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?
Bra
Hi there I went bra shopping today to get some new bras of the type I bought when I had my double mastectomy and reconstruction and thought I would share. The bra is “ Comfort Revolution” by Playtex and is lovely and soft with a bit of padding and no underwire. I went from E cup to C cup and am slightly smaller on the cancer/radiated breast and the padding smooths it out.
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! cle
Not coping well
Hi, I’m new to this. I have been getting fairly regular mammograms ect for years now due to strong family history of breast cancer. I’m 45 and have always looked after myself physically very well. No one aside from me had any issues until they were in their 50’s or 60’s. Aside from my great grandmother no one has had a mastectomy. So after postponing my mammogram for a year due to Covid I decided I needed to get it done before starting a new job. About a week after re entering the workforce I was told there was a problem. It took 2 biopsies and about 6 weeks before they confirmed DCIS medium grade (still don’t know what that means) and I was advised of my options. The options all seemed pretty awful but a double mastectomy with reconstruction (implants as I was told I’m too thin for flaps), seemed like the safest option but I’m ashamed to say it was also very high on my priority list that I’d look ok after. What irony!!! I’ve had three operations in ten days due to complications. I’m left without implants and due to skin necrosis I’ve lost one nipple and about a third of the skin on both flaps. I’ve just seen a second surgeon for a second opinion and it appears this could and probably should have all been avoided (I believe she said “what’s this?” When she saw the mess I’ve been left with) I had to explain why my skin was so damaged. I can’t have any reconstruction until possibly mid next year maybe later as I’ll lose my job if I have any more time off. I know I should be grateful to be alive, ( the surgeon kept telling me I’d dodged a bullet) but I feel devastated, broken and completely unattractive. My relationship with my partner is at best under enormous strain. Can anyone tell me how they got through losing their breasts and feeling incomplete? I feel ashamed even whinging here about this as I know it could have been so much worse. And yet I’m not ok at all and having a very hard time seeing any light at the end of this.
Do I or don’t I ?
I am 66 yes old - 3 years post lumpectomy and radiation Each review I’ve had means painful mammograms ( due to dense breasts) and ultra sounds - finishing off with a mammogram biopsy - yes at every review ! I’ve just had my third year review with the inevitable biopsy - results came back today as negative So here I am - emotionally spent - if it was just the mammogram and u/s then I could deal with that but it’s the lonely humiliating experience of the mammogram biopsy and the wait for results - I can’t explain to anyone who has not experienced the impact of a cancer diagnosis - then treatment and the emotion that you go through during the reviews I want to focus on life not think every time there is pain - my mind starts thinking and while I can bring my mind into the now - this is taking it’s toll i want to have a mastectomy - I need to do something positive - take control of this monster and be boss of it - not it of me My daughter is also on this journey - I know what to expect - I don’t need or want reconstruction - I want peace My husband thinks I’m nuts going down this road - how else do I find this peace ?
Need for Lyphodema Arm sleeves
I don't actually know who needs these sleeves. Is it potentially anyone who has had a Mastectomy? Or only those who had axillary clearance? I've had both. I have been measured for Lyphodaema with the SOZO machine, and do not have it yet, 11 months after surgery. Has anyone else been recommended to get one, especially for airflights? If so how long a flight, would they be needed for? Also do they cost much and easy to get? Or custom made? Any advice would be helpful.
Post Mastectomy Pain
Hi I had her2 negative in left breast in 2019. I had chemo, lumpectomy and sentinel node removal, radiotherapy and Herceptin. Got the all clear then in November this year they found cancer in situ in what remained of left breast so I had a double mastectomy and some nodes removed on 4th Dec. The scars go from under my arms to the centre. I look like someone’s tried to saw me in half! The actual scar and skin just around it is numb. The pain I have is like a band around that area. It’s like a tightness and burning. Stretching seems to relieve it. I’m 5 weeks post op now and was told it would be ok in 4 to 6 weeks after op. I just want to know if others had this pain and how long it lasted. It’s not bad enough for Panadol but if I do take Panadol it doesn’t work.Bespoke 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.