Exchange Surgery and 4th Cancerversary 💗
Hello to everyone and Happy Easter 🐣🐇🪺. I’ve been a bit quiet on here, just focusing on life after breast cancer I guess, going back to work, trying to get healthier etc. Today I’m posting again because it’s my 4th cancersary 🎉, and I’m also 2 weeks post my third surgery since this whole ride started. This was the surgery I was most excited about though, because it was my recon surgery, i.e. bilateral exchange of expanders to implants (I’ll be posting a picture story soon in the private recon group for those interested). I had my expanders in for a record time, just shy of 4 years 🤦🏻♀️😄 (surgery kept being postponed for various reasons) so I might be able to enter the Guinness Book of Records 😅. The thing is, I’m absolutely terrified of surgery and pretty traumatised too, due to what happened after my DMX. It took a change of surgical teams 4 years ago and lots of counselling to be able to get to this state of being ready for it again. Thanks to all my hard work and my BRILLIANT specialist team, I got there, and I can’t even express how happy I am with the results 😃. My breasts now look like my original ones, albeit perkier 😏😁. They were an absolute mess from the 4 years of expanders, but my surgeon fixed my pockets perfectly and used implants that look very natural. The whole experience, despite stress from my previous trauma, was very easy and smooth sailing. I am beyond thankful and grateful to my team (Dr Eva Nagy ♥️ and Fred 💙) because without them this wouldn’t have been possible 🙏🏻🙌🏻🍀. It might seem like something so simple, but it is so important to healing as anyone going through this (all of you) will know and understand, because it means getting my body back to what it was (or to a new normal for those not choosing recon). Actually, better than what it was because I was going to the gym for a year prior, to prepare myself physically for this, and so I am stronger than I’ve been in a long time. Silver linings everywhere 😁. So now, every year on this day, I do something special for myself, as a thank you to ME for everything I’ve endured. One thing this cancer taught me is that I need to prioritise myself, because I was putting myself last before all this. Well, not anymore. It’s a work in progress for sure, but I’m now putting myself at the top of my list more and more often. My message, especially to all the newbies, is that it does get better. It gets a whole lot better. There will be a day and time when you won’t be thinking about cancer all day, every day - believe me! There will even be a day when you’ll forget you ever had it. You do get reminded again because it’s a bit of a ‘gift that keeps giving’ situation, but you find the strength again and keep moving on. It might not always seem like it and I definitely encourage venting and getting all the anger out, and asking for help when ever you need it!! However, there are lots of beautiful days as well ☺️. One more piece of advice: choose your medical team very carefully, because they will either break you or make you (speaking from experience). You are responsible for your life and wellbeing, but with the right medical team, you will have the support you need to do wonders. So, don’t rush this decision. Do research before choosing, and always seek a second or even third opinion if it doesn’t feel right. *Pictured are myself, the day after my surgery so please don’t judge me for looking so terrible, and my beautiful magician of a surgeon on the right 🌸. Lots of love and fantastic health to all 🧿🪷♥️, M Xxx
Going flat following reconstruction
Hi ladies I was diagnosed with stage 3 her2 + in 2015 with Chemo, radiation and bilateral mastectomy. At the time of my surgery the only option presented to me was reconstruction with implants which I did following expanders etc. now 4 years on I still feel very heavy in the chest and feel like the implants will never be part of me. My question is has anyone removed theirs implants and gone flat? I’d love to hear your stories and if you have any recommendations for surgeons in Sydney. Many thanks and sending lots of love
Trying to cope day to day
the past few weeks have been a true roller coaster for me. I have found in the past few days, my emotions have hit a low with crying, a sense of anger at the unknown of what lays ahead and last night was particularly bad - I told my husband that I was truly afraid that I might not survive and what if this period of time was all I had to enjoy? I have surgery next week and as much as the medical team have given positivity - there is an element of fear which comes from the fact "a bloody lump is growing in me!" I know they will cut it out but who is to say it wont come back or turn up somewhere else that is not visible? My emotions are on hyper drive and I do feel incredibly lonely even with my family doing everything in their power to support me. There is almost a "need" to be positive for them and myself but some days I am so damn tired from doing so. Illogical I know and it is ok to say "Im not doing so well today". for the first time since I was told "It is Breast Cancer" - where my response was to go into "fight mode" and literally almost pretend it was merely a bump in my life. I woke up from a sound sleep - yelling "I have Cancer!" over and over. Then broke into a hysterical bout of crying, sobbing and quietly screaming as it hit me - I have bloody awful frightening Cancer. It is not a bump in my life - this bloody thing growing in me has the capacity to change everything. Some days, I think to myself - I will beat this into submission and the power of positivity thrives but in the quiet of night - a multitude of images and emotions hit me like a ton of bricks and I end up weeping. The pain radiating from the damn lump that has grown dramatically due to its aggressive behaviour is like an endless ache and as much as I know it is "part and parcel" of the cancer - is a constant reminder that this nasty little visitor in my body has taken some of my control. I am sorry this is a long chain of thoughts. I just needed to let it out somewhere. Lois.
Sharing is caring. Thanks ladies
Hi ladies. Thank you for sharing your experiences, ups and downs. I get online and just read a few posts every now and then and it really is encouraging and gives me a good laugh at times. My surgery is in 11 days now...thank goodness, the waiting is the hardest. I'm having a bilateral mastectomy and I'm actually fine with it, especially after joining this group and reading your experiences. You are all wonderful.
Movement in arm
I had a bilateral mastectomy & axillary lymph node clearance 3 weeks ago. I’ve lost some movement in my arm & have numbness on the back of my arm. I’ve been doing the exercises the physio gave me while in hospital & was wondering how long it will take to get good movement back & if the numbness will go.
Just touching base :)
Hi lovelies I've just got back home from surgery last Thursday :). On the pre-op scans they found a 2nd mass which had been "overshadowed" by the main mass on previous checks, so that's been taken away as well. Lumpectomy (with the 2 masses) & full axillary lymph clearance (lymphs were already proven as malignant in the initial biopsies) & I must say that the surgical team did a very lovely job with the lumpectomy :) I have the surgical follow up appointment next Friday (before people start their Xmas breaks) & the 1st MDT meeting after Xmas will be 7th January. So it's a quick trip down to Tassie on New Years day to see our daughter. The poor thing only just moved to Tasmania & 2 weeks later I rang her to say "It's all okay, BUT Dad's just had a Heart attack!" & then 2 weeks after that I rang her again to say "It's all okay, BUT I've got Breast Cancer!"... I figure we'd better see her just to prove that we really ARE both okay before we start getting organised for the next steps, with Chemo starting sometime in January :) Happy holidays to all everyone. <3
Single or double mastectomy
Since being diagnosed with Stage 3 Inflammatory Breast Cancer in March I have been pretty clear that I want “a double mastectomy, no reconstruction and fab tattoos”. My breast surgeon is actually the guy who first broke the news to me when I ended up in hospital thinking I had an infection and I have seen him twice since. He has always said that having a double didn’t make recurrence less likely (I have a tumor in my right breast and there were some cancer cells in my lymph nodes) but that we will take about it nearer the time. Well, I see him next Friday prior to finishing Chemo in 2 July and my oncology says surgery will be around three weeks after that so now it is time. I know I am the only one who can decide but would love to hear from others who had to make the same decision. Lumpectomy is absolutely not an option, it’s one or both off. I am also wondering if choosing a double will have cost implications, I have found out about gap fees in the private system the hard way so if he says it’s not medically necessary is that the choice taken away from me as I certainly can’t fund it? I would be very grateful to hear what others did.
Wearing post surgery bra after masectomy then reconstruction ?
Hi, I just came out of hospital 2 days ago after a right breast masectomy and reconstruction with implant. My left breast also had a small implant too. I had high grade dcis in my right breast. I am very confused about wearing a post surgery bra as I only had the berlei bra sent to me at home and saw a breast care once while in hospital who quickly showed me the bra. Since being home, I have purchased one more post surgery Berlei bra and 2 white Amoena bras. I wasn't given any advice on how long a day I should be wearing a bra now. Do I wear it 24 hours a day ? I had one on a few hours today and it felt like it was enough. It felt a little tight across under the cup of the breast where it is tender. So not sure if this is ok ? But I am not really sure what I am doing or if it is ok to just go free and easy while I am resting at home ? Or is it better to wear a bra and for how long ? How tight should it feel under the cups ? I am surprised that no there is no post home visit to see how you are going Appreciate any advice as I am feeling lost. Thankyou
Numb & painful arm post axillary dissection
hi! At the beginning of Aug I had a lumpectomy, reduction & lift and sentinel node biopsy. I recovered really well from it but the biopsy showed cancer in the sentinel node so last week I had an axillary node clearance. Under arm is numb - which is weird but ok. But the skin between my elbow and under arm feels super sensitive, tingly and really painful - like something is rubbing on it. It gets more painful during the day. Ive spoken to the Dr who said it was probably a result of the nerves being stretched. But.... it’s horrible!!! Has anyone else experienced it? How long did it last? Any tips to reduce the sensation? I find a heat pack helpful but don’t want to over heat the area in case I draw too much lymph there. I start radiation in a couple of weeks. Thank you for any support, ideas or identification!! I just want to feel I’m not alone with this!
Actually sitting here laughing out loud
I've heard so much about the Zonta cushion so I went online to have a look - and I'm thinking (because I haven't had any experience with BC surgery yet - coming up on 7 April) how on earth could that possibly help? I mean, why would you wear a cushion around your neck like that? And then I googled images and I realised that it's for under your ARM!! hahahahahaha - I'm guessing someone would have eventually told me I wasn't doing it right. So please tell me lovely ladies - if I am having a double, do I need to get two of these??
