Forum Discussion
how to move on
Hi I don’t post often but I do come on when I need some info but I can’t find what I am looking for at the moment
I had lumpectomy in may followed by radition July/August
1- Just how long after radiation should it stop hurting?
i can’t find a comfy bra? Wires sit right on the edge of the lumpectomy scar and where I had minor peeling , so I am trying soft wire free but I still get pain from under where I had the worst radiation burn (not bad but enough to peel) and they don’t sit as nice as underwire ones and sports bras tend to look like One big mess or they have underwire. So every single day I think I am going to burn this bra when I get home and I can’t remember but did bras also feel funny?
2- can a blood test show cancer?
3- is there a test that show if tamoxifen is working? Like I get some hot flushes and my finger joints are a bit achy, I have put on a few kilos but I got lazy this year.
4- Am I cancer free now or is that after five years?
Why do some people get the genetic testing but not everyone? (Family history is just 1 aunt and 1 Cousin)
i have my first scan coming up in jan and don’t want to send the next month stressing over that but how do people not ? I just feel a bit on edge when I think about it and I know that’s not good so I try to not stress but I went to gp for script repeat and said should I have a blood test or something now ? So he wrote one for a bit of check of everything he said I don’t want to give you bad news again I laughed and said good I don’t want to get bad news again those first few weeks back in may I clocked up a lot of visits with him. He’s great but before all this I hardly ever went to the dr
In between all that and against breast care nurse advise I quit my job that I had for 14 years the week before radiation started and started a new one the week after radiation finished. So three months in trying to find my feet and where I fit in the new role. Head down bum up and all that. Everyone’s nice but I don’t love the role I don’t hate it either. Am I ever going to love something again? I don’t want the stress of a higher paid role, and I can car pool with husband most days so the lower pay is actually fairly well evened from that, we close for two weeks next Friday so I get a few weeks break which I think I really need. My direct boss is lovely but I feel a bit of tension from the girl that was doing the role. Like I am not as good as her in her view , I don’t feel like I need to be of course I do things different so could just be paroniid about that but she’s got this hair flicking thing that makes me cringe
I had lumpectomy in may followed by radition July/August
1- Just how long after radiation should it stop hurting?
i can’t find a comfy bra? Wires sit right on the edge of the lumpectomy scar and where I had minor peeling , so I am trying soft wire free but I still get pain from under where I had the worst radiation burn (not bad but enough to peel) and they don’t sit as nice as underwire ones and sports bras tend to look like One big mess or they have underwire. So every single day I think I am going to burn this bra when I get home and I can’t remember but did bras also feel funny?
2- can a blood test show cancer?
3- is there a test that show if tamoxifen is working? Like I get some hot flushes and my finger joints are a bit achy, I have put on a few kilos but I got lazy this year.
4- Am I cancer free now or is that after five years?
Why do some people get the genetic testing but not everyone? (Family history is just 1 aunt and 1 Cousin)
i have my first scan coming up in jan and don’t want to send the next month stressing over that but how do people not ? I just feel a bit on edge when I think about it and I know that’s not good so I try to not stress but I went to gp for script repeat and said should I have a blood test or something now ? So he wrote one for a bit of check of everything he said I don’t want to give you bad news again I laughed and said good I don’t want to get bad news again those first few weeks back in may I clocked up a lot of visits with him. He’s great but before all this I hardly ever went to the dr
In between all that and against breast care nurse advise I quit my job that I had for 14 years the week before radiation started and started a new one the week after radiation finished. So three months in trying to find my feet and where I fit in the new role. Head down bum up and all that. Everyone’s nice but I don’t love the role I don’t hate it either. Am I ever going to love something again? I don’t want the stress of a higher paid role, and I can car pool with husband most days so the lower pay is actually fairly well evened from that, we close for two weeks next Friday so I get a few weeks break which I think I really need. My direct boss is lovely but I feel a bit of tension from the girl that was doing the role. Like I am not as good as her in her view , I don’t feel like I need to be of course I do things different so could just be paroniid about that but she’s got this hair flicking thing that makes me cringe
31 Replies
- Dear B I also had a lumpectomy and radiation, August 2015. My breast hurts some days and not others, the ends of the scar very painful if pressed, I certainly can't lay on my breast. I wore the berlei post surgery bras for the first 18 months. Very comfy and the soft cotton is cool.i bought larger sizes on purpose. I've since graduated to the latest berlei woman kind bra. I love this one. The underwire sometimes annoys me but 14DD boobs need support. Anyway the post radiation pains , twinges are much better than they were. I'm sure things will improve for you too. Oh and I used to fold up a very soft hanky to place over my tender spot. Goodluck. Janine xo
- And I'm sorry to say that I still get pain in my breast and my op was in April. I had radiology as well but managed to avoid chemo. It really is an individual thing from what I can see and hear about. It's important to find the support you need to minimise any pain. hence my long rambling post above.
- El cheapo sports bra from Best & Less give some support without any wires....as does the instrument of torture called a Crop Top from the same place. Nah, just kidding. Crop tops usually have a band of elastic around your chest under your boobs, no wires at all, a pad sewn inside them for nipple smoothness. I can't answer for how effective they are for holding padding in for those who have been through the masectomy route. There's also a wonderful website that I look at occasionally, sigh and think "one day I'll get one of those" called Bras Without Wires, designed by a lady who has been through all this. You might also try Big W who had a whole rack of "post surgery" bras. I used that one for about three months, nice wide straps. no wires, little pockets to put any pads you might need, very comfortable.
- I had a lumpectomy and finished radiation April,I still get a sore breast ,sometimes worst than others and sharp pains near scar which is on inside of chest.my surgeon and oncologist told me this is normal and I could still get pain as long as two years later.my bras rub on scar as where it is located.xx
- Someone posted a pic of a $7 balconette bra from Kmart the other day - not sure who it was.
- DearB ,
About the bra thing - I don't wear one at home; but for out in public I found a very comfortable bra at Target Online. Just had a look, and it doesn't seem to be available anymore - lucky I bought 5! But there are some other likely looking wire free and seam free bras.
Some people find hankies or 'combine' bandages give protection and stop rubbing.
Best wishes from jennyss - @DearB , I think as far as genetic testing goes your oncologist will advise if needed. Often used to assist with choosing treatment options.
I can't believe you started a new job in amongst all of this. Hats off to you for working!
Yes, scanxiety, is real and I'm sure it never gets easier. I have been seeing a psychologist who specialises in people who have had a cancer diagnosis - would you consider that maybe? Hugs xx - 1. Hi there @DearB i didn’t have rads so cant help you with that. Have you tried the sports wireless bras from Kmart ? They are pretty comfy I put my crocheted titties in them.
2. i would speak to your gp or oncol about the blood tests they vary so much and if something is out of whack doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong. For example I’ve just had one and my white cell count was up turns out I had a urine infection.
3. My bc was triple neg so no tamoxifen for me so another question for your gp or oncol.
4. I was told I was cancer free as soon as I’d had my mastectomy and heard that all my scans (ct and bone scan) were clear. I had 8 rounds of chemo and no rads as I had the mastectomy so i didn’t have to have both chemo and rads. I had the gene test as I had no family history and was under 50. You can always get your gp or oncol to refer you to the genetic clinic in your state and they will review your referral and decide if you qualify for the test. It is available privately but it’s around $1000. And I think you’ll find we all get “scanxiety” it’s a normal emotion. Be rest assured if you are feeling fit and well. Exercise helps me heaps me with clearing my head and I do it every morning. Feel heaps better mentally when I get home. I have bloods every three months before I see the oncol. Just part of my new normal now.
And i I went through some anxiety when I went back to work I had a “hair flicker” there as well. She was a bit of a suck up which I hated but I left that job for various reasons. Have a new one now that I love. Don’t let other people let you feel like that I’d say she’s a bit jealous of you and so she should be you’re obviously good at what you do. Life has a way of working stuff out and you will find what you love again. Perhaps some study in a new field of interest could be good for you?? You could do it part time maybe while you work? I’m a nurse and I love my job I was in retail before that and didn’t study it until I was 30. Best thing I did. So many job opportunities. Come on here and chat with us anytime. Margie x - Sorry, half way through. Scans bring back all the original stress and disbelief. It took me five years to get sort of relaxed. You learn to expect it which makes it slightly easier. As you learn to accept your possibly growing list of medicos. Like you, I occasionally visited a GP. Post breast cancer, I have a surgeon, oncologist, cardiologist, lymphoedema therapist and even consulted a couple of specialists. And I am doing fine!!
Blood test? We wish - one simple test that would say OK or not OK. Maybe one day. I am on Femara and I would love to know if it's working but no, I have to make up my own mind, with some information mind you, as to whether it's worth the side effects or not. I'll have to decide next year if I want another 5 years or not. It will depend a lot on the impact on my bone density so we will see.
i started a new job 12 months after diagnosis, it felt right. A new start, a new challenge and I never regretted it. I worked through treatment and got any help I needed, which to be honest wasn't much, but I had been in my old job a fair time and I was ready for a change. It can take time to settle in. Try and ignore the other person's manner, she hasn't got the job, you have!
Best wishes. - Nothing like dealing with cancer in the past tense! Can't answer all your questions but starting with the last.
You may well be cancer free, just that no medical person has enough evidence to say so, so they won't. Treatment was designed to kill off any stray cells that escaped the lumpectomy but it's not a perfect science. There is unfortunately no guarantee that you will stay cancer free after 5 years ( I have just passed mine) but your chance of a recurrence from the original cancer shrinks very significantly. Scan anxiety is a thing - while threads on this website are devoted to it.
