Recovery times and support required following mastectomy and chemo
Sorry for long post... I'm new to this group. I was confirmed 2 days before Christmas with DCIS and suspected Paget’s Disease. I am facing a mastectomy and possible chemo, etc. I'm now looking at what my options are with respect to reconstruction. I’m seeing my breast surgeon tomorrow with my growing list of questions. So far she has suggested a reconstruction of the affected breast using a bit from my tummy. I asked about a double mastectomy - which she would support - but she said that type of reconstruction may not be possible as I don't have enough 'flesh' on my tummy. I'm still not sure what to do but I'm leaning towards a double as I don't want the anxiety of annual check ups moving forward, especially for my kids. I haven't met with a plastic surgeon yet, given the time of year. I am a 54 yo working single mother of 3 beautiful (mostly) humans aged 13, 16, 17 as well as 2 dogs and 2 useless cats. It's been a tough few years. My wonderful husband died unexpectedly in November 2023. Two months before that his mother also died suddenly and two months before that my mother had a life threatening seizure in front of me and was put into an induced coma and was in ICU for 3 days - she had had a stroke and breast cancer 6 months before that and she has Alzheimers. She then went into care two weeks after my husband's funeral. My Dad lives near by and is healthy - thank goodness. Given what's been going on, 'I don't have much left in my tank' to deal with this latest challenge but it is what it is. I am very lucky to have some wonderful friends and family (however it's not the same as having your partner support you.) So, I'm trying to prepare myself for what's coming - physically and emotionally. I'm wanting to understand what kind of help I'll need following surgery or surgeries. What will my energy be like? How long until I will be able to work, cook, clean, drive, etc? My kids are as helpful as any teens - which is OK but not great and the two eldest have especially busy schedules with lots of activities on top of doing their VCE. I appreciate that every situation is unique but knowing how others - particularly other single parents - have managed will help with my decision making and help me prepare for what lies ahead. Also, any referrals for mortality/grief counselling in Melb would be appreciated. Thank you. xx
Choosing a surgeon (Melb) -New diagnosis overwhelm
Hi there, Im 49 and had my first routine mammogram in September- no family history or symptoms. They discovered calcifications, had a biopsy then 5 days ago I was told I had breast cancer. Stage 2-3 6cm aggressive.That’s all I can remember to be honest as I was in so much shock. Got referred to my GP in the afternoon and had to get referrals to a surgeon. With no time to think and still in shock our GP recommended Dr Sarah Kemp at Cabrini Malvern and a friend (and gp) recommended Dr. Melanie Walker at the Epworth in Richmond. It was so overwhelming and fast. Im someone who can’t make even the smallest of decisions eg what shoes to wear in the morning! lol We have met one surgeon as they had an apt the next morning. Do I meet the other as well? Keen to know is anyone had experiences with these breast surgeons and their team? How do I choose? Any advice would be very much appreciated. Feeling very overwhelmed and stressed! also worried about work and finances… I guess that’s another question!Any suggestions /tips for preparing for surgery and heading home
Hi there, I will be having surgery in a week - lumpectomy and breast reduction in the other breast. I am trying to prepare what I can for not only the surgery but my return home. I have 2 primary age kids who are full of beans and 2 big dogs who love to be lap dogs. I am thinking maybe I need to create a quiet space in my bedroom and get an arm chair? Any other tips would be very much appreciated. I am also in the process of about to apply for income protection - it is a 90 day wait. Any suggestions with this would also be helpful.
Drain pain
Hi all I am two weeks post left nipple saving mastectomy on left with implant reconstruction. Pathology after surgery found cancer in lymph nodes so I had a lymph clearance one week ago. I have found the recovery from the lymph surgery so much more painful and my drain site seems to be where the pain is coming from. The tube continually looks blocked with clots. The breast care nurse tried “milking” the drain today but it was so painful. Just looking to hear whether this is a common experience or whether I should be trying to get the tubes changed? Thanks all
My ALND was a bust..
Hi everyone, this is my first time posting. I discovered my lump in late May while breastfeeding my bub, and am now two weeks post surgery for hormone positive breast cancer. Not the clogged duct I had originally assumed it was. It’s been an awful shock, as I know everyone will understand. So, I have just had a lumpectomy, a LICAP reconstruction on the boob, and level 2 axillary clearance. I’m looking for advice from those who have had an axillary lymph node dissection. I just had my post-op and it was a real mixed bag. Breast cancer out with clear margins (great) BUT seven nodes removed and … none cancerous. While that sounds like great news the problem is that they had biopsied one suspicious node prior to surgery and it had come back positive. So it appears that this positive node was missed. I’m now headed for a second surgery. My question is - for those of you who have undergone ALND- is it normal that they didn’t mark my positive node in any way so they knew where it was during the biopsy or prior to surgery? The doctors are saying they will mark it for the second surgery with magseed and it seems completely ridiculous to me that this wasn’t done initially, when my breast tumor (which was palpable so very obvious) was marked during biopsy. It just seems very slap dash to presume you don’t need to mark as you’re taking everything out anyway. I am wondering whether not marking or targeting when a clearance is planned is just normal procedure and I should just roll with this situation, or whether my hospital or perhaps the surgeon has not done something they probably should have ie mark the cancerous node. I have an appointment on Friday with the surgeon, and I feel knowing others experiences prior to that conversation will give me some peace of mind, or perhaps the gumption to at least push for a second biopsy alongside the magseed. I want to be really sure this time that they are targeting and marking the right node before I go for another surgery. Any shared experiences or thoughts from those who have walked this road ahead of me is appreciated. You are all so brave. This whole situation is very frightening.
DCIS Diagnosis (Breast Cancer 8yrs ago)
Moderator moved @cancer_warrior62 post from 'Activity' section to dedicated post in 'Newly Diagnosed': cancer_warrior62 Don’t know if this is the right place for this but I’m struggling each day as it gets closer to my surgery date. I had breast cancer 8 years ago, stage 2 her2 positive had a lumpectomy, did chemo- radiation- Herceptin and 5 years on Tamoxifen, then end of May this year at my routine mammogram they found I had cancer again in the same breast this time it’s DCIS but next week I’m booked in for a Double Mastectomy. It’s hit me harder this time round and I’m crying at the slightest thing even though I’m trying to stay as positive as possible and also joking around with family to lighten the mood about it but anything could trigger me off. I’m always wondering what I’ll look like after as I’m not going to do a reconstruction. I may later down the track in a few years depending how I feel and it’s too much for me to go through. Any advice would be appreciated.
So unsure
It's scary and it has moved so fast. I was called back for 'Further Assessment' in mid april...I actually can't remember the date. I know I had the core needle biopsy on 22nd April, a couple of days after my 67th Birthday. I was called back 7 days later for the result - Invasive Breast Carcinoma Stage 1 - 2. That was on the Thursday...Friday I was with the GP discussing a breast surgeon, Monday I met with the surgeon who booked me for surgery - Lumpectomy - for Friday 10th May - that date has stuck! My surgeon played things down a bit...well for me. So I was told that it would more likely to be a Stage 1, and that the lymph node looked healthy on the ultrasound. So, follow up appointment on 17th May and I hear it is a Stage 2, and that cancer was present in 3 of the 6 lymph nodes taken and I am back in hospital tomorrow - May 22nd)for the removal of the lymph nodes in my arm...and where from there?? I had an awful recovery from the GA and I'm not looking forward to being on the operating table again!! What has been the experience of others recovering from the removal of lymph nodes?Preparing for surgery
Moderator moved @m_m11 post from activity section to main 'Discussion' page: m_m11 Good morning lovely ladies, I have finished my chemos and surgery is on 4th of June which is lumpectomy and breast size reduction. I’m very nervous and anxious about it, my surgeon said 6 weeks for recovery. Please share how recovery will be and recovery tips and thing I need to careful, is recovery will be painful? I’m very very anxious because never had surgery before. TIAWaiting for Appointment after Referral Peter Mac
Hello friends, I am newly diagnosed with invasive carcinoma found on a routine mammogram and need a lumpectomy and radiation. I have heard all the advice about not being in a big rush to cut it out asap but I'm curious how long you waited after the referral for Peter Mac? I know it's cat A for surgery (>30 day wait). Trying to keep my anxiety under control but having some idea would help a lot. Hope wherever you are on the treatment path you are feeling good 🙏🏼