Hi [@Phili1]‍ , I’m so pleased you have a new surgery date re-scheduled, I will be thinking of you on the 18th for sure, good luck with the different dye, a bit of a shame it’s hubbys birthday though . So here I am two weeks and a day after surgery, 2nd drain out 2 days ago  (the other came out 5 days ago, incidentally the lymph drain came out first) dressings also off at the same time as the 2nd drain came out, thrilled with the surgery. After having the bad dip with pain (mentioned earlier in this chat) I felt like a different woman on Monday, SLN pain in the pit bearly noticeable, but a bit of pain and a sunburn type of heat on the back of the upper arm, all in all totally manageable and it hardly has my attention at all, maybe only a handful of times a day. Hopefully SLN result on friday. Good luck Phili, you’ll be fine, we are all in the most amazing hands, please report back when you feel up to it, i’d love to hear how you’re doing. Lyn.

Had a grade 4, 15 years ago was given 6 months , was lucky got Herceptin on private health care ( now on NHS ) - but still here to talk about it, don't stress go with the flow, had cervical /Ovarian two years later still here . So best advice do what they tell you , find stuff to help the sickness, Marmite and Bovril are great. And listen to your body. Hope all goes well . Kick Cancer up the butt. 

[@yorkiegal]‍ thanks Lyn. 

Good to hear you are coping well now.  I'm having a therapeutic mammoplasty too. I feel so lucky to have such a skilled surgeon. 

Did they discuss drains with you prior to surgery?. Just curious as they haven't mentioned anything to me. To be honest I'm totally naive and don't know what they are for. 

I really hope you get some good results on Friday please keep us updated . 

So I'm having a bit of a freak out tonight, cant sleep as I've got pain in my armpit. Now I don't know if it's real or all in my head but annoying none the less. 

How are you sleeping? 

All the best ladies xx

[@3rd.time]‍  thank you for sharing! Definitely gives hope in these weird times. Great advice too!

How are you doing? 

[@Phili1]‍ Hi Phili, I was having a therapeutic mammoplasty, but sadly that changed when the 2nd tumour was spotted fairly early on, but after I originally posted on here. I had a lump almost on the surface which I found, and one deep behind with only 20mm between so it wasn’t as easy ‘doable’ with the margins needed, so I opted for a full mastectomy with reconstruction on the day, more for my peace of mind, and it made life less tricky surgery wise. A drain is a thin tube inserted into the wound site to drain away any fluid build up in the body around the wound, as I had the SLN and mammoplasty together there were 2 drains in, both coming out from the same place a few inches under the bust, a tip - take a smallish very lightweight cotton type shopper with you that fits over your shoulder comfortably to pop your drain/drains in, it makes life so much easier leaving hospital and later on as you can pop it over your chair arm when you’re sitting etc - it will give you two free hands! (Not that you’ll be doing much with the one on the surgery side). They irritated a wee bit at first, but nothing in the grand scheme of things. I suffer with insomnia anyway so tend to catch 3 hours here and there, I’m lucky I retired early (I’m 58) so am free to do as I please timewise which is a huge bonus i’ll be eternally grateful for, I really feel for all the lovelies that have that added pressure. Sleep is a problem as I have always been a left side sleeper and I have to now sleep on my back which is totally alien to me. If surgery is on your mind (how could it not be?), maybe it’s a phantom pain? I hope so. Will post back friday if the results are in, fingers crossed. You take care Phili. Lyn. X

Hi [@3rd.time]‍ , My goodness have you been though it. It is amazingly good to hear you are here 15 years on, it is so easy to let our minds run overtime without even needing Dr Google to help with that. Thank you so much for the tip - I LOVE both bovril and marmite - it’s definitely a love hate thing, I couldn’t even get hubby to put it on my toast or in a mug (He probably would at the moment, lol!). Keep on being well, and thank you so much for posting. All the very best, Lyn. X

[@yorkiegal]‍ did you get your results Hun. 

Aw thank you for taking the time to explain that. I really do appreciate it! 

Yeah I think it's all in my head to be honest! Typical monkey mind running riot. 

Covid swab tomorrow ... One step closer! 

Hope your well 

Phili xx

Hi [@Phili1]‍, Got the results this morning, lymph nodes are clear, but cancer size larger than first thought, so now grade 3, appt with onco in 3 weeks time. Glad it was of help to you. Good luck for thursday x Lyn. 

[@yorkiegal]‍  hi Lyn.

So pleased to hear your lymph nodes are clear! Must be a big relief. Your HR2+ aren't you? So chemo already on the cards? Mines grade 3 too. Nasty lumps! 

Thank you. I will let you know how I get on. Fingers crossed it's smooth sailing this time :laugh: 

take care of yourself xx

[@Phili1]‍ Hi Phili, It was a relief without a doubt. I am HER2-positive. Chemo was always on the cards, plus Herceptin which is a targeted therapy only for HER2-pos cancer that helps ‘up’ survival rates. But, as the cancer is now bigger than originally diagnosed I will be having radiotherapy at the very end of all the treatment. I will know more, length of treatment, exact type of chemo etc when I see the onc on 2nd march. I will be thinking of you tomorrow Phili, good luck with things - you’ll be fine. Lyn. x