just breast tissue, all is 'normal' I hear. Huh! I think I can safely say I'm anything but normal :laugh:

So 25th Jan, I see Oncology to sign chemo consent form, have picc line put in, and have a chat about possible hair loss, nausea, etc...

BCN said chemo usually starts 2 wks after 25th Jan. It's all of a sudden becoming very real and I must say a little scary. 

Take care ladies

Much love

Vee xxx

Hi Vee,

that is great news. Sam is your lady to give you the low down on chemo. But we are here to support! 
Well done on today xx

Morning ladies,

I hope all is well with you. 

I forgot to mention that an MRI was booked on the 14th Jan, which I didn't expect to hear from them for at least 1-2 weeks away. However, on 17th Jan, I got a short notice cancellation, who asked me to attend the same day. After the MRI, I asked the radiographer how long the results will be. He told me it wouldn't be long. 

I missed 2 calls from the hospital yesterday, as I was shattered through not sleeping properly the night  before. I did call the hospital back on the number they called me on, but it comes back as invalid. I'm worried and anxious as to why the hospital would call me 4 days after a scan if it wasn't urgent. On the other hand, the hospital didn't leave a message for me to contact them! As its the weekend, I doubt I'll hear anything until Monday. Maybe it was something to do with my Oncology app on 25th Jan. Who knows?

Take care ladies 

Much love

Vee xx

Hi Vee, 

I work in a hospital and know that the number that they call out on isn't one you can redial. Maybe give a call to your bcn and ask if they know anything about the missed call. And like you said, if it was urgent they would have maybe left a message with a number you could call back. 
Caroline xx

Hi Vee,

Hoping all goes well today,

Christine xxx

Hi Christine x

Hope all is well with you 

Thank you

Vee xx

Hi Vee

Long time no hear!  How are you and what is happening?

This isn't a demand for info if you don't want to discuss it, I'm just a bit worried about our new friend.

love

Christine xxx

Hey Christine, ladies, 

I thought you had forgotten about me?

How is everyone getting on? I've had a lot going on. Lots of appointments. 

I've had my first treatment. My Chemo was originally for an hour, but I had to have a cannula in the back of my hand. Because of this, it lasted 2 hours. (All explained below).

I was supposed to have a port fitted in my inner upper left arm, as the lump is on my right and the nurse wanted to steer away from the breast where I might need an op to remove sentinel nodes. After 4 attempts, the nurse apologised and said she would have to try the right arm, and she still couldn't get it in. I ended up with 2 badly bruised arms and nowt to show for it. The nurse ordered a chest port, which  should be fitted soon (I hope ) in time for my next round.

All went well after all Chemo was administered, I didn't feel a thing. While waiting for my hubby to pick me up, I felt an immense wave of sickness threatening to splurge out and embarass me in front of all the new found friendly crew (patients and nurses) I'd met and warmed to. But I held it in like a good-un. Everyone was asking "are you alright Vee"? I didnt turn around when I headed for the door on my departure, I could only raise my my hand above my head for a quick wave. 

By the time I got home, I felt so sick, I only had some water, put my pj's on and crawled into bed, and there I stayed until my bladder could take no more. I didn't even wash the conditioner out from having the cold cap. The nausea has continued since  Chemo, but not as bad. Today, I actually felt somewhat human enough to take hubby to dialysis, put washing on after  changing all bed linen, put dried clothes away, washed dishes and put them away cleaned rest of house, washed the car, did homemade soup for lunch and vacuumed. 

I have never felt so ill in my whole life! When I was in bed feeling sorry for myself, I could imagine everything piling up and getting out of hand, so I used the little energy I had to sort stuff out. Someone please tell me it gets a little better. 

Take care ladies

Much love  

Vee xxx