New diagnosis and Mastectomy
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On AC, I found days 2-5 the worst, although I was known to fall asleep on the way home from chemo. Then it would be a gentle recovery over the next couple of weeks just in time to get knocked down again. Keep a record of days and how you're feeling - it will help next time around.1
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Thanks ladies. Your words of wisdom certainly make me feel more confident going forward. I believe I can actually get chemo at Leongatha Hospital which is only 15 mins away instead of traipsing through the hills to Warragul. Not that I don't appreciate the beauty of it but those bends might not be the best after chemo. I saw the radiotherapist and they have said I will have 28 sessions of radiotherapy after probably 6 months of chemo. It sounds a lot but its lower dose over a longer period of time to help with planning for reconstruction down the track.
I finally got my oncologist appointment for next Wednesday. I am actually happy about that because I will finally have a plan and some certainty around everything.
I have healed very well from surgery but get tired around 3 to 5pm each day. My partner notices. I also have what I think is either nerve pain or possibly some pain from things healing. It leaves a wierd numbi feeling but combined with local tenderness and massage seems to help under my arm and around my armpit. Its mostly affected in the evenings. Is this common?.0 -
My armpit belonged to someone else for quite a while after surgery. Not painful but also not connected. The nerves get a bit of a bashing and it may take some time to get back to normal. I still have a degree of loss of feeling, so assume now it's permanent but it doesn't affect anything. I don't wax underarms but if I did, I would need to be careful as sensitivity to heat and cold is the most obvious not-quite-there side effect. Best wishes.0
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I still don't have feeling back under the arm and I suspect I never will. The bonus has been moisturising after rads - if I start at the numb part, the cream has warmed up by the time I get to the areas that feel it!1
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@Suzi_S61 Our natural bio rhythms dip at that time of day, so throw in a cancer diagnosis and a general anaesthetic and it's not surprising you get a bit more tired than usual. It will fade with time. The physical tiredness will always be worse at that end of the day as well. Are yoi doing the physio exercises.
It's good to have a plan eh? We humans like a bit of control and certainty, both of which are in short supply with breast cancer, especially when we're first diagnosed.
You sound like you're doing really well Suzi! Good on you. K xox
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Hi kmacm,
I AM doing my arm exercises as the specialist said that was the most important thing for my recovery, thank you for your support. Its certainly a journey and a half but everyone has been very understanding.0 -
I don't know if I am a freak, but I have been quite positive about this whole experience. People look at me wierdly or expect me to cry a lot.
It's just not me. I don't feel sorry for myself and there are so many people who are worse off. I have 2 good legs and arms and at least half a brain ( I know this from my bone scan) haha.2 -
Good on you
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Hi just asking if anyone has had a port put in? How did you find it? Not sure but thinking may need this after discussing with BN. Thanks in advance.0
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Get the port but take any and all drugs they offer to you beforehand. I had lots of pain during the procedure as they didn't offer me any pain killers. I felt every needle and cut. Avoid that if possible. I have had nine chemo treatments so far since my port was put in, twice my port didn't work but seven times it did. Make sure you get numbing cream to put on the port area an hour before treatment and it makes the needle insertion less painful. The gnarly veins you may get if you don't get the port may cause problems down the track.2
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Thanks for the info Blossom 1961.
I will definitely ask for some pain relief.0 -
Wow @Blossom1961 no painkillers at all? I had mine in with a local anaesthetic plus pretty strong sedative. Can't imagine how painful it would be without!1
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Vangirl, they gave me some sort of anaesthetic during the procedure but it didn't work and I felt everything. My body went into the shakes and the only thing they offerred was a calmative. Something kicked in for the last ten minutes or so as I only felt pain for part of the stitching. Very traumatic. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.0
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My breast surgeon will do mine and I think he is pretty good. I will check to make sure I will be numb.0
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@Suzi_S61 I had mine put in under a general anaesthetic in hospital - day procedure. From memory, it hurt a bit for a couple of days and then settled into discomfort for a few weeks, mainly if I forgot and tried to lay on that side. That too, settled down and it would only be uncomfortable every now and then. I can't say that it was fun having it in but it made chemo so much easier and I am very glad I did it. There was a discussion about pros and cons from a post I put up earlier this year, To Port or Not to Port (or something like that). I got a lot of excellent info from people to make my own decision. I would definitely recommend having one. I just got mine out on Saturday and glad to see the back of it but would do the same again (not that I ever, ever want to).3
