advice wanted

Hi Julia and other ladies

I had my lumpectomy on June 9th last year then had to have a mastectomy on July 13th as the tumour margins were not clear and one of my sentinel nodes was positive so 12 more lymph nodes came out all negative. My arm was so painful to begin with and did those exercises religiously also lots of moisturising to the arm with massage all helped a lot. The numbnes is now  just really at the top of the arm and in the pit of my arm pit feels weird when I put on my deoderant. I recently started Dragon Boat Paddling and that has really helped me stretch the arm a lot more great thing to get in to. I also see a remedial massage lady for  lymphatic massgae to my arm and chest once a month, that has helped rid me of a fluid bulge I had just at the top of my arm.

Chemo was a chore I just had to do feeling yuck and loosing your hair not the nicest thing in the world but done and dusted finished that in Dec . Radiation Jan / Feb this year was much easier just an inconvenience to go every day. One tip is to make sure you moisturise your skin all the time especially your wound when it's healed. I had no skin problems at all with the radiation I still use moisturiser everyday.

I started tamoxifen in March and apart from the hot flashes and sweating at times hasn't really affected me.

I feel I have my life back and more as have taken up all sorts of activities and have met a whole lot of lovely people through BC. I am back at work and feel productive there

So all you ladies wondering how you'll be in a year - you will be ok! 

Good luck on Friday Julia

Sarah x