Recurrence?
My social media post is flooded, at present, with stories of women who are, or have recently, come through a second or third battle with cancer. It's a bit overwhelming! 7 months out from diagnosis of small, early, invasive BC, and 6 weeks post end of my treatment, I'd really appreciate a "hands up" from any lovely ladies who were diagnose and treated in their 50s or early 60s who are 5-10 years post without a recurrence or new cancer. Thanks, Lovelies.101ViewsSign in to react to this post3Comments6 weeks after surgery
Hello everyone its been awhile since I was active here . I’ve had a lot happen in the past few months after my diagnosis. Lumpectomy at end of August. During the operation the nipple lost blood supply. Over the next two weeks, the Drs tried to save it but couldn’t. So I had another operation on 18th Sept to remove nipple. Then, this past weekend, yet another operation because there was necrotic tissue preventing healing. So I’ve had the tissue removed & lots of stitches. Today a checkup & my surgeon said there was a lot of dead tissue when they sewed me up & has suggested a mastectomy of left breast. To stop further degradation of breast tissue. I’m actually ok with that decision. What I’m confused about are all the options. Reconstruction of the breast using tissue/skin from my tummy or back or to stay flat. But not sure about having one breast. I’m not a candidate for implants. (I’m 68) I have decided that I won’t take aromatase inhibitors nor do radiation (that’s my personal choice) Thanks it’s been quite the journey!110ViewsSign in to react to this post4CommentsPredict - Breast Cancer app
I’ve just discovered an app called ‘Predict - Breast Cancer’. I may be late to the party on this one and you might all know about it but I’d like to know your opinions if you’ve used it and if you’ve discussed it with your oncologists. It strongly recommends that patients use this tool in consultation with their doctor. The app’s blurb says: “This tool applies to women who have had surgery for early invasive breast cancer and are deciding which other treatments to have.” ”Predict is a tool that helps show how breast cancer treatments after surgery might improve survival rates. Once details about the patient and their cancer have been entered, the tool will show how different treatments would be expected to improve survival rates up to 15 years after diagnosis. This is based on data from similar women in the past. It is important to note that these treatments have side effects which should also be considered when deciding on a treatment.” It claims: ”Development of the model was a collaborative project between the Cambridge Breast Unit, University of Cambridge Department of Oncology and the UK's Eastern Cancer Information and Registration Centre (ECRIC) (now part of the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service) and was supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Pfizer Limited (the company had no input into the model at all). The website has been built by the Winton Centre for Risk & Evidence Communication at the University of Cambridge who are funded by a generous donation from the David and Claudia Harding Foundation and the Winton Charitable Foundation. Predict has been endorsed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer.” This is a link to the app: https://breast.v3.predict.cam/tool133ViewsSign in to react to this post5Comments
How soon after mastectomy can unusual scar be "tidied"
It is 9 weeks since my mastectomy. My scar has healed well, so far, with intermittent swelling in my armpit. My main concern is my "triple" cleavage with a fairly hard "knob" between two of the "valleys" and at the outer end another fairly pointy lump which doesn't "stretch out" when I lift my arm. Most bras, needed to manage the remaining 14DD boob, dig into the outer end of scar, which has a reasonably firm, elongated lump below, where bra bands go. I feel like I have a mini " bagpipe" in my left axilla and below. Going to see surgeon who did my 3 surgeries later this month, I just wonder if I am worrying over not much, although discomfort is a constant reminder.187ViewsSign in to react to this post7Comments
Post mastectomy scar management
Just wanting some advice on what products work best to minimise the scars after a double flat mastectomy.204ViewsSign in to react to this post3CommentsInfection near incision site - anyone else?
Hi, I had a lumpectomy almost a month ago and today I noticed a wound site on my breast about 2 or 3 cm from the incision near my nipple. it appears to maybe be an infection and had to happen on a long weekend - unable to get hold of the surgical team. Went to ED and I have antibiotics, they took a swab and have set me up to get an ultrasound. I’m scheduled to have a second surgery to remove a further lump/cancerous area and finalise breast conserving surgery this week - Thursday. Has anyone else been in a similar situation at all? I guess as I have a wait to speak to my surgeon on Tuesday, I’m trying to get an idea of whether the surgery may be delayed. Each case is different I know…I guess I’ve been waiting and hoped that it would all still go ahead83ViewsSign in to react to this post1Comment
Flying with a seroma
Hi peeps I have a seroma on my chest wall, following mastectomy with flat closure just over 12 months ago. The seroma has been drained multiple times but keeps coming back - the saga continues... I'll be going on a flight (for a holiday - yay!) on Saturday, and it's just occurred to me that I might have some additional pain or discomfort with the seroma due to the cabin pressure. Does anyone have experience with this? Many thanks Bec258ViewsSign in to react to this post2Comments
Preparing for DMX and DIEP Flap reconstruction
Hello and first of all I’m sorry that any of us are on this forum and going through the Sh-t Show…. I have surgery end of Jan 2026. I’m going to hire a recliner chair, I’ll purchase button up pjs and shirts. What else can I do? Does anyone have handy tips? High protein recipes that help with recovery? If you have a website of recipes that you can recommend that would be much appreciated. Is there any exercise I should be doing? With a month to go I’d like to do anything I can. Thank you all and with my kindest regards.406ViewsSign in to react to this post7Comments
Post surgery / cancer follow up.
Not sure where to write this one! If anyone has suggestion on where please let me know and I'll put it in there. So I have had a shockingly bad journey. TNBC. Stage 2-3 when started...so they said. Long story....Finally culminating in a Left Mastectomy. Histology shows they definitely got it all and there was NO lymph node involvement. But I can never have Chemo again. And I can't have Radium anywhere on my left side as I had to have a ICD Internal Cardiac defibrillator implanted. SO...in terms of cancers? No more treatment options for me really. And according to what they say? I have no greater chance of my cancer reoccurring than risk of cancer generally. Don't really believe this, but they got it as well as it can be done. Because of my Heart problems and Sarcoidosis. I will have another PET scan end of Feb 2026. Ordered by my Immunologist. Then hopefully if all is well? That should be it. Probably yearly visit to Cardiologist for a few years with him doing Cardiac Echo's. I have a good GP. So...I see no point in going back and seeing the Oncologist. There's nothing more the oncologist needs to do for me that I can think of. And I'm very pissed off at her. I think she was negligent and all that happened is because she was not monitoring my Chemo closely enough. I should not have gotten to where I got to and I should not have nearly died. So, I'm wondering? What is the usual post cancer follow up process? Who do people see and what tests in what time frame is done? Do you have regular PET Scans? MRIs or what? And who generally orders these tests? How often do you have follow up appts and with whom? I am wondering if I just find another Oncologist if it's the oncologist I am supposed to continue to follow up with. Anyone shed any light on this?389ViewsSign in to react to this post4Comments
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