Christine

Will write more fully later in week, as am rushing out, good you're sounding so positive and all went without hitches...well done you!

Even more glad the dog has forgiven you...

Sam X

Christine

Really glad you had such a "good" operation experience, I have to say am not overly bothered about that but the drain sounds yuck!  And its sad that there's always someone worse off than you but does help ground you as well as put things in perspective.

Strange how a day op managed to turn into 2 nights, I'd be quite happy with that just having discovered that my private healthcare pays me for using the NHS (that I would much rather use anyway), that would be 2 lots of £150 I'd rack up there!

Right I need to know what a softie is/does, sounds interesting...I've been out with a few of them in my youth (they did not last long!)

McDonalds eh? Although am not a veggie and enjoy lots of fish & a little meat every now & then I pride myself on never having had a McDonald's, have had a fillet o fish but never the burger (there must surely be an award for that?) but have a partner who would live on them if his trouser size would allow.  Am glad it hit the post-op spot!

I wonder does every person get a district nurse?  I seem to recall you're quite rural?  Am sort of surprised that with NHS funds being what they are they still have them, it is a really good resource to have but that doesn't stop cost cutting of course.

My cats are too clever to give me the cold shoulder (though will hate me when they go in the cattery in Nov for my jollies) as they know who to nag for food incessantly.

I too have recorded loads from the TV to watch if am tired/post op or radiography, series 2 of handmaids tale still awaits my attention.

Good choice of ring over finger!  It sounds like the most challenging part of the op was getting your ring off..good they did without damaging it.  Have you squeezed it back onto the same finger I wonder?

Re the 17th would you not know if you were going to have chemo etc. Or is this more making sure that margins were good?  I seem to recall that you're not going to be reconstructed?

All is still fine & dandy here, had results of MRI earlier and the lumps have done well and have shrunk so doc v happy with me & my progress..I put it down to healthy eating & a positive mental attitude. Also had first outing of port which is a complete god send, so much easier with rubbish viens like I have.  So no. 3 chemo tomorrow...still unsure as to cold cap as could save some of my grade 1 hair but is a bit of a pain...we shall see tomorrow.

Hope recovery, exercises, drain and everything still all good.

Sam X

Hi Sam,

 I'll try to address each point I see in your post before I go rambling on. 

i now realise that my children made very plain their feelings about my being sent home the same day of my surgery, which is presumably why they kept me in the extra night. 

The softie, or comfie, is a very light soft prosthesis, to go inside your bra, to go home with. It feels nice and comforting against the poorly skin. It would be great if it fitted, but I don't try to wear it because of the size. I cuddle a soft cushion instead.  Later I will be measured for a more permanent one. 

McDonald's: I still don't know why I asked for it, I didn't finish it or really enjoy it! Must have been drunk from anaesthetic!

District nurse: I think it is the cheaper, safer option for wound and drain care than keeping me in hospital until the drain is removed. It is standard for surgical discharge that needs further care. I don't think it is because I live rurally, although some of the info I have read said some people return to hospital every day for the drain to be emptied, another said patients can empty it themselves - go figure!

There is no chance of my ring ever going over the big knuckle again, it now fits my little finger, but as the knuckle isn't enlarged on that finger I don't feel it would stay on safely so it will just go back in the jewellery box. 

The follow up appointment on 17th is to find out what was found under the microscope after my surgery. I had a sentinel node biopsy at the same time so I'll learn on 17th if there was any cancer in those nodes. If so I may need further surgery to remove the others in my arm pit or they may decide on radiotherapy instead. Margins don't come into it as they've taken every bit of breast tissue, so there's nothing left.

My drain is still running free  I'm supposed to have it removed when there is less than 30mils draining over 24 hours, or on day 7  I'm currently running at over 100mils a day on nurse 's day 4 so I'll have to see what happens if it's still 100 mils  on day 7. It hasn't really been a problem, it tucks into a bag that I carry beneath my clothes. I have no trouble sleeping with it and I'm supposed to be able to shower with it, but I feel a bit nervous of climbing into the bath just yet so I have a body wash at the basin.

I'm doing fine, although it is getting painful where I used to have a boob, now the bruising is coming out causing pulling and burning sensations if I move wrongly, so I am actually taking the tablets! I don't usually take medication but I'm under orders from the kids. 

I feel I've got off easy so far, you've had so much treatment already. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it continues to go smoothly,  My choice of mastectomy was the right one for me but whether I will go for the second one is still to be decided.  

You're definitely right about the positive attitude, but I wish people would stop telling me how positive and strong I am because being scared and sad is not a sign of weakness it just means you're human and not quite so lucky.  

Got a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my son's in-laws today. Wasn't that nice?

Good luck with your chemo, it all seems to be doing what it should. 

Christine

Christine
Good to hear from you, addressing actions never stopped me rambling on...you're setting me a very good example! Unfortunately not one I'll probably use as widely as I should however.

I applaud your offspring, think my boyfriend (if he could actually face going in a hospital where they are scary people and big syringes - he has SOO many phobias) would do the same but would also probably ask them to keep me in permanently!
Softie makes sense, not something I'd actually thought about not having given it any thought, presumably supplied by the hospital? Are you being measured for a more permanent one as you need one that fits you?  Is this provided for you?  How long will you need, I ask as am not sure if this is a thing to aid recovery or longer term give symmetry? (Sooo many things I still don't know...).

Funny what we crave then really don't enjoy isn't it - I have a similar hankering every 5-10 years for KFC and then quickly realise it far too slimy and doesn't taste as nice as I thought it would, I think they slip drugs into their offering to create this addiction...

Re drain, I suspect that DIY will probably be the overall preferred option given its cheaper, we'll see.  Not something that floats my boat but then again I didn't think I'd be injecting myself either...a new skill for my growing collection perhaps?
Ah yes I recall they take a sample of the nodes to see the likely hood of spread there- 4 or so from memory?
Re drain I presume the hospital provides the bag for the drain? Your basin wash is the equivalent of my "prison bath" when I can't be bothered or have forgotten to put the hot water on!
Are your "boob pain" tablets over the counter (ibuprofen etc.) or provided by hospital?

Good lord lady based on how I've been so far I think your having part of your body lopped off beats my constipation (which now I've "mastered" this chemo lark is the worst of it really and that's only for a small number of days and isn't really enough to even moan about to be honest) so don't feel for me (yet!!).  You focus fully on yourself and am glad to hear that you appear to be handling it well - I truly hope that you are of course!!

I know its still early days but what are you thinking for boob no 2 ( or maybe 1 now??) I know the surgeon stated " protocols" but is this now something that you'll be able to (or want to) progress?

Thanks ever so much for answering my queries, I feel better knowing what to expect in the future and learn fro others experience - really useful and much appreciated.

And know what you mean re being strong etc.  I get brave quite a lot and know exactly what you mean...its like well I just get on with it as there really isn't another option that suits me or that I want to take advantage of.  I do however know that my friends and family all mean well.

Had a very good "chore" day yesterday, do feel better when am doing stuff (though loafing on the sofa in the evening watching TV is also most enjoyable!), also a chance might counteract impact of naughty steroids.
Went on another bike ride which was good if not a little mucky (as go mainly on bridle paths) but never stops me, always a shower at the finish to make me gleaning once again.  Then decided to actually go to the supermarket (usually get a home delivery but there's stuff I need that they don't do), and now I know why I prefer the convenience of a home delivery, the town was rammed for no reason and the supermarket full of eejits, nuff said.
In the afternoon went onto the garden centre and have planted lots & lots of new bulbs, love the spring bulbs and that will brighten my days post surgery & radiotherapy.  Bring on the tulips, crocus' and narcissi.

Would be out for a walk with a pal this afternoon but 2 rain drops on BBC weather is one rain drop too many even for a hardy northener so off to the cinema we go, I've narrowed my choice to Gemini (Will Smith) and the dark looking Joker & Judy, my friend will be asleep half way through but I am hoping to get value for money and stay the duration, think the steroids will (as they have been doing during the nights) help!

Far too much "content" above -sorry!  I can't half blather on...you should feel vvv sorry for my cancer support network as they get it in real life!

Hope the tablets are helping and the flowers are still blooming lovely.

Sam X

Hi Sam,

I am laughing at the thought of your boyfriend asking the hospital to keep you permanently because my daughter says she had just such a plan. They took me in with no house keys, no money, no way of getting home and somehow the hospital  had her phone number down wrong. She said it was all a cunning plan to abandon me!!! 

I think the softie idea is for comfort and help with recovery and in a few weeks I will be measured for a more permanent prosthesis for symmetry. The jury is still out on whether or not I will want to go through this again on the other breast.

My pain killers i.e. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are over the counter but the strong dihydrocodeine were given to me on discharge. I only take one of them at night to ensure a good sleep. 

I have have been quite reassured by having the nurse come every day. The drain emptying is so easy I could happily do it myself but just to have her look at the scar and the surrounding areas and reassure me that everything is going to plan is comforting.  I know I'm doing well but it does hurt with bruising and the skin feels slightly sun burned so it's good to hear it's all ok. The weird thing is I still get pains in my nonexistent breast.

I had a home delivery of groceries this weekend and the driver very kindly brought everything into the kitchen and put the bags on the work tops. I usually do my own shopping once a week just to be sure of getting everything I need. I don't even think about going any further into town than the supermarkets. There is an Aldi and a Sainsbury's just opposite each other and between them they supply everything I could wish for. It'll be a while before I go there again, though, until I'm allowed to drive. (By my overprotective children)

i don't think I'll be planting any bulbs this year, but I have plenty coming up every spring. I can't even contemplate mowing the lawn, yet. Having said that, come this afternoon I might feel fit for anything once my drain is out. I'm already dreaming of my first shower!

My appointment on Thursday will be when I learn if the sentinel nodes had any cancer in them.  I am really hoping not because that would mean no further surgery. Fingers crossed! 

The tablets are still working and the flowers still look and smell wonderful and the sun is shining! Yay!!!

Christine

[@Yorkshire_defector1]‍ and [@cazrosie]‍ 

I put your user names in so you will both get an email about this message  

Hi Sam and Caroline,

I got my results today and apparently it's a really good job I chose to have a mastectomy as my tumour turned out to be bigger than expected and a lumpectomy would not have been possible. 

Unfortunately one of my sentinel nodes had cancer in it so I have to have them (or is it some of them) removed. I go in on November 8th which gives me three weeks to fully recover from the mastectomy and get fighting fit! Further treatment will depend on what they find next. I do know I will have to have hormone therapy for five years. I think that will be like going through a second menopause, such joy!!!

The good news is, I got a softie that fits!! Happy day!!  

Hope you are both well

Christine

Oh Christine, that's a bit pants. Do you have to go back to have your anxillery nodes removed? I was told if they found evidence in my sentinel nodes, they would remove all the anxillery ones during the op. But thank god you opted for the mastectomy!! 
A friend of mine (only 29) is on the same journey at the mo. She had a mastectomy last week and they removed all her lymph nodes as they found evidence in one sentinel one. She's waiting for the results at the mo. I'm taking her out for afternoon tea tomorrow.  I'm starting my radiotherapy on the 7th, which I thought I was fine about until the night before my planning appointment, when I got very emotional and had a good cry. I've chosen to delay taking my tamoxifen until my radiotherapy has finished.   
Make sure you rest, emotionally and physically, ready to fight the fight!! Sending lots of gentle hugs.

Caroline xx

Thank you.  My hospital doesn't have the facility to examine the sentinel nodes during surgery so they had to send them away. That's why I need the extra op to take out the anxillery ones. I feel so sorry for your friend facing all this at her age. At least she got it all done in one go, which is no consolation, I know.  Today my neighbour told me that radiotherapy was a doddle for her and not to worry about it at all, although she wouldn't say the same for chemo!  Then my daughter was told of a friend's mother who turned into the crabby *** from hell on the hormone therapy!  What joys await us! I really don't fancy going through the menopause again - for five years,  Yikes!

I was actually allowed to go for a walk in the park today by my overprotective daughter. We took the dogs and had a lovely stroll just one mile but I fell asleep in the chair later.

How is your recovery going? I assume that, unlike me, you are not being treated like an invalid if you are going out for tea tomorrow.  

I am still quite sore, but I suppose that's to be expected after only two weeks. I feel fine,  physically and emotionally and this hiccup won't make much difference to that. 

Thank you for your gentle hugs, just what the doctor ordered!

Christine xxx

Hi Christine, 

I am doing really well. It's 2 months since my main op and around 5 weeks since the second one. I have been very lucky and managed to avoid any chemo. I've had a quiet, normal few weeks recently while I'm waiting for radiotherapy and have only had a total of 3 weeks off work in total. Everyone around me sees me getting on as normal and have gone back to treating me like normal which is lovely. I get more upset when I hear of other people going through tough journeys. I did join a face book page for women with breast cancer but found it too upsetting. It makes me feel very guilty! I have the odd down day but not very often. I am hoping radiotherapy is a breeze (!) and that tamoxifen gives me no trouble ( positive thinking) but I do worry quite a bit that it has maybe been a bit too easy and that it is going to throw me a curve ball at some point!!

Good to hear that your family are being supportive - even if a bit over protective! I have 3 boys - 20,19 and 15 so they are too busy to worry about me and I think because they see me getting on as normal, they don't feel they need to worry - which is all I hoped for!

Caroline xx

Hi Shelti lady. I like your attitude feeling no fear. I was diagnosed with lung cancer back in 2012. Like you not a tear or a why me even entered my head, I was taken over to Macmillan for a chat. Well she did the chatting. When it got to a point she said have you any Questions. I said one. She asked what the question was. I just said have you finished now because I want to go to tescos. I threw her off balance. She was actually speechless. With that I said has you can't give me any good reason to stop. I will get off and go tescos then. I left she actually came running after me. I told her  I was not going into that room of hers and just said look ok I havr cancer big deal. I am like many other people then. I left her stxts