I have had my tumour removed and was pleased that it was cleanly excised and that it was found early. However it was fast growing and had found it's way to one of my lymph glands - so chemotheraphy awaits me when my drain is removed. This is where the frustration lies in that it is now day 21 with the drain and I am still oozing more than 50mls - the magic number. I can not have the chemo until it settles down and hence the waiting. It also presents problems with planning the next couple of weeks. My husband will be going away for 11 days to a big conference which he is heavily involved in and so my mother is flying down to stay with me for company or assistance if needed. My surgeon's best guess is that it will come out on Wednesday and so I could start chemo on Thursday. I have prepared as much as I can for the process but the waiting is now getting a little frustrating. At least my cathaport is having time to heal for the last week. Also I enjoyed the Look Good..Feel Better workshop yesterday - a wonderfully kind service. I have some work to do on Monday, which would be Day 5 after my first treatment and I am not sure whether to find a replacement as I do not know how tired I might feel by then. It will be interesting to hear any feedback about this. I know that everyone is different and has different treatment regimes. Regards Sue

Dear Sue My first thoughts to you are "Whoa - slow down girl" That's how I interpreted your blog. You seem like a very busy person. I was too but now work is the last thing I ever worry about. I am presently having radiation then when I return home (I'm 8 hours by road away from home) I have to wait 4 weeks to commence chemo. I have had radiation before (4 years ago) but this will be the first time for chemo so I am no expert. However many of my friends have had chemo and I have a pretty good idea what to expect. Sure everyone is different but I'm looking at the worst scenerio whilst trying to arrange my commitments around chemo. That way all the good outcomes will be a bonus. It appears that the best ratio for chemo treatment, to gauge your life on, is first ten days are awful then the next eleven days are pretty good. This is based on a 3 weekly cycle. Take care and good luck XLeonie

Hi Sue, My advice to you is 'take it easy'. If you push your body now, you will most certainly pay for it in the end. There are a lot of different chemo's out there, and of course, they affect everyone differently. I have found the one common denominator with all (from talking to and reading other patients blogs) is that you will feel like you have been hit by a Mack truck - there is no getting away from this. I know of several people who continue working whilst they are having chemo, and even though the tiredness is overwhelming, they seem to cope OK. I guess it depends on what type of work you do. Also, there are many young women, with young children or babies, who still seem to be able to cope whilst on chemo. The bottom line is, 'we do what we gotta do'. As for the drainage tube, if it needs to stay there - then leave it there! Better that all the gunk drains out now rather than cause serious problems later on. Good luck with everything. Di :)

Hi Sue, My drain came out after a week then I developed a collection of fluid (seroma)under my scar and had to return twice a week to have 100mls syringed off each time.This went on for 5 weeks! Only after that I could start chemo.First few days after my first chemo I was ok.Then day4,5,6,7 was bedridden, felt like "road kill"from a mack truck!! A week later I was in hospital with no white cells in isolation.My advice is don't plan anything until you know how you react to that first round. Tonya

Thank you all for your input. Thank you for sharing your experience Tonya. When I heard that it was about 10days that I would need to have the drain, I thought that I was a bit abnormal to go so much longer. However I have seen my radiation oncologist today and she also reassured me that it was best to let the fluid drain first. I have become more philosophical now - although still very sick of the drain. Sue

Waiting | BCNA Online Network

12 Replies

di-p52
Member
15 years ago
good for you!!! so glad that 'things' are starting to improve.

Di :)
lskelso
Member
15 years ago
Hi Tanya

I am still going - it is day 26 I thought that I was nearly there as there were two days of 50mls, but this morning it is 60mls. So tomorrow's chemo start will have to be changed again. I am at least feeling more energetic now but I am getting very sick of not driving, etc. However I can see that patience is something that I will learn to have more of over this year. I so wish it was body fat disappearing as well.

A friend took me to the hospital to get the drain changed over yesterday and they were so busy that they changed it in the quiet waiting room. I suggested my friend avert her eyes but she did see the bottle. She did not say anything but I think from her posture that she would have preferred not to see it. It is nothing to me now of course.

All the best and enjoy the freedom of no drain.

Cheers

Sue
Tanya
Member
15 years ago
I am hoping to get mine out tomorrow, but little buggers are still draining too much for my liking. Another girl that I know had surgery the same day as me and hers were out 2 days ago, but I am not whinging since I met you!!

You wouldnt mind so much if they were extracting fat from your body and every day meant you were a kilo lighter on the scales??? lol (wishful thinking).

Fingers crossed for you. I have to take the kids to school tomorrow and my youngest (5) asked if she could tell the kids about my drains for show n tell!!!!! mmmm I dont think so.

Tanya xx
Tanya
Member
15 years ago
I am hoping to get mine out tomorrow, but little buggers are still draining too much for my liking. Another girl that I know had surgery the same day as me and hers were out 2 days ago, but I am not whinging since I met you!!

You wouldnt mind so much if they were extracting fat from your body and every day meant you were a kilo lighter on the scales??? lol (wishful thinking).

Fingers crossed for you. I have to take the kids to school tomorrow and my youngest (5) asked if she could tell the kids about my drains for show n tell!!!!! mmmm I dont think so.

Tanya xx
lskelso
Member
15 years ago
Hi Tanya

I am still attached to mine. We have scheduled chemo again for Tuesday and hope that this is enough time for the drain to be removed.

A funny thing happened the other night. I went to bed before my husband came home from his evening job. As usual I threw my drain bottle behind me as I lay down to sleep. When my husband came to bed he found that there was not much space left on his side. Normally the bottle is against my back but I must have become so blaze about it that I did not check where it was. He did have enough room but not as much as usual. I think that he was worried about moving it.

I am up to day 24! I will delighted to be able to drive the car again.

Cheers

Sue
TonyaM
Member
15 years ago
I've had breast cancer surgery twice and each time I was literally counting the days/hours till the drain came out.It gets so sore and you have to drag it everywhere you go.I can understand how fed up with it you must feel.All the treatments on this journey test your strength and tolerance.I took sick leave and some long service leave so I could just concentrate on getting through it and not stress about whether I'd be ok for work.

Tonya
TonyaM
Member
15 years ago
I've had breast cancer surgery twice and each time I was literally counting the days/hours till the drain came out.It gets so sore and you have to drag it everywhere you go.I can understand how fed up with it you must feel.All the treatments on this journey test your strength and tolerance.I took sick leave and some long service leave so I could just concentrate on getting through it and not stress about whether I'd be ok for work.

Tonya
lskelso
Member
15 years ago
Thank you all for your input.

Thank you for sharing your experience Tonya. When I heard that it was about 10days that I would need to have the drain, I thought that I was a bit abnormal to go so much longer.

However I have seen my radiation oncologist today and she also reassured me that it was best to let the fluid drain first. I have become more philosophical now - although still very sick of the drain.

Sue
TonyaM
Member
15 years ago
Hi Sue,

My drain came out after a week then I developed a collection of fluid (seroma)under my scar and had to return twice a week to have 100mls syringed off each time.This went on for 5 weeks! Only after that I could start chemo.First few days after my first chemo I was ok.Then day4,5,6,7 was bedridden, felt like "road kill"from a mack truck!! A week later I was in hospital with no white cells in isolation.My advice is don't plan anything until you know how you react to that first round.

Tonya
TonyaM
Member
15 years ago
Hi Sue,

My drain came out after a week then I developed a collection of fluid (seroma)under my scar and had to return twice a week to have 100mls syringed off each time.This went on for 5 weeks! Only after that I could start chemo.First few days after my first chemo I was ok.Then day4,5,6,7 was bedridden, felt like "road kill"from a mack truck!! A week later I was in hospital with no white cells in isolation.My advice is don't plan anything until you know how you react to that first round.

Tonya