Going flat with pride
When diagnosed with early HER2+ DCIS in August (right breast), my decision was immediate. Bilateral mastectomy for me. No reconstruction. Why? I'm 61 years old, have been married twice and have had another 15 year relationship. I'm not looking for a man and furthermore, I don't care whether a man would find my flat chest attractive or not! :) Another factor was the many stories I've read here and elsewhere regarding multiple surgeries and failed reconstructions. Not for me. I also didn't want to throw radiation into the mix of treatments. On the 18th August I underwent the surgery, with no problems. Testing of the removed breasts found another tumour in the left breast, which made my bilateral decision a good one. Four weeks later I began chemotherapy through a port in the chest (Taxol, Herceptin) and finished the Taxol yesterday (YAY for me!). :) I've stuck to my exercise regime throughout and have been able to keep working. To date I have only missed two days of work (touch-wood) which were post surgery, but only because I could do so from home. Brain fog has been probably the biggest issue, due to the level of concentration needed for work. Modafinil has helped with that. I purchased the Medicare-funded prosthesis, but haven't worn them so far. My go-to breasts for everyday are seamless, padded crop tops that you can get in any department store for around $15.00. They are light and comfortable, but I wish they came in natural fibres. In the future I will need to navigate the whole anti-estrogen hormone thing. Hmm. I have a long red scar across my chest, but I don't feel like it's unsightly. I'm bald, but that's temporary. I feel like I'm in a good place. :)248ViewsSign in to react to this post8Comments
Home from surgery Ann's staying positive
I had surgery yesterday with wide lobal excision and sentinal node biopsy. No nodes removed. I am home in less than 24hrs. The amount removed was the size of an orange. Full results next week. Doing well feeling strong but weary. Just the next waiting game for the full results. Need to keep myself positive. I am in awe of all the beautiful women who have gone through this before me.ViewsSign in to react to this postComments
Post op skin relief (yay)
Hello, I just wanted to let others know of some products that have really helped my post op *itch*. I heard of MooGoo on this site and have purchased some items in readiness for my radiotherapy that starts next week. For six weeks I have also had a ghastly, compelling itch around my SNL scar in my armpit. Despite using respected pharmaceutical products, and taking great care in deodorant application, (steering clear of the suture line, and not applying deodorant at all when at home), to no avail. I purchased the MooGoo natural milk body wash, skin milk udder cream and fresh cream deodorant and started using 2 nights ago. *VOILA*, in two days, the itch has gone! I can't even coerce the itch to be itchy! Another itch I have had for years has also gone in two days. I wouldn't have believed it unless it was me! I am certainly not connected to MooGoo, nor will receive any benefits, I just hope this information may help someone else. Best wishes to everyone, SuzanneViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsDay 2 Post-Op
I am day 2 post wide local lumpectomy, 2 lesions removed. I can say that I had an overall great experience so I am counting myself very lucky. I thought I would outline my day as it might help others know what might happen. I had to be at the hospital admissions desk for 0630, which wasn't too bad really - at least the rush hour traffic wasn't too bad. 0745 I had hookwires inserted to both lesions, confirmed on mammogram. Thankfully this mammogram was no where near as squishy as the screening mams are. Just before this procedure I scoffed down a muesli bar as a second breakfast, as my fasting time was from 0800. 0915 Then I had the lymph scan done with radioactive dye to determine the location of the sentinel nodes to be removed. This process took a while for the dye to travel from the breast to the lymph node but sure enough it eventually did. This was completed around 1130. This is also when I had to stop drinking water. From there I was escorted up to the day of surgery area, where I waited briefly to be called through for some pre op checks, changed into some gorgeous paper knickers, TED stockings and gown and booties. Thankfully there were also some lovely fluffy robes to complete the look. Once this was all done, my bags were labelled (like checked in luggage) and they were placed in a holding area to accompany me up to my room post op. I was sat in a recliner chair and allowed to have my phone and glasses to entertain myself while waiting. I think I waited here about an hour. Then transferred to a bed, and that is when it all got a bit real, being wheeled down the corridor (the ceiling lights do really look like they do in the TV shows as the patient is being wheeled down a corridor) I was wheeled into the OR and given a lovely paper hat. My surgeon did a final consent check and got me to confirm the procedure I was having and drew on my left shoulder while I was awake. I had so many marks and tapes on my left breast that It really was obvious which side we were tackling. I remember the anaesthetic mask being placed over my nose and mouth and breathing a couple of times and that's it! Next thing I am waking up, feeling a little sleepy. About 2.5 hours had passed. No pain, just a weird relaxed feeling. I had some water and a lemonade icy pole which was just what I needed. After waking up a bit more I was wheeled up to the room. I remember being spaced out with some strong pain meds. I was able to put on the post surgery bra early and that was a good feeling, so much support in that bra. It was a relief to know this part was completed. Thanks to the resources and experiences of others in this network I felt like I was well prepared for hospital. The morning after I saw the breast care physio and the breast care nurse, both whom gave me some great advice and answered my questions about the immediate post op period. Being at home has been good, although hard to settle in to not being busy (I am used to working full time) . The wedge pillow was a must buy. I got mine from Target for $45. As are loose t shirts that fit my surgery arm in and then I can loop easily over my head, or button up shirts. I am also taking regular oral analgesics. If you are reading this and your surgery is approaching, I wish you love and an uneventful recovery. I am very thankful for this network of support xxViewsSign in to react to this postComments
Post op
Well ladies, my surgery went well yesterday (unilateral mastectomy & axillary clearance). Came out of anaesthesia well and was fine last night. I had a nerve block in and when that wore off this morning, was in excruciating pain 😕 A rare complication where the drains rub against a nerve - if I move or breathe deeply I get a terrible sharp pain and burning sensation. Fortunately I’ve just seen a pain specialist whose put together a pain plan, so just waiting for that to start kicking in. Hopefully that helps settle it and I can go home tomorrow (was going to be today). Other than that, I’m a bit surprised at how I’ve reacted to the surgery emotionally. Before surgery I was very sad about losing a breast, and anxious about waking up to see nothing there anymore. Once I’d woken up and gathered the courage to take a peek under my gown, I just felt this huge relief that the cancer wasn’t in me anymore and had an overwhelming feeling of happiness. So I’m another step closer to overcoming this and feeling hopeful 😊ViewsSign in to react to this postComments
Post surgery help
I'm having surgery in a week and a half - double mastectomy and reconstruction. I've been advised it will be a 6 week recovery period with two weeks of not being able to drive. I'm an immigrant single parent (two kids, 9 and 12) with no family here but a strong social network. I've been mulling over how to organize help at home - what level of help have others found was needed after similar surgery? One of my siblings has offered to come and stay with us for a couple of weeks - I'm inclined to accept as I'm thinking it will be easier to have another adult with us full time rather than having to organize multiple different people who are coming and going. How long was help needed with housework etc?ViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsOne night stay thoughts
Hi all, I am going in for a mastectomy, reconstruction and symmetry reduction and lift and was advised if all goes well I will only be staying over one night in hospital, Im wondering how you all felt about this experience and if you coped ok going home that early etc? Feeling a bit nervous about it but understand its out of my hands.ViewsSign in to react to this postComments
Up coming Mastecomy update
Hi all, I posted back in February about my up coming Mastecomy and the decisions ahead. Update. Had the surgery Thursday 8th. I had a skin saving double mastecomy with immediate reconstruction direct to implants. Surgery went for 2 hours longer than planned as I lost a lot of blood and my blood pressure plummeted. I was feeling pretty wrecked afterward and had to have a blood transfusion at 1am on Friday, 4am and a third later that day. I have yet to see my new boobs but am told they are looking good. The pain is bearable for day 3 and I'm able to walk around today without feeling wobbly. Hoping the drains come out tomorrow but could be Tuesday. I'm really busting to go home. My blood pressure is back to normal thankgod. Really looking forward to my own bed to recover.ViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsHome from Surgery
Hi, I'm home now (yesterday) and it's over. On the morning of my mastectomy surgery (Monday 18 May) I was feeling quite anxious but trying to remain positive at the same time. The staff were lovely but I found not as friendly as my first lot of treatment for wide local excision with nodes removal or perhaps it was me with more major surgery to have and super aware of everything around me! In recovery I had quite a bit of pain they had trouble getting me to a pain free point. Then taken back to a room to stay overnight. I was advised to peek at my scar as soon as possible and not to avoid looking as I would feel worse if I delayed looking. I could see a line of stitches when I looked down through my gown and thought well that's it! Snoozed in and out a bit with some pain relief. But didn't sleep much through the night. Doctors and Nurses saw me on Tuesday morning and asked how I felt and said they would perhaps look at sending me home on Wednesday and I could stay Tuesday night and sort out the pain relief issues. Nurse said to have a shower and see if this made me feel better. Well being a bigger girl getting dressed and undressed in front of a stranger is something I have struggled with. I married my first boyfriend! Young female Nurse was lovely and said she would help me. Being an independent person and sometimes stubborn I said I would try myself. Managed to get undressed - not easy I tell you. Someone needs to invent Velcro undies so I don't have to bend down to remove undies. I managed to fling them off around the room avoiding looking at myself. I turned the water on. Put my heavy drain tube bottles on the floor. Turned the water on and looked in the mirror. Well the sobs came loud and hard. The running water didn't drown them out as I had hoped. I knew I had to let it all out so I could deal with it and move on. Lovely nurse called out. Are you crying. I said nooooo. Sobbed louder. She said it's OK if you are, are you crying and I said yesssss. She said do you want a hand. God no, because now I was a hideous deformed beast! Stayed in the shower a long time and was ready to attack anyone who said it's time to get out. Someone else would like some hot water! Took a long time drying myself and put my brain back into gear with well - bad boob gone, want to live. It will heal. The hardest thing now was how do I get my legs through my undies! Wrapped myself in a towel and asked the nurse for some help. She was lovely. Wishing I had packed a lipstick because I wanted a bit of colour of my face. Nurse said I would feel better after breakfast. Had a few bites of breakfast and then threw it all up. Waste of a good shower. Got cleaned up again and had black tea and savoy biscuitsViewsSign in to react to this postComments- ViewsSign in to react to this postComments
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