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hb's avatar
hb
Member
15 years ago

post-mastectomy; pre-chemo...

Hi everyone, hope the perfect weather we've been experiencing here in Adelaide is finding its way to you too.

It's nearly a fortnight since my mastectomy (left) and things are going ok. I've been back twice to have fluid drained off, which I find kind of disgusting but not painful. This morning I looked like I was trying to grow my boob back, it was so 'full'. I'm glad so many ppl told me that this kind of thing is not at all dangerous, else I'd have panicked -- especially it being a long weekend. Like Amanda, I'm experiencing all sorts of weird sensations: it's like my armpit is made out of sandpaper, or like the back and/or inside of my arm is really badly sunburnt. And such tightness! I'm going ok for pain though -- have been off everything for a few days now. I'm finding the exercises difficult but worthwhile.

The post-surgery pathology identified a grade 3, 6.5cm (yeah that's cm not mm) tumour, but only two of 13 nodes were positive. It's HER2 neg, estrogen/progesterone +. So the plan is (1) chemo; (2) radiation; (3) tamoxifen.  Not sure when it all begins -- after the mastectomy wound heals, I guess.

That's me for now. Go well, friends!
Heather

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  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Heather,

    Glad to hear you are recovering.I had to go twice a week for 5 weeks to have fluid drained.I'd roll over in bed and here it sloshing like a water bottle! I still have tightness across my chest(op .10mths ago) like there is duck tape there.My doc.says I have adhesions now.Your arm will take awhile to settle down- do you do a gentle lymph massage?For a few months after,I had the sensation that I had a football under my arm.You will always be numb under the armpit but you get used to it.

    Well you are certainly having the full works aren't you.I've had bc twice and got to experience all those treaments.The chemo and being bald was by far the hardest for me  -physically and psychologically.But don't get me started on the hair thing -my blogs are full of whinging!

    Hope the fluid settles down soon for you.

                                    Tonya xx