recovering from surgery

No Chemo...how wonderful for you.

I wouldnt worry about getting the cream now..... when I had my Radiation I had meetyings with nurses throughout to check on how things were. They will guide you along the way & more than likely supply you with things you may need. Make a note to ask when you first go.

Each Oncologist have their own routines of the treatment they provide. Though I live in a rural area all my surgery & chemo was done in Melbourne. (My radiation was arranged locally for me,, which was great as I would have had to move down to Melb otherwise for the 6 weeks) I had 8 rounds of chemo but other women I have spoken to in my support group only had 6 rounds. I researched my Oncologist & was very impressed with his credentials, so found comfortable in his advice/decisions.

If your Oncologist says your treatment can wait until your return & you are comfortable with that I see no reason why you shouldnt continue with your plans. If you feel time is of the essence maybe you should talk further with him/her telling them of your concerns.

Good luck Hun

HI Kerry, Good results for me No chemo. I have to take a Hormone tablet Tamoxifen for 5 years. Have my appt tomorrow to disscuss Radio treatment should i be putting gel, cream on now before treatments?  my tumour was found at 2 oçlock close to right nipple and muscle wall. will i need to have this booster zap ? not looking forward to these zaps sound so painfull. take care Jane

Also my Chemo oncolgist said it would be okay for me to go holiday before my treatment starts but its up to my radio oncologist   who i see tomorrow.  What do u make of this ??? i always thought time was the essence my holiday is for a month in the USA. Jane xx

Hi Jane,

I had 5 weeks of radiotherapy on the whole breast. The next week I was being zapped on the actual spot where the tumour had been. My lump was 1.3cm on the back muscle of the breast, basically on the lowest rib on the right side and all the scarring from the operation is on the under side of the breast. It was quite burnt underneath my breast and I was had some difficulty wearing bras because of this fact. While I was burnt and the skin was peeling I needed to wear bras to keep the breast off the skin of my chest. I had a padded bandage that this clear cooling gel was applied to & the bra would keep it in place.

 

Kerry

Hi

Thank u for your relpy read every word trying to match my results to yours as i do to everyone elses'. I know that we are all different but its doesnt stop me from checking.

Well tomorrow i will find out another step on my path Chemo vs Hormone, so only one more sleepless night , i think.  If not at least i will have some kind of a plan to follow instead of this unknown.

Visited my hairdressers Fri they were perfect so caring and helpful.  As i wanted to meet local lady s who are traveling along this path and they have 3 and they are going to pass my phone number on to them.

What is  a one week booster is that in with the 6wks treatment ?

I like the idea of saving ya jokes, mesages, etc and love the saying "Get the HELL out of my way,  ive got things to do. will be using this one Thanks ;D

You take care Jane

Hi Jane

I was 50 when I was diagnosed with BC- Grade 3 Invasive ductal carcinoma & HER2 positive. I has a Lumpectory & axcillary clearance (2 nodes afftected) just after Xmas 2009. At this time I had mild reconstruction very similiar to a 'Breast Reduction' Op.

Unfortunately I had to go back in for a 2nd op due to a clear margin not being achieved the first time.

This followed with 8 rounds of Chemo, 1 year of Herceptin, 5 weeks of Radiotherapy with 1 week of booster at the tumour site & Tamixofen for the 5 years.

Chemo - I had an infusor port inserted in my chest for sessions & I was lucky - basically nil sickness though exhaustion the weekend following chemo sessions - hair loss between rounds 1 & 2 and the horrible metal taste. Nil to mouth ulcers also, though the tongue did get sore at times.

By Week 4 of radiotherapy my nipple was getting sore & by week 6 I was burnt to a crisp & skin was peeling underneath the breast. Gel & bandage applied hugely releived this uncomfortable stage.

I had to come off the Tamixofen by July 2010 due to developing a DVT and I am now on Armidex.

As stated by Tonya - everyone is different & your Oncologist will advise the best course for you.

Keep a journal Hun... it has helped me immensely further down the track. There are times you cant tell family/friends your thoughts - to write them down at the time can be a huge releive - Do a 'Look Good Feel Good' workshop, I lived on Donut King Iced coffee with ice cream during chemo. I also kept every email, joke, text msg, etc that was sent to me. On the down days I would read them - always lifted my spirits. There was a couple of saying I found  that helped me ' You cant heal what you refuse to confront' & 'Courage is looking fear right in the eye & saying - "Get the hell out of way. Ive got things to do" '

Best wishes Hun - you are going to do just fine

 

HUgzzz   Kerry

Hi Jane

I was 50 when I was diagnosed with BC- Grade 3 Invasive ductal carcinoma & HER2 positive. I has a Lumpectory & axcillary clearance (2 nodes afftected) just after Xmas 2009. At this time I had mild reconstruction very similiar to a 'Breast Reduction' Op.

Unfortunately I had to go back in for a 2nd op due to a clear margin not being achieved the first time.

This followed with 8 rounds of Chemo, 1 year of Herceptin, 5 weeks of Radiotherapy with 1 week of booster at the tumour site & Tamixofen for the 5 years.

Chemo - I had an infusor port inserted in my chest for sessions & I was lucky - basically nil sickness though exhaustion the weekend following chemo sessions - hair loss between rounds 1 & 2 and the horrible metal taste. Nil to mouth ulcers also, though the tongue did get sore at times.

By Week 4 of radiotherapy my nipple was getting sore & by week 6 I was burnt to a crisp & skin was peeling underneath the breast. Gel & bandage applied hugely releived this uncomfortable stage.

I had to come off the Tamixofen by July 2010 due to developing a DVT and I am now on Armidex.

As stated by Tonya - everyone is different & your Oncologist will advise the best course for you.

Keep a journal Hun... it has helped me immensely further down the track. There are times you cant tell family/friends your thoughts - to write them down at the time can be a huge releive - Do a 'Look Good Feel Good' workshop, I lived on Donut King Iced coffee with ice cream during chemo. I also kept every email, joke, text msg, etc that was sent to me. On the down days I would read them - always lifted my spirits. There was a couple of saying I found  that helped me ' You cant heal what you refuse to confront' & 'Courage is looking fear right in the eye & saying - "Get the hell out of way. Ive got things to do" '

Best wishes Hun - you are going to do just fine

 

HUgzzz   Kerry

From memory,I think you have to start radiation by 6-8weeks post surgery unless ofcourse,they want you to have chemo first. Your oncologist will tell you more accurately.When you do start radiation,the first week will be a planning session,then you have the 5 or 6 weeks(5 days a week)of actual radiation and then you'll find it takes about another 2 weeks for you to recover.I hate to be a wet blanket but I doubt if you''ll be going on that holiday. I broke my ankle 1 week before a wonderful planned trip to Canada and USA.(2007) Luckily,we had travel insurance and we got our money back-bad timing ay. Our trip to Europe was earlier this year and about 18 months after chemo had finished.

I think as mothers/wives we put on a brave face to try and protect our loved ones from this pain.We possibly,even convince ourselves that we are fine. But along the way,don't be surprised if you break down in tears when you least expect it. It's really normal for you to be scared at the moment.The waiting and the unknown are the two things that do your head in on this journey.You'll feel a little better when you have a plan and know your treatment. You might not need chemo so don't stew over it yet. From my experience,it can take about 2yrs to feel confident in your health again. It'll probably  always be in the back of my mind that cancer could come back but I try not to dwell on it. I don't consider myself strong but rather coped cos I had to.I was brave with some parts and a real sook with other parts of this journey.That's why this site is so good- you can have a whinge or rant and rave without judgement.You don't have to be brave here.

                                 Tonya xx

Thank you to your reply Tonya. Yes i do have the "my journey kit package"arrived last week  yes its a very good book full of information but i still get scared when i read it,  still cant believe i own one and its for me,  put off reading about Chemo for ages as i was silly enough to beleieve i would not  be going down that path, how wrong appt next week to find out.

How long was it before u finished your treatment before u did your Holiday?   Just im sure you have heard it before we have a holiday booked for sept. 2nd to the USA for 5 weeks which i know deep down we have to cancel/put on hold until after treatments or can u put off treatments until u come back ?? i know dreaming to myself..

I relise we are all different and some  of us are more stronger than others but at the moment im full of fear but putting on a strong face for my family and friends.

You have been be on this journey x2 and im very thankful for your words and found time to read my blog and relpy    Bless you Jane x

Welcome to this site but sorry to hear you have to go down the bc path.It's really not straight forward surgery is it. There is  psychological and emotional feelings to deal with as well.It takes a long time to get confidence back in your health.I've had bc twice - 1st time in 2003,a lumpectomy,full node clearance,radiation. The 2nd time was 2010 when I had a recurrence in the same breast, so had mastectomy,chemo and am now on Tamoxifen.My pathology both times,was similar to yours.I also had clear lymph nodes- I think same as you if I'm reading correctly. You will definitely have radiation cos that goes hand in hand with a lumpectomy.But depending on your pathology,size of tumour etc you may or may not need chemotherapy.You will more than likely be put on an anti eostrogen drug such as Tamoxifen when the other treatments are over.Ofcourse this can all vary with different doctors. Have you ordered the"my journey kit"from bcna? It has so much information in it. Before you see the oncologist,write down all your questions and preferably take someone with you. Blog back here anytime for info and support or to vent your fears - it really helps.We know what you are going through- you are not alone.

                                                    Tonya xx