Hey [@JenLam]‍ good to hear from you! Booblet- the latest name. Love it! Are you still having a lumpectomy or is it now a mastectomy? How are you feeling about it? A couple of steps to get through before your surgery on Monday but just keep eating your elephant one bite at a time. That also means it is just one needle at a time and that makes it easier to deal with I think. 
Like you say you are in good hands and it's great to hear you are being chipper.

I've found the last few days harder to be honest. I think because I went back to work last week and everything is carrying on like normal around me even though treatment still yet to be completed. Felt pretty flat. 

Anyway, had my CT planning appointment today for the radiotherapy and that starts on 29 March so it does feel good to have some dates now. Got my tattoo dots and the one in my cleavage is quite big so just as well I don't flaunt the girls too much in low cut tops! I think I will take that week off and the one after. They said fit and active people get hit by fatigue more apparently so I should plan to be a bit wiped out. Hot date with Netflix and a pile of books on the cards then :laugh:

Good luck with the appointments on Thursday. Thinking of you xx

Hiya! 
Im having a lumpectomy with uplift!! Apparently I have enough boob to do this so am lucky! Tried to convince them to give me a tummy tuck while they're at it but they weren't up for it. So I'll have one pert boob and one droopy one for a while until they can do the reconstruction. Lovely! I've also asked them to remove my nipples as they're sensitive and not really needed any more. No more worrying about cold days with the nips out! Bonus!

Although people are supportive I think we need to remind ourselves that they haven't been through it so things 'go back to normal'. For us though it's different as it's a mental process too. 

How long is each radiotherapy session and how many days or weeks are you having it done for?  I was told after recovery it could be 1-3 weeks of radiotherapy, 10 minutes a time each day. Just have to wait for results from the op first. 
Hey when this is all over get flaunting I say!!! The girls deserve to be shown off!! 
 

Im thinking the same thing about Netflix and books to keep occupied!! Good luck but I'm sure we'll speak again before u have radiotherapy. 
Im shaving my head this Saturday and donating my hair to the Princess trust and am raising money for the Breast Cancer Care Clinic at my local hospital! We're up to £700 already so I'm chuffed! It's my daughters 9th birthday this Thursday and I have an x ray in the morning and injection in afternoon which sucks. Just hoping I'm ok after the isotope injection and we can have quality time together. Fingers crossed. 
Take care hun x

Hi [@JenLam]‍ that sounds brilliant to be getting an uplift out of it! You sound really positive which is brilliant and will really help with your recovery to be thinking like that.

So impressed with your fundraising commitment and shaving your head. Do you need chemo down the line or are you just embracing the hair loss concept in the spirit of the challenges faced by so many women?

The timing does suck doesn't it re your daugther's birthday and your appts that day. I had a birthday and my 20th wedding anniversary during all this. My wedding anniversary ended up as a 'dry' one for me as I was antibiotics for a raging toothache that couldn't be mixed with alcohol. Boo. I have a root canal next Monday as I thought I hadn't had enough fun so far in 2021 haha. NHS won't do it for me as they are under so much pressure and could only offer to extract the tooth, so I am having to shell out £700 privately for the pleasure and a further £350 to have it capped off. At least my NHS experience on the booblet front has been super positive.

My NHS trust does the 5 day treatment plan for radiotherapy for early stage breast cancer so each appt is 25 mins and they give a more intense treatment over a  shorter time frame. Not sure how long the actual radiotherapy itself is within that appt - quite a bit of time is getting you all in place to make sure it is identical each time you are there - hence the tattoo dots.

Hope your daughter's 9th birthday goes well even if Mum is having a weird day. Such a nice age - I always thing that is in the 'golden period' of parenting when they think you are still Christmas and do what you ask them to do haha.  I have a big hairy 19 year old son in his first year at uni and a 16 year old daughter in Year 12. They've popped out the other side of being a grunting/argumentative (select as appropriate) teenager and are now such good company.

Have a good day tomorrow on all fronts! xx

Hello again! 
perkier breasts sounds like a good deal to me! 
I decided to shave my hair as I was told I wouldn't need chemo and wanted to do something for those that have to have it. Feels like I'm giving a little something back. 
 

You'll have to make up for the drinking as soon as you're able!! A trip to the dentist is the last thing you need on top of all this but you're taking it well. Especially when you have to pay for it too. 
 

Ah yes, the nurse told me I may need a 5 day radiotherapy sesh after surgery too. 
so glad to hear the grunting has transitioned into something meaningful and that's all extra support which you need right now. 
Sit tight and keep looking after yourself x

Hey [@JenLam]‍ i just wanted to wish you all the best for your surgery tomorrow. 
How did Thursday go with your daughter's birthday, your chest x-ray and the dye injection? What a full on day for you!
Thinking of you and here's hoping it all goes well xx

Hi really sorry i have not been on for some time. As you know i had really good news with my breast lump. Didnt feel i should therefore keep commenting when you are all going through so much. I often think about you all and i do appreciate that i was lucky on this occasion. I am wishing you all well and keeping everything crossed for you all . Sending you all so much love and good luck xxx

Hiya! :laugh:
Thursday went really well all things considered! No where near painful just a little uncomfortable and only for a minute. My daughter Farrah really enjoyed. R u on Facebook or Instagram? Chest x ray all done too was in and out in a jiff. 
 

Little nervous about tomorrow but was more worried about the isotope injection?? Weird?! 
The old noggin has had a shave and looks better than what I thought so I'm happy Id recommend having the chop to any woman. It's liberating and I feel like a new woman! 
 

Thank u for ur message. Means so much. I have loads of support and love around me am appreciating every minute. My husband has been brilliant but I can see it's taking its toll on him which is hard. 
How r u doing? What's next on the agenda for u now? I hope ur keeping ur self care in check and u know where I am if u need a chat. 
jen xx

Hi [@JenLam]‍ sorry not been on here for a bit. Glad last week went well. How was surgery on Monday and how are you feeling now? Hope you are taking it easy!

I know what you mean - my husband has been brilliant but I worried about the emotional load on him. Hardest thing post-op is remembering not to lift heavy things or reach over your head. I kept forgetting and then my body would remind me! I used it as a good excuse to have him and my daughter look after stuff for the first few days and then I realised I was a useless patient and just wanted to do stuff :laugh:

I am fine. Enjoying having a bit of a mental break from it all while I wait to start radiotherapy on 29 March. I jazzed things up with a root canal on Monday. Gawd that was horrendous. 90 minutes of lying rigid with my hands clasped in terror. Found all the breast cancer stuff easier to cope with!
 

 I've decided I will take a bit of time off work for the radiotherapy. Just means it is so busy at work now trying to get projects sorted and making sure my team will be ok when I am off. I'm too conscientious for my own good and just need to put my health first for a change. 

Well I hope you are doing well. Will you get full pathology report at a post op follow up next week do you know?

Keep me posted and thinking of you xx

Hi Kiwirunner!

Long time no speak.  The surgery went well but I had a bit of a reaction to anaesthetic so they kept me in overnight.  I then had an infection and was feeling rough but Dr came to the house to check me over and give antibiotics so I;m back on the mend now! Constipation has become real! All the drugs have taken their toll but I'm feeling so much better today thankfully!

I know what you mean about trying to be a good patient!! I'm trying to take control of the little things whcih in turn make things easier for those around me which I find a big help mentally too.  I think we both need to learn to let go of some of these things, just for now while we recover.

The root canal sounds so harsh and that will take a toll on yur body too so you have to remember to give yourself a break.  It's not forever! Same goes for work as well, I'm sure your team can cope and by trusting them to get things done you're giving them the opportunity to feel like they're helping. :) 

I should get my results either 26 March or 29 I think it would be good to have more information on how to move forward with things! Been thinking of you too, stay strong and take care of yourself hun. xx