Forum Discussion
ShellSurfing
8 years agoMember
Newbie with Questions about Surfing/Water
Morning, I am newly diagnosed on Tuesday , saw the Surgeon on Thursday now waiting for the date of the op for my mastectomy.
After processing this all weekend, just wondering if anyone can help with these questions.
I am a keen SUP and surfer, I fear I will be unbalanced. Is this a thing? I fear having more operations and not being bale to get out on the water, I fear the reaction of chemo on my body. My surgeon only suggested removing the breast with the lumps in it, I also have suspect lymph nodes and he said he will know more once the operation is underway. He said I can remove the other which is also an option, as my other fear is getting in that side as well.
I am wondering if anyone can share there experience of surfing / supping and have you used a prosthesis, do you feel unbalanced if you don't? Did you get a reconstruction because of this?
Being out in the water has been my sanity in the last three years as I have been going through a separation and now a divorce, so continuing being on the water is high up there for my mental health.
Thanks for taking the time to read and reply
After processing this all weekend, just wondering if anyone can help with these questions.
I am a keen SUP and surfer, I fear I will be unbalanced. Is this a thing? I fear having more operations and not being bale to get out on the water, I fear the reaction of chemo on my body. My surgeon only suggested removing the breast with the lumps in it, I also have suspect lymph nodes and he said he will know more once the operation is underway. He said I can remove the other which is also an option, as my other fear is getting in that side as well.
I am wondering if anyone can share there experience of surfing / supping and have you used a prosthesis, do you feel unbalanced if you don't? Did you get a reconstruction because of this?
Being out in the water has been my sanity in the last three years as I have been going through a separation and now a divorce, so continuing being on the water is high up there for my mental health.
Thanks for taking the time to read and reply
22 Replies
- primekMemberI am really sorry about your devastating surgical outcome and upcoming treatment but hope you will be well enough to be back in that ocean soon. X
- Kiwi_AngelMember@ShellSurfing - just wanted to send Iu big hugs and positive thoughts and let u know that we are all here for u xoxox
- kmakmMemberAh Shell, what a bugger. Effing BC.
I hope you're back on the water asap. Clearly that's where you're meant to be, you water baby. How splendid that you were specifically matched to a like minded oncologist! Sometimes our medical care is so thoughtful and considerate.
I look forward to hearing about your return to the waves. K xox - ShellSurfingMemberThanks Sister and Zoffiel
They matched an Oncologist to me that surfs, as my surgeon knew that was my main focus.
So when the Oncologist and I discussed treatment/chemo, the option was given to me have treatment without hopefully too many side effects so I can still surf, paddleboard and enjoy myself on the water.
It is a crap disease that unfortunately is becoming more common, life and lemons lol xx - SisterMember@ShellSurfing I hope your onc is as happy as mine for you to get back in the ocean as soon as you get the all clear. It's the only place these days where I can completely let go of what the last few months have brought. It provides peace and positivity. (A bit cold for it down south at the moment, though.) I don't know about surfing (I left trying to learn too late and my knees don't spring anymore) but I found that both gentle kayaking and paddleboarding did amazing things for my range of movement as I've had cording issues from the node removal. My onc has been very supportive. Keep us posted as to how you're going including wonderful days on the ocean. Take care and all the best.
- ZoffielMemberOh, bugger @ShellSurfing that is not good news.
If you are not already seeing a counselor, or similar, it might be worth considering. They can be good sounding boards and can help with things like getting a spiel together so you can explain what is going on in a way that covers what you want to tell people without losing the plot.
Best wishes for the coming weeks, this really is a shit of a disease. Mxx - ShellSurfingMemberThanks Margie @onemargie for your comments and hugs.
I ended up choosing to have both off, which was lucky as they found a tumor 1cm in my other breast that wasn't detected in my ultrasound.
I had my surgery on the 2nd May. I had 38 nodes (the lot) taken out on my right side, with 3 tumors ranging form 4cm to 2 cm in my right breast, like you I am triple negative.
On waking from my surgery my surgeon was telling me I need further scans ASAP due to the number of lymph nodes they removed, these scans showed it had metastasized is in my neck and liver, a recon is not even in my world of thoughts now.
I am waiting for my healing to finish to start chemo, should be in two more weeks if all goes according to plan
Oncologist advised me it is about living my life comfortable now, worst part is the waiting, now I have to wait and see if the Chemo works to shrink the 6 tumors in my liver and 2 tumors in my neck.
I am just wanting to get back into the ocean and enjoy everyday and be thankful for everyday now and try not stress over the outcome of my chemo or what my oncologist said to me.
Love light and happiness Shell xxxx - onemargieMemberHi there @ShellSurfing welcome to the forum. You’ve had some awesome advice so far. I’ll touch on the mastectomy side of things as the girls have the exercise sorted. I had triple neg BC. Left boob stage 2a grade 3 (3cm tumor) aged 43 may 2016 (nearly 2 years cancer free) I had 8 lymph nodes removed that were all clear all scans clear too. I could of just had a lumpectomy but chose to have a mastectomy so I could avoid radiation and my guts told me too. I had 8 rounds of chemo. Rads would mean daily trips to RBWH (brisbane) also which is a nightmare for me. I also took the other boob off as a prophylaxis even though I was told it wasn’t necessary.I just trusted my guts again on that one
.Mastectomies are a very personal choice and everyone is different. I took both off as that’s what I wanted to do and no regrets from me. But that’s not necessarily what you should do at all but it is an option. I only had itty bitty titties so I’m ok with it. My advice to you would be to check your options about immediate recon. In hindsight I wish I’d done that for a few reasons. The wait times in qld are ridiculous. I’ve been waiting 2 years and just saw the surgeon the other week it will be at least another 12 months before the first surgery can happen and with you having bigger boobs this might me a good choice for you. Yo can join the breast recon group for advice too. Otherwise a prosthetic can be an option to weigh things up if you chose not to go down that path. Keep us posted how you go. Trust your gut listen to your body and you will know when it’s a good time to get back into the water too. Big hug. Margie xx - ShellSurfingMemberThanks @primek I will look into that hat sounds like it could be useful
- primekMemberWhile I don't surf I swim. As soon as heaked I was back in water doing suggested exercises in tbe water and worked my way up till syrength returned. My physio suggested to wait 10 weeks for heavy working out ad I had a bilateral and reconstruction with a matrix sling. Chemo was the thing thst knocked me about and caused muscle msss loss and energy loss. But with persistence I'm doing pretty much all I did just not quite as often....yet. I bought a zip up swimsuit from speedo that you can place a prosthesis in. I never used a prosthesis but it's a good swimsuit. I also got a a hat through csncer council that is made of wimsuit material rather than rubber. Kinder to a bald head if you need chemo.