Hi, newbie here

@SallyS I massage bio oil over my scar twice a day . It's fading nicely and I'm wanting my breast in tip top condition for when radiation starts. I'll be moving away from the oil at radiation time. 

No apologies necessary! Yes, a bit of skin flaking is normal. I had a wide local excision and a re-excision, and had some skin peeling afterwards. The whole area has been traumatised, all sorts of instruments and liquids are used to sterilise and retract your body during surgery. Some medications are very drying. Pop some Vitamin E cream or Bio Oil on it. If it gets worse I'd go see your GP.

Hi everyone, Sorry another question, 4 weeks post lump removed and just noticed the skin around my scar is flaky like you would get from a very light sunburn. Is this normal please? Thanks 

It could be where the drain was - do you have a small scar there?  Otherwise, it could also be where the muscle is being pulled if you have any restriction in your armpit when you stretch your arm (cording?).  It's hard to know as the signals can get a bit scrambled if you've had node surgery.

Hi again ladies, so 15days post lump removal surgery and although my wound has healed great, I feel pain directly bellow my boob over my ribs. Is this normal? I wondered whether it may have been because I have been slumped on my lounge and maybe my bra has just rubbed on it or wether it could just be from having muscle, tissue etc moved around and it’s resettling? Been this was since Mon-Tue. If not better, I’ll be calling the breast care nurse or Doctor but thought I’d ask her too. Thanks xx

It is a personal decision.  My sister was diagnosed at 32 and survived 13 years.  Unfortunately, I don't know what type of bc she had, and at the moment it is unclear whether my only sibling is enough to access the free genetic testing and I'm not in a position to pay for it.  I have 3 kids, including 2 girls so that is a concern.  I had a single mastectomy in January and, although I've been told by both surgeon and onc (both of whom I trust) that I will be carefully monitored for a recurrence in the other breast, I still feel deeply uneasy about this and wonder too, if there is a genetic link, would their advice be different.  Because I had lobular cancer, I never felt or noticed it but was picked up on a screening mammogram.  It was barely visible but turned out to be twice the size they thought and had spread to 3 nodes when it seemed there was no indication of this. 

i was thought to have carried the brac1 gene from my fathers side...but fortunately didn't. My half sister  (same mother) had breast cancer and so has her daughter. My sister unfortunately died from her bc but my niece is still cancer free 14 years on after the same aggresive treatment I had. She was in her early 30s when diagnosed with 2 young children. 

Because of my family history I'd been having mammograms since age 40 every year. At age 51 I found a lump....5 weeks after a clear mammogram. So....even knowing where the cancer was it was invisible. I had an aggresive es+ her2+ grade 3 cancer...stage 1. I was very fortunate to have found it before it had spread...and this was purely due to location. I try not to imagine what would have happened otherwise.

I chose a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction at my surgeons recommendation . We have as yet no identified gene. My niece chose the same. And although treatment might seem drastic...the alternative can be risky if undetected. Chemotherapy is no walk in the park, nor is herceptin if cancer develops...I had heart failure from herceptin.  Under the new pbs guidance I would have been offered tamoxifen before cancer developed and I would have seriously considered it. You can always stop if effects outweigh the benefit.

Ask also about your breast density, if ultrasound should be added and possibly the new 3d mammogram. Ask about your genuine  risk of having breast cancer in your lifetime , knowing  the stats can really help.

I know it is a difficult decision but you need to outweigh risks with benefits. You have time to find out more. The decision doesn't have to be made in an instant. Tamoxifen can also give you time to consider long term options. 

If it was me Sally I'd want to know the genetic details. But this is an intensely personal decision.

My sister was the second person in my family diagnosed with breast cancer, after my mother. She had the genetic testing done; I know she was influenced in this decision by the two females in the next generation, her daughter and mine. No new tests had been developed between her death (from BC) and my diagnosis. I had a long chat with a geneticist at the Peter MacCallum Familial Family Centre who later sent me a report. The girls are advised to commence surveillance at 30.

The BRAC1 & 2 genes are the most common genetic link to BC discovered so far. Of everyone who develops BC, 3% have these genes.

There may be insurance ramifications if you have genetic testing done. You can always go and have counselling with them before you do or don't get tested.

Don't feel pressured, do your research, listen to your gut. Make the decision you can live with. K xox

@SallyS I think all you can do is try it and see if you can manage as it seems everybody’s reaction is different.

I too was terrified by hormone therapy- because I am postmenopausal  I was put on an Aromatase Inhibitor called Letrozole. Yes there have been side effects - hot flushes , joint pain and more worrying a big jumpin my cholesterol plus bone thinning.I also think it can bring on the blues.I have been on it 10 months nearly and been managing ok. 

I walk for an hour daily which helps with my joints - I can walk thru pain I started with within 15 minutes and the release of endorphins helps with how I feel. On the odd occasion I miss a walk I really notice the difference.My oncologist recommended I take Krill Oil tablets which are much stronger source of Omega 3 than fish oil for my joints and I think it also helps my cholesterol.

Bone thinning is a big worry asI started with osteoporosis and an osteoporotic fracture.I have 6 monthly Prolia injections to counter this as well as 2 Caltrate Bone and Muscle Health tablets.I also do a light weights exercise class twice weekly and hope it with the walking will help counter bonethinning.

To me Hormone Therapy is my best chance to avoid a recurrence and so I try to work around problems that occur. I did also hear at the outset that the body can adapt in many cases after a while and touch wood I think mine has.

Wishing all the best and doubtless others on Tamoxifen will give you their thoughts too. XO

It's all quite terrifying this decision making isn't it. I'm probably not the best to help answer your question so I'll leave it to others. I think it's a good idea first to discuss options with the doctor and get an understanding of what they suggest.  Do you have a breast care nurse to help break down all the jargon and give you a broader understanding?