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

WOW!!!

Superwoman Sam,

I was already impressed by the way you reacted to your chemo before surgery etc and now I am totally gobsmacked ( not a word I like, but the only one I can think of to express my amazement) at your ability to keep us smiling when you have been subjected to torture!  I have seen those tv programmes showing liposuction being inflicted on people - it's horrific! You must be looking like a model now!  It will be great once you are free of the compression garments and painful after effects of the torture!  I know I said it before, and I mean it even more now, I couldn't have gone through all that. My surgeon did try to talk me into it before he found my tumour was bigger than he expected and happily lopped off the whole boob. OMG  I am so glad!  I become unbearably grumpy if I feel unwell for more than three days! The patient from hell is my daughter's description of me. Do you remember how childish I was about taking the Letrozole because I didn't want any of the reported side effects? No wonder the oncologist stomped out of the room! I was surprised how uneasy I felt when I was told to stop taking the hormone killer for six weeks. I think I might have adjusted to taking them again now because I woke up to a dry bed today!  I hope that's it for the night sweats, I can cope with the hot flushes as they don't last long.

I am struggling with a baby portrait at the moment, as a gift for my son's in-laws, she is only a few months old, and adorable but the reference I am using is quite poorly lit so I am not getting her eyes, yet. I will get there eventually and the recipients don't know I'm doing it, so there is no rush. The baby is their granddaughter, not mine, alas, and they have quite a hard time due to the grandfather being very poorly and now disabled.  My daughter has only seen the painting once, when I had just blocked out the outlines with no details and she calls it the egg with a Mohican! 

I need to go now and take my boy out as he's giving me pleading looks. I should have cats!

Well done for your tenacity with the cushions! 
 

Christine xxx

God Sam! Sounds pretty horrendous but surely you will be left with the body of a super model?!:wink:

I can imagine that the compression bandages / body suit are not the most comfortable! I have a "fold in your body fat" vest and I struggle wearing that!

My youngest son passed his driving test today! Second attempt and involved me having to skive off work to take hIm to Winchester. My niece is also learning to drive at the mo and has bought herself a little old polo. I have to say she scares the bejesus out of me when she drives!! I have a new found respect for driving instructors. I went back to the gym yesterday after finding excuses for the past 3 weeks. Boy was it hard work!!

Christine I have every faith that you will perfect the portrait - we know how much of a perfectionist you are! I'm a very impatient person so any hobby that requires you to take your time and takes a long time, I'm useless!! One of my friends bought me a starter knitting set. I had a go, managed to give it about 30 min then gave up. I used to do a lot of cross stitching in my younger years but my eye sight is so pants now that it isn't even appealing. 
 

caroline xx

Er hello Christine & Caroline, I looked like a model before I'll have you know (yeah right, you're right to ask 'a model of what?'), I do however always tell people that if I had even a sliver of being photogenic that I would, of course, have been a super model back in the day....an accountant was only just behind this option, of course...

Yeah the reconstruction palaver is not for everyone, very doable and I'd definitely do it again but if you're not a fan of surgery, being pummelled within an inch of your life and time in recovery I'd advise maybe not.

Good news on the dry bed Christine! Mine is hit (or hot as I originally typed...quite possibly more appropriate?) and miss.  I get tested soon (blood test) to see if am post menopausal, presumably I can't yet be if still having mad sweats?

Just as well your daughter isn't an art critic Christine...I remember on a previous portrait that you weren't at all confident on the eyes but they all came together at the end, another case of that maybe?  And I get tonnes of pleading looks from the furry critters I share my house with although its definitely food rather than exercise related, lazy bl00dy good-for-nothing animals!

Am today finally free of the nipple donut and the compression pants (which feel like a tree must when they grow around barbed wire around my waist where they gather, I may have been a bit optimistic about the size I bought...)....HURRAH!

Good news on the driving Caroline, hopefully less reliance on you as a taxi service?  Well done getting back to the gym, I was back after 5 weeks absence last week and its amazing how your body can't do what it did before (and how much my bum ached on the bike ride too!)....but well worth it.  I hear about muscle memory, think my muscles must have dementia.

Do you think your eyesight worsened post cancer treatments? I'm sure mine did Caroline, I use reading glasses and before cancer was a 1 and am now a 2.5, my father (an optician) tells me that's quite a jump in a couple of years.

Right, time I did some work!

Tara X

Sam, you do make me laugh!

In regards to the blood test to check for menopause status - did your GP order that? I'd be interested to know where I stand in that respect. Although you hear how awful letrozol is, I think I'd rather stick with my tamoxifen. My poor hubby has to cope with freezing temperatures and windows open, in the bedroom! Advantages are he tends to stay on his side of the bed as my side is like a furness :silly::laugh:

I do think my eye sight has gotten worse too! I've got an appointment next week at the opticians. I decided to give multi focal contacts a go but the ones they gave me weren't even as strong as my glasses so useless! I bought myself some 2.5 reading glasses - they are perfect! 

Good to hear you are starting to ditch the restrictive clothing/donut nipple ring! Maybe use the nipple donut to sit on, on the bike as the gym or is it a bit too small :wink:

I've canned the running - found it aggravated my neck pain so have been walking fast/on an incline. I've signed up for a breast cancer 10 mile walk, in May so need to get practising! My friend told me, the other day that she is doing dry January, couch to 5k and the 16:8 fasting diet! I've told her I'm hoping my half a stone just falls off and I'll see her in February! 
Anyway, ladies - Friday is my day off, I have a large glass of wine in my hand and am meeting a friend for lunch tomorrow (walking so I can get some miles in and have a drink :wink: Hope you all have a lovely weekend! No January blues for me! 
Caroline xx

Hi Vee,

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

Christine xxx

Happy Friday, Caroline!

Sam, apologies! I should have realised that with all your cycling and exercising, that you would already have the body of a supermodel.

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, 

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