Hi MickeyM,

A very warm welcome to our forum. 

Stereotactic biopsy will give your team the chance to look at your breast in more detail. This doesn't always signify bad news, but is a good sign that your care team is being thorough. It is impossible to find out much until the results of your biopsy come back and you know exactly what you are dealing with. You should find some information about DCIS and calcifications on the Cancer Research Website. Try to avoid consulting Dr Google, as much of his information is out of date, poorly researched and aimed at the more spectacular cases. This will only serve to worry you further.

There is a lady called Karen1971 on the forum. She has been posting under the title ‘Waiting on breast biopsy results.’ If you do a search for her, you may be able to help one another through this.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you Jolamine, your reply was really helpful and appreciated. Thank you so much for taking the time xx 

Hi Mickey,

I'm so glad to hear that you coped well last night. I had a full open cholecystectomy prior to my two cancer operations. As a result my tummy muscles were very weak, so the occupational therapist provided a device which went under the mattress with a handle on either side of the bed. It is stainless steel and has been so useful that I am still using it 12 years later.

It is great to hear that your stress levels have already dropped markedly - It's always a huge relief to get surgery out of the way. By all means build up to your exercises, but make sure to do them regularly when you have built them up.

Love, Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, 

That does sound a very painful operation. Did your tummy muscles totally recover? I anticipate that you were good with your exercises, I'm finding starting a bit scarey truth be told. I will embrace it though shortly. 

The device sounds very useful indeed, it is the getting up from lying down that's a bit of a struggle. I'm glad it was left with you  and not snatched back. 

Have a great day Jolamine. 

Love Mickey xx ️

Hi Mickey,

That was the worst operation of my life. The first time I went to theatre, I stopped breathing on the operating table and came to to find that they hadn't done any surgery. I then had to wait a further 2 weeks on IV antibiotics to let my throat heal before they tried to insert the naso-gastric tube again. Fortunately, they relieved me of a 3" gallstone the second time. I was in hospital for 3 months and had a long recovery period after that. My gallstones were so bad that I also had a pustular pleurisy, which didn't help my breathing at the time.

Despite doing all my exercises, my tummy muscles never fully recovered, but i was told before the surgery that they might not be able to pull me through, so I feel very grateful to still be here. Unfortunately, they said that I have a very narrow wind pipe, so I now have to stay awake for any operation until they get the camera down and then I always need fibre-optic intubation - this always makes any op more tricky than usual.

It is a thought to start your exercises, but you soon get used to them.

I hope that you're getting plenty of rest.

Love, Jolamine xx

Morning Jolamine, 

That does sound very scarey and intense indeed.  Bless you, I can't imagine being awake to have the camera put down. I have a different problem and so they can't get anything down my throat unless under a general. They had to do a previous endscopy under fever for this reason too.

What a size gallstone, relief. I expect three months in hospital was unbearable though, I feel for you and an really pleased that's all behind you.

Sorry to hear that your tummy muscles never fully recovered. Are there lots of things you can't now do because of that? 

I managed to do all three sets of my exercises yesterday. It seemed to take the majority of the day. I'm sure as I get used to them and stronger, like you say, this will get easier. Only a week today post op - so I'm really pleased with my progress. 

Forgot to say - I was got contacted by nhs yesterday as I had a positive contact last Thursday in hospital for more than 15 mins less than 2m. I had a bad day last Thur so was told to stay in bed all day - there was only one nurse changing two drains that was with me for that time or longer on Thur. I was lucky to have my own room and kept the door shut when nurses not doing their checks etc. All a bit bewildering and had to go for PCR test and to take daily tests until day 10, which must be boxing day. it will all be negative, I had my booster two weeks before .

Hope you have a lovely day Jolamine. 
 

Love Mickey xx ️

Hi Mickey,

Well done for getting through all of your exercises yesterday. It is time consuming, but you will get quicker at them. We've just had the physio in to see my hubby. She has left us with pages of exercises to work our way through. Like yours, they will probably take us most of the day to work ourway through them, as she wants him to do them 3 times a day. Let's hope that they help him.

All you needed was a Covid contact to add to the mix.It's just as well that you have had your booster, so here's hoping that everything will be ok.Yes, my op was a bruiser and the gallstone was like two golf balls welded together, but I'm still here to tell the tale and, for that I am very grateful.

Hope that you have a good day today.

Love,

Jolamine xx

Oh Jolamine, I'm so pleased to hear this news - absolutely fabulous that after all that wait, the Physio has got in to see your hubby before Christmas.  Fabulous news.  Like you say, once they're being done more often, it will be quicker and easier to do.  An early much welcome Christmas present . I am absolutely sure they will help him, just may take some perseverence. 
 

I'm thrilled for you both and hope he has a follow up appointment too. 
 

No PCR result yet, but LFT was negative again, so x

Love Mickey xx ️

Hi Mickey,

If you had your PCR yesterday, I would have expected it to be back by now. Still, it's good news to hear that your daily tests are clear so far.

Hubby has a follow up appointment for 11th January and was even given a contact number in case he has any trouble throughout the holiday, so things are looking up.

Love,

Jolamine xx

Morning Jolamine, 

Quick update: Result literally only just through, but thank heavens it’s negative. I guess the labs must be really busy. 

Got my sick note sorted now as well, so I’m signed fir just over three months. 

Off to see plastics BCN this morning. 

That's great news that Hubby has his follow-up appointment and not too far away and a re-assuring telephone number.  xx ️
 

Love Mickey xx ️

Hi Mickey,

Sorry, I haven't replied sooner. I've been working all day and have only just arrived home.

I'm delighted to hear that your results were negative and that you've got your sick note sorted. How did your visit to see the plastic BCN go this morning? I hope that she was happy with your progress. 

Love, Jolamine xx

Morning Jolamine, 

Bless you, but there's really no need to apologise. I know it's not easy in our busy lives to always reply quickly and I have no expectations of such, it's just lovely that you always take the time and care to reply- thank you ️. 

I hope you enjoy your work. 

BCN very pleased with my progress and has taken dressing off my new boob, new belly button and two of my drains.  Just the hip to hip one and the other drain (last one out which I still weeping) dressings to go, hopefully next Wed when I go back.

She also told me that I need to keep the pain relief constant and so I should keep all four doses of paracetamol but add a dose of ibuprofen in between so that I can take a dose at night also when my back is playing up. As you need to eat with ibuprofen, I decided to take that as my tea time dose.

How is hubby getting on with his exercises? 
 

Love Mickey xx ️

Morning Jolamine, 

Bless you, but there's really no need to apologise. I know it's not easy in our busy lives to always reply quickly and I have no expectations of such, it's just lovely that you always take the time and care to reply- thank you ️. 

I hope you enjoy your work. 

BCN very pleased with my progress and has taken dressing off my new boob, new belly button and two of my drains.  Just the hip to hip one and the other drain (last one out which I still weeping) dressings to go, hopefully next Wed when I go back.

She also told me that I need to keep the pain relief constant and so I should keep all four doses of paracetamol but add a dose of ibuprofen in between so that I can take a dose at night also when my back is playing up. As you need to eat with ibuprofen, I decided to take that as my tea time dose.

How is hubby getting on with his exercises? 
 

Love Mickey xx ️

Hi Mickey,

I'm delighted to hear that the BCN was so pleased with your progress and has removed most of your dressings. How is your new boob looking? I know that it's early days still , but I hope that you are pleased with the shape. It's a pity that one drain is still weeping, but that should have dried up by next week.

Did the BCN  mean you to take just one dose of Ibruprofen  at night or to take alternate doses of Ibuprofen and Paracetemol throughout the day? 

Hubby is persevering with the exercises, but finding them hard. I am fortunate in that I really love my work, but I am planning to retire in the new year.

Love, Jolamine xx

Morning Jolamine, 

Happy Christmas Eve.  Thank you, to be honest from a cleavage point of view, you wouldn't know. It looks exactly the same in my bra as the other side.  It's still a little bruised, but I've been told it's not that bad at all and it's only slightly swollen.  I did buy two next size up bras for hospital, but I haven't used them. I have been lucky to fit comfortably in the front fastening M&S Flexifit bras in my usual 36C size. All being told, I don't actually find it that strange seeing a flat layer of skin where the nipple was. He's done an amazing job and although I didn't want to pre-think how mine would look, I'm very pleased. 
 

The last drain is still weeping this morning, but like you say it will hopefully stop before my next apt. 
 

The BCN meant to take one dose of ibuprofen on top of my four doses of paracetamol after 2-4 hours of a paracetamol dose. I am now starting to be able to move a little towards both sides now at night and so that also took some pressure off my back last night. 
 

I feel for your hubby for so long waiting and now trying to get into the swing of regular exercises.  It must be so hard for him, I'm really pleased he's persevering and hope that he sees some benefits soon.   
 

Great that you love your work, such a bonus. Is it a firm retirement plan at this stage? 
 

Love abs Christmas Eve hugs Mickey xx ️
 

Hi Mickey,

 I am delighted to hear that you are so happy with the shape of your breast. The bruising and swelling will go down soon. Are you planning to have your areola tattooed back on?

I'm sure that the last rain will dry up soon.. It is great that you are now being able to move a little towards both sides at night and that this took some pressure off your back last night.

I have always loved my job, but feel that after working at it for 53 years now, it is time for me to retire. I have a verbal offer for my practice which I hope will be finalised in the new year.

Love and Christmas Eve hugs and I hope that you have a Happy Christmas and and Healthy and Good New Year.

Love,

Jolamine XX

Thank you Jolamine, 

I just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and I hope the New Year brings you much love and joy, as well as finalisation of your offer. 

Christmas love n hugs Mickey xx ️

Hi Mickey,

I hope that you had a lovely Christmas and managed to put any thought of cancer out of your mind for the day.

We had a lovely Christmas dinner with my daughter and son-in-law, then we came back and slumped in front of the television until bed time, which was just what we needed to do.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Morning Jolamine, 

Happy Boxing Day. 

Yes, I managed to kick cancer out of my mind for the day. We had a lovely Christmas Day, thank you.  Yours sounds perfect and today we can all allow ourselves to relax. 

Have a great Boxing Day - love Mickey xx ️
 

Hi Mickey,

Happy Boxing Day to you too. I hope that you've managed to have a lovely relaxing day today. We certainly have, although I feel guilty for doing very little today.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Morning Jolamine, 

I managed to get out for a walk amidst the rain yesterday, which was great.  My pace is getting a little faster now, my legs seem able to stretch a bit further as my tummy isn't soo tight now. My back is also easing and so I think being able to sleep a bit on both sides now, rather than wholly on my back is helping.  I also think that my exercises are starting to pay off (although I've only managed twice a day since Christmas Eve).

I've also managed to take the dressing off my last left tummy drain at the top of that leg and so that is now starting to scab.  Bruising is noticeably reducing around my breast, it's only really around where the drain was that is still quite bruised.  I can't remember, if I mentioned that I didn't actually have to go up a bra size at all? I've managed really well with my usual 36C wearing the M&S flexifit front opening bras. Very comfortable, but now I've typed that I seem to recall that I did say....

I really can't see any hole, stitching where they removed my sentinel lymph node(s)....... If he stitched internally, I really can't tell at all. 

I've reduced my paracetamol last few days to just two doses, I'll see how that goes. To be honest the most pain I have now is in my left under forearm leading to my wrist. That is where I've had the biggest darkest bruise (wrist almost to elbow), which I can only assume came from cannulas in that arm - the bruise is starting to get darker, but for the last few days I've been getting internal pain on that area and find it hard to get a comfortable position without pain. I've not experienced that before, but I assume it's the extent of the bruising there and healing process causing the pain. 
 

Foggy and raining here this morning, but hoping for a little reprieve so that I can get out first a little walk again. 
 

Im glad you had a restful Boxing Day Jolamine and please don't feel guilty for resting, that's what Boxing Day is for. 

Is Hubby finding his exercises any easier now? 

Love and hugs Mickey 

Hi Mickey,

You must feel a great sense of achievement to have managed a walk yesterday. I hope that you've got a break in the weather  to allow you out again today. It sounds as if everything is gradually easing off, which is good. I think that you're allowed a little leaway with your xercises over the holiday period. I am glad to hear that your last drain dressing has been removed and that it is now dry and healing well. The bruising is nothing to worry about. It will slowly disappear.

I was delighted to hear that you are still able to wear the same size of bra and that the M & S ones you have are comfortable. The surgeon was possibly able to access your lymph nodes when he removed your breast, without making another incison. This could be why you can't see any stitches. It sounds as if the bruising and discomfort in your forearm may be due to the canula - certainly the bruising will be. I have been left with a legacy of bilateral lymphoedema since I had my surgeries. I have also had an occasional ache in my forearm and a continuous one under my arm, where 6 lymph nodes were removed..

You are doing well with your pain killers. You should find that you need them less the more your movement returns. It's dull and damp here, but no fog. We've had enough of that for the past few weeks to last for a while. Hubby is still struggling with his exercises, but he'll keep on persevering.

Love and hugs, Jolamine xx

Morning Jolamine, 

Thank you for your kind words and reassurances. Managed a smaller walk yesterday, but still got wet. I'm hoping for a longer one today. 

I hadn't even thought about the surgeon removing the lymph node(s) via my breast.  That would certainly explain it and thank you very much for pointing that out to me as a likely explanation. 

My arm was very painful again last night, I hope it eases. I am sorry to hear about your bilateral lymphoedema and occasional arm aches. How do you manage the lymphoedema? 

I hope that hubby makes a breakthrough with the exercises soon so that they feel a bit easier for him. I'm glad to hear he's persevering. 

Back to see the BCN for me tomorrow and so I guess we'll see if my tummy strip is totally removed or needs replacing. No news about my histology yet, they did say four weeks though and it's two weeks today post op for me. 

Have a great day Jolamine. 

Love Mickey xx ️