Total left mastectomy vs expander/implant?
Hi everyone - I’m newly diagnosed and have found BCN hugely helpful and reassuring. I have bilateral early cancers - invasive ductal (left side) and invasive lobular (right side). ER + PR + HER2 -.I believe ‘low grade, slow growing’. My treatment recommendation is: left side mastectomy, nipple/skin sparing with expander then later implant and right side lumpectomy. Followed by radiation and letrozole. Surgery scheduled for 22/11 at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse. The choice I have is left side total mastectomy or the reconstruction? For context, I’m middle aged, slim/small breasted and physically very active. Apart from the obvious surgery and post operative worries, my other concern is around the possibility of spending many months with ongoing breast related issues. Wondering if any of you have had a similar experience….and any thoughts/advice you might have? Thank you 🎀
Treatment after mastectomy
Hi, I had a left mastectomy 3 weeks ago with lymph nodes removed. My cancer is ER/PR+ HER2- Pathology came back with no cancer in nodes and all margins clear. I’m waiting to see oncologist now for further treatment options, but just wondering if anyone has been through similar and not had any chemo or radiation?
Newbie alert! First round of A/C complete - a few questions
Hi, Newbie here. Diagnosed on New Years Eve with a Grade 3, triple-negative DCIS in my left breast and axilla lymph nodes. Bit of a journey ahead - A/C, Taxol, mastectomy, and radiation. I had my first round of A/C on Thursday. I am recovering ok - Day 3 hit me like a freight train, but I gather that is normal? My scalp is already tingly, and today my skin (especially my face, chest and arms) feels dry, hot and sensitive, like after a sunburn, but I haven't been in the sun for days. What have you all used on your skin to soothe this? Is there anything that might also soothe my scalp? Conversely, the skin on my face is suuuuper soft, an unexepected benefit! Has anyone else noticed this? Also, is it true that what I experienced after the first round will be similiar in subsequent rounds, aside from cumulative exhaustion, or have some of you found that the side effects compound a lot each time? And does anyone know why I am thirsty to the extreme still four days later? I am so sorry to think that there are so many of you out there who are more experienced than I on this subject, but would really appreciate you sharing any insights you have. : ) Juliet
Prosthesis - I can’t stop crying
hi all so my story is found a lump in feb, lumpectomy in March, sentinel Node op in April then mastectomy And lymph nodes removed on right breast in may i am very lucky in that I Do not need chemo nor radiation and have started on tamoxifen Today I went and got my prosthesis and a couple of bras. I have/had big boobs but this seems ginormous i feel that I shouldn’t be complaining about this but I have cried all day. I hate it. I really do. Is this normal? Will I feel better? Right now I wish they removed both breasts and I would have just dealt with that. I would like to get a recon but that’s minimum 12 months away i am so sorry for complaining but it has all hit me today does it get better? thanks lisa xxDrainage am I going crazy?
Hi all i had a mastectomy on right breast and auxiliary clearance three weeks ago Wednesday. First drain out no issues. Second drain removed earlier than should have been as it was sitting on a nerve. I was still getting 250-300 ml a day. Been to see surgeon once to get it drained. Needed to get it done again last Friday but could only see gp. She hadn’t done it before so tried three times. Third time lucky but didn’t get it all. I am phoning surgeon first thing tmrw to get it done tmrw ( holiday here today). I still have lots of fluid and now it feels like it has hardened in some spots. I’m swollen And in pain. Having trouble coping with all this tonite. Has anyone had this? The actual mastectomy was fine but I have had issue after issue from aux clearance. It’s all overwhelmed me right now.
Ointments/Treatments for Mastectomy scar healing
Hi there, This is my first post, although I have read many different discussions. Thank you to all of you women who have gone before me on this journey and given such valuable, important advice, tips and tricks. To those women who have posted their photos, thank you for being so courageous and vulnerable, such big hearts, all of you. I will one day soon post mine to contribute to the collective, in the hope to help other women who come after me. I had my bilateral mastectomy on 6 May (now 3 weeks post), and am looking for your wisdom on ointments or treatments for scar healing. When did you start applying it? Thank you once again, Meghan x
Uncertainty
Hello everyone, I have just joined this incredible network as I only just learnt it existed. I was diagnosed end of Oct 2019 with invasive ductal carcinoma, estrogen and progesterone receptor positive, grade 3. I had my strategy informed by my surgeon sorted, that I would complete the 5 month chemo and then have the breast conservation surgery followed by radiation treatment. I was fine and mentally strong progressing through the chemo treatment because I just needed to focus on the here and now and then after all this life would return to normal. Now I have finished the chemo treatment and my surgery is planned for next week and all of a sudden I am second guessing my surgery options. This is in addition to the news that I had recently received that my father has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. All of a sudden I feel nervous and thinking about reoccurrence, what’s in my control, is there a way I can minimise future risk, should I be having a mastectomy instead? I have spoken to my doctors and they say that my strategy is good for partial mastectomy /lumpectomy but ultimately it is my decision. I have a young family and alongside the covid 19 issue happening, could I revisit the full mastectomy later... Has anyone else also experienced this choice, nervousness before surgery and how did you decide? Very grateful for your time and advice.Overwhelmed and feeling down
After 2 opinion from different drs I have been told that a total mastectomy is only option for me due to the multiple lesions found in my breast. I am feeling rather overwhelmed at the thought of losing my breast and devastated beyond words. My head is screaming why me what have I done to deserve this. I just want to cry and cry until I can't anymore. I guess want to vent as I don't know any one that has had breast cancer before. I'm very lucky at the moment from all the scans it seems to have just be localized and not spread anywhere else which have been told this is s good sign but I just want to run and hide and wish this all was a very bad dream 😢
Is this normal?
Hi lovely people, today I am 4 weeks post op. Single right side mastectomy. I had a little bit of a set up back with recovery as I ended up with 2 infections along the suture line which I'm still seeing the community nurses for but they are healing. My question is around the uncomfortableness I still feel around the surgery site. It just feels so tight and hard. I'm doing my exercises but 2nd stage exercises were delayed due to the infections. I'm just so sick of it and everyday I expect it to feel a bit better and it doesn't. Is this normal and when is it likely to loosen up and feel better?
