First Post

Hi Tanya. In July this year I had my right breast removed. I was given the choice of a lkumpectomy or mastectomy but advised to have the latter because of the size of the tumour and the likelihood of a  return trip to the theatre. I didn't think I was over endowed before but now I am really embarrassed about the lop sidedness.  I won't let my husband see me without a prosthesis. I wish I had had both taken off at the same time. I have been put on the waiting list for a reconstructiuon but have been told this will take years. I get really depressed. How did you cope?

Lynne

Hi cynthia,

I am also new to the site and very similar circumstances. I have had regular mammograms due to dense breasts and needle biopsies on cysts, so was suprised when my regular mammogram showed up DCIS ( geez didn't even know what that meant) but after a core biopsy (18 cores removed ) untrasounds and more mammograms I needed a lumpectomy. My surgeon took out the size of a tennis ball from my left breast and rearranged the flesh so as I didnt have a crator. approx 20 stitches from my armpit to nipple across the top of left beast. pathology found a small invasive cancer so now I am booked in for a mastectomy on 6th Oct, took approx 5 days to be relatively pain free but a month to be totally pain free, just in time to do it all again. I still wore my normal bras just rearranged things occassionally. hope this helps. chez

hi cynthia,

just checking to see how things are going with you, are you still resting up? hope you are feeling okay, and still enjoying the pampering.... hope things are going okay.

hi cynthia,

just checking to see how things are going with you, are you still resting up? hope you are feeling okay, and still enjoying the pampering.... hope things are going okay.

Glad the operation is behind you.  Daggie bras are us!!!  I have just had reconstruction and I am still in the ugly ones too!!!

The wait is on for the pathology results now.  Lets hope the margins were clear and no node involvement.

Rest up. 

Take care.

Tanya

glad it all went well, and yep unsexxy is the word for the bras for the next few weeks/months, but then back into the normal ones after that, glad the scarring is good, and will be easily hidden. GREAT STUFF.... Enjoy your time getting pampered,  Chocoloate is always helpful to lift my moods.... hehe... good luck and keep in touch. XX

glad it all went well, and yep unsexxy is the word for the bras for the next few weeks/months, but then back into the normal ones after that, glad the scarring is good, and will be easily hidden. GREAT STUFF.... Enjoy your time getting pampered,  Chocoloate is always helpful to lift my moods.... hehe... good luck and keep in touch. XX

Hi Moira.  I am totally amazed and touched at the thoughtfulness of this online group - to remember my surgery date and send messages of ressurance. Fantastic.  And thank you! 

Everything went smoothly in surgery.  I am very tender in the left breast area, as to be expected, but not on any pain killers much - maybe a bit of Panadol if needed, but mostly I don’t need it.   I won’t get the results from what the pathology tests say until Fri next week (10^th Sep). 

I am delighted that I only have one wound.  It is an L shape quite close the left nipple (from about 11’oclock to 5 o’clock) where they removed the lump as well as the sentinel node/s.  I am very glad about that from a scarring point of view and also for healing, I won’t have to worry about messing around with a wound under my arm.  Also I was worried about losing the shape of my breast and looking lopsided or deformed on one side afterwards.  But things look really good so far, so I am very pleased about that too, except I do have to wear very un-sexy bras for the next 3 months!

I’m home now and feeling dopey and tired. So have settled into bed with the laptop, a book and a movie – so my husband says everything’s normal!

Cynthia

Hi ShirlO!  They do have GREAT beds in hospital don't they?  Thanks so much for your thoughtfulness and sending me a message on D-Day!  All went smoothly.  I am very tender in the left breast area, as to be expected, but not on any pain killers much - maybe a bit of Panadol if needed, but mostly I don’t need it.   I won’t get the results from what the pathology tests say until Fri next week (10^th Sep).   

I am delighted that I only have one wound.  It is an L shape quite close the left nipple (from about 11’oclock to 5 o’clock) where they removed the lump as well as the sentinel node/s.   I am very glad about that from a scarring point of view and also for healing, I won’t have to worry about messing around with a wound under my arm.  Also I was worried about losing the shape of my breast and looking lopsided or deformed on one side afterwards.  But things look really good so far, so I am very pleased about that too, except I do have to wear very un-sexy bras for the next 3 months!

I’m home now and feeling dopey and tired. So have settled into bed with the laptop, a book and a movie – so my husband says everything’s normal!

Cheers

Cynthia

well Cynthia,

By the time you read this, you will be over the operation part, I was in Adelaide with my father in law who is currently having chemo, but i was thinking of you. I did wear baggy t-shirts etc to begin with, but you know i soon learnt that i was the only one who noticed the difference so guess what, i'm now back to wearing my usual clothes and feeling good about myself.  If you have a medical person support (even if it is your doctor, rememebr they can order the berlei bra from bcna for you.  they have to order for you so you get the correct size, this is invaluable, as the stuffing can be pulled out and in, and it also has no seams so is great for when you are going through radiotherapy and well, so make sure you get someone to order it for you. Once again, we are all thinking of you and when you feel up to it i'm sure we will hear from you again.  Take Care