Baring all
News story about showing off the scars doesn’t consider the trauma of seeing this. There’s a lot of discussion about bringing breast cancer to the attention of the public. With one in seven women likely to experience this disease I’d think it was already noticed, without having women undress to show scars. Also some of us don’t appreciate being reminded. And some think their medical history is a private matter. I was having a coffee with a dozen people in a cafe when my friend casually announced to everyone that I’d had breast cancer. Why is this okay?
Tattoo Questions
I’m over a year out of mastectomy, and 6 months since corrective surgery on the dog ear I ended up with. I’m in regional WA, and looking for recommendations for a tattoo artist who has worked on scar sites. I know I will have to travel to Perth or maybe further. Has anyone in WA had a tattoo over their mastectomy site and who do you recommend? With thanks! cleBespoke Bikini
Hello Beautiful People. It’s been a while since I posted. 3 months since mastectomy and starting tamoxifen. im healing well and almost back to full exercise. It’s been getting very hot and I’m trying to get comfortable at home without baring my remaining boob ( hubby and I call it bob.) Sarongs aren’t really comfortable anymore, and tank tops/ singlets are too hot. Today I suddenly remembered the adjustable triangle bikinis in my draw that I rarely wore. Took one triangle off the strap and I have a you beaut monokini for around the house! My husband thinks it’s hilarious. But it’s perfect for at home. I look like a giant pirate! 🤣 I’d like to think I could wear it at the local pool but I think it would be too out there! The scar will probably terrify the general public. I’m very happy with my invention and wanted to share here, just in case it helps one of you lovely ladies and also cos there’s nowhere else I can share this that would get it! 🙂🥰😬
Mastectomy looming
This time next week I’ll be having my double mastectomy. For the first time since diagnosis I’m feeling so sad and swamped with gloom. The lumpectomy and the entire node removal left me mentally unscathed believing I’d be okay and able to cope with whatever was to come. I know I have no choice and to save my life these breasts that have turned on me have to begone. But .... it’s all so hard to comprehend. My glass half full look on life is now feeling decidedly shaky. Thankful for my fabulous family and friends though and today I randomly turned to a page in a daggy old mag at pathology quoting one of Winston Churchill’s sayings ... “If you’re going through hell... keep going.” I’ll try to keep that in mind.
Is "Brian" the new Farnham??
So.......I thought I had given my lump "Brian" a beautiful farewell concert, complete with audience, drinks and a hearty "F...k Off Brian" back in March. At that stage, I was cruising through the Stage 1, grade 3 euphoria of "You got this Girl!" Doctor will do a Lumpectomy one morning, rip out a few nodes, dose of radiation and some pills just in case. Oh yeah, I was still scared, but I was being told - "we" got this!" "Brian" has left the building!!! So......the discovery of a 85mm lump of "Brian" and 4 positive nodes and 1 pissed off node, caused panic and it is now Mastectomy time. The family and I throw a "Fast and Furious" Movie Marathon as a Farewell to "Lefty". Receive a beautiful Love Note from my oldest daughter thanking "Lefty" for being an amazing breast and the Husband gets the final touch.. Rocked up for surgery on 6th May -it goes really well. Up and about that afternoon walking with the drip in my room, that I share with a 72 year old Lady who "Screams" in her sleep, calls out my name nonstop, refuses to eat and sneaks off for cigarette breaks. I wanted to go home just so i could actually sleep and rest!!! Anyway, 2 days after surgery, Dr. (I am God) Bolshy turns up with his entourage of Junior Registrars and says - "you can go home and by the way you are now Stage 3, Grade 3 and walks off." W.T.F. Did you just say? I had to chase this Bastard down the hallway and make him come back to my room!!!!!!!!!!!!! he refuses to tell me anymore other than you have jumped from Stage 1 to Stage 3 - the surgical team will tell you. I met up with the Surgical team last week and all hell breaks loose! "Brian" made a comeback!!! In fact "Brian" had been a busy little Lead Singer - shacking up with as many "Cell Groupies" as he could find the energy for and also shacked up with a Node (making 5 positive now and 1 annoyed) while spreading the love around! All he needed was 3 weeks of love action and he had created another 2mm aggressive growing "lump" near the original site where he was sliced/diced from the show and left his love juice in the form of 18mm of "Baby growing cancer cells" in my milk ducts. I am literally so shocked, I am unable to talk, comprehend or make any sense of what i was being told. What happened to "We got this??" Even though I am told "Brian is gone" and all is well - I am wondering if "Brian" is going to do a Farnsy and keep on making a comeback tour??? Anyway, IF Brian has left any love juice in my body or is thinking of making a 'Come Back" tour - He is in for a rude shock! I have a new band signed up to play in my body - SHE is called "Chemo and The Chemicals".....playing Centre Stage for the next 5 months in LOIS TOWN.....!! (lol) My new Motto: Find positivity in the little things and Use your words to defeat adversaries! Big Hugs Lois......who is not a Doctor's doormat.
Update
Chemo finished - tick , surgery (single mastectomy) done last Thursday - tick, drain out today - tick, results back looking positive - tick. Pleased with so far so good. Radiation to follow next year, hopefully a slow and gradual return to work - then tablet every day for 5 years but feeling incredibly grateful for all the support and encouragement I have received from members of this site - thank you. Still a distance to go with tingling feet and fingers and far too big a stomach but some of these things will disappear over time. Feeling a bit sore but again, just feeling grateful.
Mastectomy and Auxillary Node Clearance
Good morning Ladies, I am having a left mastectomy and auxiliary node clearance today at the QEH in Adelaide. I am just wondering if anyone can give me any tips or advice following surgery for the best way to move forward physically and emotionally. How did you cope moving forward emotionally? How did you dress, shower, sleep etc? Thank you in advance for any information or support you give, I really appreciate it. Sorry if it is a sensitive issue to some. . Much love, Tameika
Accepting your New Self
I could have put this discussion in the breast reconstruction group but thought it was better in general discussion. I'm struggling at the monent. Yes My cancer was found at stage 1 and I had no nodes and clear scans. Yes I had a bilateral mastectomy due to dense breasts and family history, a decision which wasn't hard but certainly upset me knowing its impact on my intimacy and body image. Yes my Herceptin was stopped due to heart failure twice but I got halfway. Yes I had a good reconstruction, which still just needs the icing on tbe cake (nipples) sorted. Yes...I have every reason to believe I will be one of the 90% But by golly things are tough for me presently. I'm uncomfortable with my body without clothes. The reality has finally hit home after final changeover...that this is it. I don't have breasts. I have memorials built as breasts. But no sensation. No natural movement. This is it. It has taken me 15 months to really mourn my loss. During treatment I just got on with it. But suddenly it's now got really hard. It's a phase I guess. Grief is a funny thing and I just need to work through. And even though I'm grateful to have hair again ..it is nothing like my hair. Texture is the same but colour and curl are very different to who I was. I miss my hair. Somebody said to me this week...I was trying to explain it...I'd just be happy to be alive. Well...hell yeah I am....and I explained it to her. If someone had their leg cut off due to cancer would you say that? Would you not understand why they grieve for the loss? Our breasts were part of us...our sexuality, fed our children, a coming of age. They're just breasts is probably the most hurtful thing someone could say. Last night I met many ladies at "State of tbe Nation" who so openly shared their stories. The thing that struck me, the thing that brought tears last night ...at home...in the early hours...was remembering what we quietly discussed. She said...12 years on...it doesn't matter how long it is...I will always miss my breasts. And I realised...Yes...I will too. Kath x
the hurdles we face are enough without this crap
it now appears there is a risk that I will not be able to have my mastectomy as I am in a wheelchair!!!! read these two links which are in our local paper today. You would all know the various, and sometimes all at once, feelings, thoughts and moods you go through, especially in the first couple of weeks of diagnosis. After I saw the surgeon and found out was to have a mastectomy, it almost took away the anxiety, I wont say I felt great about the whole idea and Im sure, as it probably is for all of you, that it may be a hard adjustment at first. But the anxiety of not knowing had been relieved a little. Until this, see these links and read on. I hope that are shamed into doing something about it, often going so public is the only way to get anywhere, as embarrassing as it was/is http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/story/4567955/undue-suffering-and-stress-for-woman-battling-breast-cancer/?cs=103 http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/story/4568662/ambulances-are-for-medical-emergencies/
Relationships
since being diagnosed with DCIS the rlationship with my partner has taken a turn for the worst. I am 61 and we have been living together for 2 years and dating 2 years peior to that. When we met our life was wonderful, full of fun and lots of intinacy and sex. Now it is dull and lifeless with both of us looking at perhaps bailing out! Now, I feel unattractive and boring after a mastectomy and ongoing reconstruction and he has struggled to keep life going with work, me and the renovation we began before my diagnosis.. anyway, if anyone is going through this would they kindly respond. Marisa