Hi HB
I'm sorry you have to wait for your surgery. I was diagnosed on 17 Nov 09 and had surgery on 8 Dec 09 - my choice though as my son was graduating from year 12 two weeks after diagnosis and I didn't want to miss anything! My surgeon told me that the cancer most likely took years to grow and waiting 4-6 weeks wouldn't make a lot of difference. To my mind though once I was aware it was there, I just wanted it out! Still, I also wanted to be well for my son and his celebrations. I'm glad I did - I wasn't well enough to do anything for about 4 weeks after the surgery. You'll have a drain in (mine stayed in for 3 weeks) and you'll be tired.
Think of the extra time as a chance to get things in order so you don't have any pressures while you're healing. It also gives you a chance to try to do some light exercise or something that will make you feel better and stronger for the surgery. I would suggest trying to strengthen your arms and shoulders as an axillary clearance really does limit movement in the affected arm until you can get some good physio exercises going to make it strong again.
I think the biggest challenge in waiting (at least for me anyway) was the mental stuff - all the thoughts swirling around in my head that caused me to be distracted and not sleep well. I found keeping a journal next to my bedside was helpful. If I woke in the middle of the night, I would jot stuff down and when I got tired again, stopped and drifted off to sleep. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor for some assistance if sleep is eluding you - you can also buy herbal tablets to help you sleep as its important you try to rest as much as you can.
