Hi Jules W,

I was just wondering how your op went? I have been thinking about you.

I do hope you're feeling more positive now and looking forward.

Take care. 
 

Mrs Boo xx

Hi Mrs Boo,
The op went well and I feel much better about everything now. 
It was a bit surreal being in hospital with all the Covid restrictions but everyone was amazing. I was met at the door, escorted to a single room and well looked after throughout. The staff are clearly under a huge amount of pressure but I cannot praise them highly enough and I received the best care

The post op isolation was weird but I'm now passed that and can be in the same room as my hubby and sons again. It really is the little things that are the most important.

I feel fine post op - a bit sore but nothing unexpected. I'm doing my physio exercises as instructed.

My results are on 18/02. I'm hopeful all will be well and it will just be a question of monitoring but also prepared for further treatment if needed. I really know I have been very lucky. 

My head is in a much better place and I feel very positive going forward. Thank you so much to you and [@Litchielou]‍ who helped me with that.

I read your blogs. Thank you for sharing your experiences. It certainly is a rollercoaster ride of emotions but helped me and I'm sure others will also benefit from them. I hope you are now doing well. 

All the best

xx

[@JulesW]‍ 

It's been a hard 2 weeks since my op. The first day was fine but after, all I did for 5 days was cry and I couldn't tell anyone what I was crying about. Started my exercises again and I'm getting more movement in my arm. I'm wondering how long does it take for the arm to get back to normal. The pain I have now is in the muscle of my left arm the BCN thinks the muscle was pulled during the operation. Also my left boob feels like a block of ice when it's really cold.

I was given my results on Friday 5th they are referring me to a hospital in  Manchester for chemo. Over the 2 operations they removed 30 lymph nodes and 4 of these had cancer. Yesterday I had a CT scan.

Onwards and upwards for the next part. I'm just taking one day at a time.

Take care everyone

Litchielou x

Hi [@Litchielou]‍ 

i've been thinking about you and wondered how you were. You helped me so much when I was really struggling. I'm sorry to hear you are going through such a tough time post op. 

I think we all cry and don't know why. It seems to be part of this process and is definitely allowed. You have already been through so much. It's really positive that you have spoken to your BCN and that you have the strength to do your exercises.

Good luck with the results for you CT scan. It sounds like you are overdue some good news.

Good luck also with your chemo. One day at a time is a good way to stay on top of things. I'm sure the path ahead will be clearer once you have more information from the specialist hospital in Manchester. You will have the best care there

 I hope Mrs Boo won't mind me saying  you could try reading her blog. Just Internet search Blog | The Counsellors Cancer. She had 8 cycles of chemo from June to Nov. They are written with raw emotion and some humour. I laughed and cried reading them but they helped me.

I cannot imagine how you are feeling and can only offer hugs and best wishes.

Take care and be kind to yourself

xxx

Thank you for the update. I was thinking about you and hoping you were recovering well. You sound in a much more positive place!

Here's to you getting the results you need today!

Im finishing radiotherapy tomorrow so I can finally get away from appointments and needles! I too feel very grateful I get to type that sentence out.

Thinking of you today and sending positive hugs x 

[@JulesW]‍ 

Just wanted you to know I went for my oncologist appointment today and I don't need chemotherapy. My score was very low so it's not beneficial to me.

I've been put on an hormone tablet Letrozole. And referred for radiotherapy. 

Unfortunately when I had my CT scan they have found cysts??  on the top of my spine. Having a bone scan in a few weeks. I'll also be having Bisphosphonate treatment. So back to the waiting game.

Read about the side effects of these tablets and now trying to get as much information I can to help me stop any.

Good luck with your treatment

Litchielou x

Hi [@Litchielou]‍
It sounds like you have really been through it. I can't imagine what a rollercoaster of emotions it has been for you. I hope your bone scans results are good and you do not have bad side effects from any meds or the radiotherapy.

I'm healing well but am surprised I'm still a bit sore after the op and tbh quite emotional - very up and down. My results showed some intermediate but still non invasive cancer so the surgeon has now suggested radiotherapy. I have a phone appointment with the oncologist later this week so will know more then. I'm guessing it's possible they may advise radiotherapy is not needed but time will tell and I will follow their advice.

It's such a strange time and I hope you're doing ok. Take care of yourself and give yourself a chance to process everything that is happening. Good luck with your treatment and results x
 

[@JulesW]‍ 

Thanks for your message.

I'm pleased that you are healing well as I keep saying one day at a time. Don't worry about crying even now occasionally I still have a good cry but don't know why. We have gone through a difficult process. My pain has nearly gone just feeling of cold in my boob and arm. Keep doing the exercises as that helps. You need to be able to get your arm straight for the radiotherapy if needed.

Had my bone scan last week and as usual they found it difficult to put a cannula in for the dye. So even now my arm is very bruised. That day I wore an old pair of slip on shoes thinking they would be easy to get off when having the scan. They have rubbed my heels badley. So I now also have bleeding heels. If I didn't laugh I'd cry.

I have a telephone call from the oncologist about radiotherapy on 23rd march. My nurse thinks I'll be starting it at the beginning of April.

Hopefully I can have my hair and nails done in May, already have an appointment. My birthday is near the end of May so I'm hoping everything is over and done with by then.

Started the Letrozole and at the moment I am not getting any side effects. Covid vac is on Thursday.

Good luck with everything and let's hope you don't need radiotherapy.

Take care

Litchielou x

Hi

[@Litchielou]‍ I hope you're doing ok with all that you have going on. Hopefully your sore heels are not quite so sore now. I know I shouldn't have but they did make me smile a little as it's the kind of thing I would do. Im guessing it wasn't fun at the time and probably felt like the last straw on top of everything else. I hope your bone scan results will be good, your appointment on 23rd goes well and you don't have to wait too long for your radiotherapy. Keep doing what you need to do to look after yourself and remember it's ok to sit still, shout, cry, laugh or whatever you need to do.

I was hoping for different but the oncologist agreed I should have radiotherapy. They explained it will reduce the risk of reoccurrence so makes sense. I had my planning/preparation appointment on Monday. I didn't even know that was a thing! Make sure you keep doing your exercises as you need to be able to put arm above your head for a good few minutes but it is supported on a stirrup contraption so wasn't too strenuous. They did a scan which was like being in a noisy, doughnut with red flashing lights, drew on me and did 3 dot tattoos (1 either side and 1 in the middle, like freckles). All to make sure everything is in the right and same position for every treatment. It didn't take long and everyone was lovely but it felt a bit surreal as they had the music from Grease playing in the background. Not my choice of music but John Travolta at his finest. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to hear the music from Grease again without thinking of the scan disco/tattoo parlour. It made me laugh! 
The advice is to moisturise the area twice a day and keep doing the exercises so I'm being good and doing as I've been told. It's now just a waiting game until radiotherapy starts on 25/03.

I've been for my routine smear test this morning and hoping that it will be ok.

I treated myself to sitting and doing nothing but watching a film this afternoon. Something I haven't done for a while. It's the little things that matter at the moment and it felt very self indulgent.

I'm still surprisingly tender post surgery,  feeling very up and down and really fatigued but that might be post Covid or more likely a combination of everything. Im still missing my friends and family but know everyone feels the same. I'm  trying to accept it's ok to have down days and stop telling myself off for feeling a bit pathetic at the moment. At some point I will stop and have another good cry but that just won't come right now.

@Mrs Boo I hope you are doing ok after your radiotherapy treatment. I'm guessing it may take a while to fully process all you have been through. Keep being kind to yourself and I wish you all the best.

sending every best wish to everyone who is going through this journey xx