Told today mastectomy of my right breast
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IF it helps get rid of the cancer, go with it, you have much support and surgery is over quickly! you can always get a second opinion1
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I have to have a CT tomorrow, a bone scan on Friday then back to the oncologist on Tuesday to find out what I need other than the right breast removed. I think I have been thru a range of moods today from silence on the 2 hr drive home to crying off and on. Luckily I have a wonderful husband he took control of my phone and rang our children my sister, sister in law, brother, mother, his mother and sister all the time telling them that " no she can't talk to you she is too upset " I could here the conversations and it was enough to start me crying when I heard them all say how much they loved me and what can they do . I have read a lot of stories where family and friends try to help but it get too much for person with cancer as newly diagnosed I'm going to set down rules from the start for my own sanity I love my family but I have always needed my space so I'll see how it goes3
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Very wise, families often need some guidelines about what to do and say, it can help them a lot. You may wonder about why you are the one to do this, but you know the answer, it's your space and your sanity. Losing a breast is one thing, you can't lose anything else!!
4 years on and mono boobed, I remember that initial incredulity, that this couldn't happen. But it did, and so far (taking things for granted tends to go out the window) I am fine. You will know more soon, and the more you know what you are dealing with, the better. A wonderful husband is a very good thing to have at any time, but especially now. Don't forget to breathe, take one step at a time and be assured that you too can do this. Best wishes.3 -
So sorry you have to join us. Yes the beginning is such a shock and so many fears and unknowns. Soon you will have a treatment plan beyond surgery and will know a little more prior. Remember you can ask for immediate reconstruction, there are a couple of ways they can do this but you don't have to just go mastectomy ...then decide and have to wait for reconstruction later. It can be planned from the beginning, but you need to ask. Kath x1
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Thank you all even though I am just diagnosed this site has helped me calm down and breathe I'm looking at this one event at a time, first event the CT , next one bone scan and so on.
I think this site is going to be my saviour3 -
Hi @Michelle49 - totally understand how you're feeling! I had a left vertical skin sparing mastectomy April last year and then 5 weeks ago a DIEP Reconstruction. Right now, everything will feel surreal and overwhelming...but you WILL get through it and we are here to walk alongside you! Ask any questions you like and we will do our very best to help. Nikki xxxx
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Hi @Michelle49, these early days can be completely overwhelming. So much information coming at you, it's hard to keep up let alone understand and take in all you are being told.
I had a left nipple sparing mastectomy with immediate silicone implant last August. From diagnosis to surgery was only 11 days. My head was spinning. No matter what surgery you end up having you will find others here who will share their experiences and help you along the way.
You are most definitely not alone. All the best with your scans and next appointments. Jane xx1 -
Hi Michelle, welcome to the group, but sorry you need to be here.
I was given the same news on Wednesday for my left breast. I'm booked in for 23rd May.
I have opted for a nipple sparing mastectomy, however my surgeon said that he believes I am going to need radiotherapy as well as chemo, so said the reconstruction will need to wait probably about a year, and given that I have large breasts, he recommended I have the reconstruction done using my tummy... hmm, plenty there to use!
Give yourself time to get your head around it and be gentle on yourself. I hope all goes smoothly for you in the days ahead.
Cat
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Thank Cat, unfortunately the lump involves my nipple so it can't be saved,
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Hi @Michelle49, have you or your breast care nurse ordered a My Journey Kit? This is a free resource that we offer. It contains information, a journal, and other resources that you might find helpful. You can also order a My Care Kit, which contains a mastectomy bra and other useful things.
To order a My Journey Kit online, visit https://www.bcna.org.au/resources/my-journey-kit/
To order a My Care Kit online, visit https://www.bcna.org.au/resources/my-care-kit/
Or give us a call at 1800 500 258.3 -
Hello and Welcome @Michelle49 ..........
What a crazy place to you find yourself right - posting on this site....well that is what I initially thought a few weeks ago - but I am so very glad that I did, as it has been such a wonderful support and comfort to be able to share my worries, fears, ups and downs with other strong women who truly understand the scariness that is breast cancer.....such a safe place here xxx
After turning 40 in Jan I thought I would focus on my health this year and get a few things in order after spending 18 months trying to manage chronic lower back pain.....So as I headed off for my mammogram I really didn't have a care in the world!!!fast forward 2 weeks and things quickly changed.....more scans, ultrasounds, biopsies, and a whole lot of people touching my boobs......
I will never forget the look on the Gp's face on the day of diagnosis, Friday 31st March- she wasn't my usual GP, but it was a Friday and I didn't want to wait over the weekend not knowing the results.......She was very professional - but as she came out to the waiting room my stomach churned - the look on her face said it all........breast cancer in my left breast.
Then the craziness began - so many appts, further tests etc including a 6 hour round trip for further biopsies that couldn't be done in my local area. One lump turned into 3- so a change of diagnosis to multi-focal BC....... My surgeon advised that a mastectomy was my only option, and highly recommended a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction with implants. I agreed to this and had surgery on Friday 21st April....just shy of 2 weeks ago. they were able to reconstruct my nipples too - but they are still under wraps and dressings (which is fine by me as I am not ready to see that just yet!!)
I came home after 5 nights in hospital - and to be honest the recovery has so much better than I had expected it to be...I really got myself into a tizz before surgery and was soooooo freaked out about the pain factor. I had a 7 am admission to hospital and was first on the surgery list....I cried myself to sleep that night and all the way to hospital that day!!! I was up using the loo that night at 10.30pm (despite my grumbles) showered the next morning by 9am - with the help of a lovely nurse mind you.
I came home with drains in, one came out quickly, but I am still carting the other one around with me as I type...but both surgeons have said it will come out tomorrow thank god!! I got my pathology results today which were great - things are starting to look up for me and my family!!
Yes I am stiff, sore, swollen and bruised, but I am alive and grateful that I feel well enough to be able to share my experience with you and others.
The last 5 weeks of my life feels so surreal - like I have been starring in some strange and badly made tv show...but each day post surgery gets better and better - that period of the unknown and waiting prior to surgery was absolutely the worst time in my life.......
With a good medical team, and strong support from your nearest and dearest you will get through this and one day be able to share your story with a newly diagnosed woman and help allay her fears.
I wish you all the very best for the next steps and I hope that you stay connected here - it really does help to talk and share. Be kind to yourself, embrace the tears when they hit, ask lots of questions and know that it is ok to totally loose your shit about this every now and then xxxx We are all here to support and we understand xxxx
warmest wishes and positive thoughts xx
Sally xx
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Thank you Cosette, yes ordered the my journey kit when I got home from Sydney
And thank you Sally for your story, I do know that I've got to have chemo then radiation after my mastectomy, then a genetic test before I have either the other breast removed and reconstruction done in a 8 hr op or just reconstruction depending on the genetic test so I'm in for roughly a 3 to 6 month ride
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Update : back home after mastectomy, had to go back to theatre the next day for another op cleaning out haematoma in my chest. Nursing staff at Nepean private were wonderful and my beautiful husband brought me a diamond ring and is calling it " my journey ring" as he said every time I look at it will remind me that I am strong like the diamonds in the ring, God I love that man
Feeling good just have to wait for my results on Thursday . My surgeon Dr Linn Trinh even gave me her personal cell number in case I wanted to talk about anything 8 -
Great that you're home @Michelle49 - now onto your recovery! What a lovely thought from your husband...and what a wonderful doctor too. My GP gave me her mobile number 12 months ago...a gesture of trust and respect. Wishing you a steady recovery. Thinking of you Nikki xxx1
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@Michelle49 Oh that's wonderful to hear you are home now and on the road to recovery. Also that you have such great support, what a love your Husband is, very thoughtful! Rest up and nurture you x Melinda1
