Insulting and Judgmental Comments
Something I was not prepared for post breast reconstruction, are the judgmental comments the scar on my belly is attracting. I have been undergoing abdominal ultrasounds to try and figure out the problems I am having with my period. The ultrasound people keep referring to the scar on my belly as a "tummy tuck". I've even been asked "why have you had a tummy tuck?" I have a lot of scars on my body. I am proud of every one of them. They are proof of all the crap I have been through with Hodgkin's lymphoma and breast cancer. None of these scars attract the same judgment and comments as the one on my belly. I have not had a tummy tuck! I had a bilateral skin sparing mastectomy and DIEP flap reconstruction! I was in surgery for 9 hours! I was in hospital for 7 days! I was off work for 10 weeks! I chose to undergo this surgery to remove breast cancer and reduce the risk of recurrence and death!!!!!! I was so SCARED going into that surgery!! This was no FUCKING tummy tuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Completing Hormone Therapy
I was wondering what others experiences have been completing hormone therapy for early breast cancer? I have another year of tamoxifen to go and wondering what to expect in terms of follow up once it is completed. I underwent a bilateral mastectomy and DIEP reconstruction. I haven't had chemo or radiotherapy.
Mastectomy bras
I’ve had a mastectomy with reconstruction on the left side (which is now smaller than my right breast) and I will eventually do the same on the right side but in the mean time I’m wondering if anyone knows of any good bras that will give my natural breast the support but also fit both sides. I’m finding I can only wear my post surgery bras and they're not very flattering for my larger breast! please help!!
Any regrets after going flat?
I'm seriously considering having my other breast off, and going flat. I don't have a cancer gene, and have not had this recommended for that reason. But I am finding my remaining breast a nuisance. My bra is always twisting, and when bra less, I have one big boob. I'm considering no precise reconstruction and breast reduction. I will probably give fat grafting a go with no great expectations, perhaps small bumps. Are there any downsides to going flat, that I may have missed?
Post TNBC: cope and hope
Hello all, It has been a good solid 12 months since I posted on this forum. Have jumped on a few occasions but didnʻt quite feel that I was ready to contribute anything meaningful. An enormous warm hug to all the women with a TNBC diagnosis; I also am part of this camp. Diagnosed Aug 2020, had AC/Paclitaxel until Jan 2021 and the rest of that year was a medical health nightmare with a bilateral mastectomy (last minute alarm bell decision), radiotherapy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and I tested positive to a rarer gene mutation. I have had rehab to give my body and mind the support it needed, rounds of extra physio and I raised my hand for any other wellness activity, on offer. I acknowledged that my walking ability had changed and let that change guide me, I also took up qigong daily in whatever recrafted way, I could. I was just going with the flow of my body and its energy in that moment. I ate healthy with or without appetite (that was a challenge), made fresh veg/fruit juices, drank litres of bottled water as my taste buds couldnʻt tolerate tap water amongst other things, rested and tried versions of sleep, journaled to keep my emotions in balance and my sanity, spoke to plants (that in itself sounds like I a batty escapee lol), reflected in the ʻreview mirrorʻ, couldnʻt stand the ʻpresent mirrorʻ and tried to find a good story, one of hope, change, acceptance, newness and inner strength in the ʻside mirrorsʻ that kept me going in smallish forward movements. I worked through it all on the days that my body/mind gave me the green light indicator. Between the red and amber, yes, I shed a waterfall of tears for the loss...of self as I knew me, of hair, skin - texture colour, free mobility, independence, friendships (I discarding many of these), family pain, body image, confidence and the list goes on in length. There were other lesser losses and symptoms that the body, mind, soul and spirit struggled with - inch by inch, moment by moment, thought by thought...hope was showing up. What we encounter once we have been handed membership of BC (and I was waving my fingers, stomping loudly and making noise - heck no! I donʻt want your bloody membership - well that fell on deaf ears) is traumatic. There is grief and loss, and it is scary ...we have no protective gear and significant pieces of our being were hurt (external and internal) and weeping - for self and others we love. The weeping tears help our wounds to heal, scars to form and fresh growth to reveal itself - what emerges in this chaos is a field of smiles - for life in every breath, every moment. I feel that the most precious take away learning is how much more awareness we have of self, others, our surroundings, life. Cope by giving self permission to be selfish, to gift self with gentleness and kindness, gratitude to your body, mind and spirit. Respect it with wellness (I walk a fair bit, and without fail do my daily integration of qigong and tai chi - truly marvelous. Iʻd love to do more swimming) sprinkle it with the ʻhope effectʻ - feed it dreams, ideas, smiles, creativity, celebration or whatever words resonate with you. My place of hope has been to gain enough courage and strength to gradually start to return to overseas travel in this new body, new me - and I am smiling as I write - I am going to Japan for a short trip to test me out :-) Fear of some degree, will walk alongside us, like a shadow - this was our membership subscription. There are many hurdles that present in day to day life - some feel like old friends now, others strikingly new. Grief and loss will hold a permanent spot and as the fresh growth expands around us - it will feel less dominant. I share this lovingly and with a sea of positive energy that ʻhope and wellnessʻ shine upon us all. Love and hugs xx
Recovery from Bilateral Mastectomy no recon. With Seromas. When does the pain end???
Hello. I am 53, and got diagnosed with dcis in October in right breast. We elected for a bilateral mastectomy and on pathology the right was 5x3.5x2.5 cm and the left surprise surprise had 2 patches of DCIS which didn’t show on Mammogram. I have been told I don’t need any further treatment - which I accept is ‘fortunate’. But I’m not Pollyanna, and I have lost my breasts, and I am so incredibly sore nearly 3 weeks down the track. Beginning to wonder if I will ever be pain free again?? Neurofen irritates my Crohn’s disease, and panadol doesn’t really do anything. Ive been taking Endone before bed, but still feel like I have bonfires in my chest, and its very tight. I also have MS, so that is not helping either. I accept this all happens, and its not easy for anyone. All I really want to know is, does this pain go away eventually? Is there anything that is not a tablet that has eased anyone’s discomfort ? I cannot bear wearing tight clothing. I’m having about 95ml taken off each side each week, and it feels like it fills up before I get home after the appointment. We have a holiday which has been planned for over a year, in 4 weeks, and I feel like we are just not going to get there. Its a bit of a pressure.
Micheles top 10 good things about only having one boob
10. No underwires creeping out of my bra at inopportune times. 9. When i roll over in bed my left boob no longer smashes uncomfortably into anything else. Surprisingly it doesnt travel far 8. I can get out of unpacking the dishwasher and other heavy manual tasks. 7. Soon im having a mammogram. Only 1 boob to smash and easier access. 6. Less sweating underneath. I do a lot more exercise and still dont sweat as much. 5. Less to carry around. That cancer boob was heavy. 4. No uncomfortable back clasp, spilling back fat. I mostly wear crop tops but when i do wear a clasp its at the front. 3. I pay more attention to my remaining breast and my chest generally. Moisturising etc, breast awareness. 2. More comfortable in my own skin. Appreciate my body for what it does for me. 1. No cancer
Preventative mastectomy?
Hello everyone, On New Year’s Eve, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. I have a fast-growing, triple-negative tumour in my left breast that had spread to my lymph nodes. It requires six months of chemotherapy, a mastectomy and removal of my lymph nodes on the left, and radiation therapy. I have very small, very dense breasts. Although there is no evidence of any cancer in my right breast, my instincts are to talk to my surgeon about doing a prophylactic mastectomy on the right breast. Treatment has been really tough so far, and I really don't want to be doing it all again in 5-10 years' time. But I am trying to figure out if it is 'treatment trauma' talking, or good instincts! I don't want to live in a shadow of fear. My first priority is my long term health, over aesthetics. I welcome any thoughts on the subject. ::smile:
BRCA1 / Category 3 / Waiting list...is this normal?
Hello All, I'm hoping for some advice and feedback. After being diagnosed with HER2 positive BC, I was treated at St.Vincent's public (Melbourne). I was sent to Peter Mac, genetic clinic where I was found to carry BRCA1. I was told to finish my treatment (radiation) and then to return to Peter Mac to deal with the results. Six months later I had my ovaries removed. Another six moths later I was added to the waiting list for DIEP surgery, despite the fact I had made the decision to have the surgery. Now 18 months later I am still on the waiting list, to be told that the plastic surgeon is on unplanned leave and everything is further delayed. As I understand it, I can: be referred to another plastic surgeon at the Peter Mac, get a referral and ring around other public hospital or go private (jeez...why didn't I think of that one 18 months ago?) Has anyone else had similar experiences? Is this a Peter Mac thing or just the way the public system works?
