Bilateral axillary clearance - advice sought
Hi my name is Deb - I was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer in February (lobular).I had a bilateral mastectomy with left axillary clearance on the 8th March. I returned to theatre a week later f...
Forum Discussion
Hi @"Deb P", I had a mastectomy (2 invasive lobular, both hormone positive and 1 invasive ductal tumour which was HER2+) back in 2012 and yes, it did seem like such a long road, but I was told by some wiser souls on this site, that I needed to just focus on one part of the treatment at a time as it could get overwhelming. So, trying to take it one day at a time was the strategy but I know that I sometimes struggled with doing that as I was so used to planning and organising! I did get better at it though as I went through my treatments and although the finish line seemed a long way off, I did get there in the end and have just celebrated my 5yrs milestone.
I know that when I developed lymphoedema during radiation treatment it felt like the last straw. It's great that you are on to it early and are doing all the right things as it makes a huge difference in the long run and will help to keep things manageable for you. My poor physio copped a lot of tears and anger in the first few sessions but was incredibly understanding and has been a great support over the past few years and I count her as an essential member of my support team these days.
If you think you are struggling emotionally it might be worth having a chat with a counsellor - lots of us have done this - and your GP can set you up with a mental health plan. Alternatively, connecting in person with others who've been through this can be just as useful and there are a number of support groups around. You could check out this page on the BCNA website to see if there's anything near you: https://www.bcna.org.au/services-and-support-groups/ I also found the Encore Exercise program really great for helping with the arm and for linking up with other women who'd been through breast cancer: http://www.ywcaencore.org.au/
Best wishes for the rest of your treatment and feel free to check in often! Jane xx
I know that when I developed lymphoedema during radiation treatment it felt like the last straw. It's great that you are on to it early and are doing all the right things as it makes a huge difference in the long run and will help to keep things manageable for you. My poor physio copped a lot of tears and anger in the first few sessions but was incredibly understanding and has been a great support over the past few years and I count her as an essential member of my support team these days.
If you think you are struggling emotionally it might be worth having a chat with a counsellor - lots of us have done this - and your GP can set you up with a mental health plan. Alternatively, connecting in person with others who've been through this can be just as useful and there are a number of support groups around. You could check out this page on the BCNA website to see if there's anything near you: https://www.bcna.org.au/services-and-support-groups/ I also found the Encore Exercise program really great for helping with the arm and for linking up with other women who'd been through breast cancer: http://www.ywcaencore.org.au/
Best wishes for the rest of your treatment and feel free to check in often! Jane xx