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terrianne
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Joined 2 years ago
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Returning to work after an extended absence
So, I had a lumpectomy and then a bilateral mastectomy + reconstruction last year. I had planned to be away from work for something like 8 weeks. However, a few things got in the way - a nipple graft that just would not heal, and then an infection that's now been running since March. Combined, those things have kept me from going back to work. It's on the mend now, and I really hope that my next review, scheduled for towards the end of next month, will give me the all-clear to go back to work. By the time I do, I'll have been away for eight months. This is the longest absence, by far, that I've ever had from work in my life. In the past I've had a few months of long service leave and another bout of sick leave that ran a bit shy of four months, but this is twice that. I'm a bit nervous about returning to work. The people I work with have been great, telling me that I can take as much time as I need (my manager only recently returned from an extended sick leave break himself, so he knows how it is). I've proved to myself pretty satisfactorily that I'll adapt okay to retirement when it rolls around, let's put it that way 😁... but in the next month or so, I'm going to have to put on office clothes again and start going to work at a regular time, and all that. Has anyone been in a similar situation? What did you do to ease the process of getting back in harness after an extended break away?Re: About BCNA's Online Network
Teething problem #1 for me (and it's a big one): I use Firefox, and the site will not allow me to log in on that browser. I put my email address in, and a few moments later, I get a message saying "Error: Invalid reCAPTCHA" (see below). Even when I disable all my ad blockers, I still get the same reaction. It seems to be something inherent to Firefox, which is a pretty privacy-focused browser.Re: Experience with suction/negative pressure dressings
Ha, I called its noises "frog sounds" - these odd little burping noises every three to five seconds. It's funny, we used to live out of town and I'd fall asleep to the loudest chorus of everything from frogs and cicadas to owls and foxes, never kept me awake. But those little burping noises... :DRe: Experience with suction/negative pressure dressings
FLClover said: I understand your worry though because it’s different when we’re out of it and see things in hindsight, but a whole different ball game when we’re in the midst of it and it’s fresh. It is scary and we worry about every little thing, and we need reassurance that everything is going the best it can. Sometimes we’re too consumed by fear to be able to see clearly and it’s also new for us so we don’t know what’s what. I have so little experience of surgery - I had one op when I was in my early 20s and broke my leg, and that was it for 30 years until all this came along ('all this' is also an excision in August which went almost perfectly). So everything is pretty unfamiliar - I'm rapidly recalibrating my expectations for myself and how much energy I can reasonably expect my body to have each day, how long dressings should be on, how fast bruising should heal, all that. I will say, I'm very happy with how much bruising has cleared up - one side of me looked like I'd been kicked by a horse, but that's almost all gone. Thank you :)Re: Experience with suction/negative pressure dressings
ruralmum2 said: Terrianne, I had a prolonged experience with dressings after my lymph node clearance. It was so frustrating, especially as I’m a nurse & thought I’d be all over it! Make sure that if your wound is still oozing that the skin around it is well protected with barrier wipes (ask the wound nurse). Mine kept breaking down at different times, especially if the wipes weren’t used. I’m healed now - with an ugly scar, but it was a very trying time. I wanted to exercise, but didn’t want to risk my dressings getting sweaty or coming off. Hoping you don’t have the same dramas, but if you do, feel free to message me if you want to vent xo Thank you :) I'm pretty ooze-free now - there's one little spot that the nurse thought might have been an issue, but only that little bit, and I'm not having any problems with it. I'm still not at the stage of wanting to do much exercise - I went for a lap around the backyard several times yesterday, and today we made a very quick trip to see if the bra place had another of the post-surgical bras in stock (they don't, but one should be coming in today, so she'll hold it for me); those are enough to raise the heart rate a little and feel like I'm doing something.Re: Experience with suction/negative pressure dressings
Thank you. And I swear, I can still feel the tubes and hear the pump buzzing, even though it's all gone! I realised I was stressing about it a bit last night and kept telling myself that the nurse was saying the incisions are looking good, plus the dressings made it to six days, and they're usually used for one to two weeks. So got a halfway decent night's sleep (I don't usually sleep on my back, so that's being a bit of an adjustment too), and feel a lot better today!Re: Experience with suction/negative pressure dressings
Well, today was a day. In the end, the HITH nurse removed the entire thing - no more suction dressing, just the regular ones. She said the incisions are looking fine, but she's glad the dressings came off now. So I just have regular dressings on now. Cue one very quick bolt for the post-surgical bra I wasn't expecting to need for a week yet, but I'm now wearing one and really hoping that the incisions are okay.
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Work and breast cancer
PUBLIC GROUP - This is a space to connect around the challenges and questions that come with managing work and breast cancer. Whether you're navigating time off, returning to work, dealing with workplace conversations, or exploring your rights and options, you're welcome here. This group is open to the public (not just members of our online network) to help broaden access to important information, practical advice, and peer support.Connecting rural, regional & remote areas
We understand that living outside major cities can bring unique challenges when it comes to accessing care, support, and information. From long travel distances to limited local services, these experiences can feel isolating—but you're not alone. This is a space to connect with others who truly understand what it’s like to face breast cancer while living regionally or remotely. Share stories, ask questions, and support one another through the frustrations and the wins - this group is here for you.Choosing breast reconstruction
PRIVATE GROUP. Choosing breast reconstruction after single or double mastectomy can feel overwhelming, and deeply personal. This group is here to connect you through others' stories and images. Please respect everyone’s privacy—do not copy or share content outside this space. Information is based on personal experience and is not medical advice; always consult your healthcare team for guidance. ⚠️CONTENT WARNING⚠️ Members may share photos of breast surgeries. These images or discussions may be distressing or triggering for some. If you need support, please contact the BCNA Helpline - we are here for you.
