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Original poster

I Found A Lump In My Breast

347 replies

cleanasawhistle · 04/11/2014 12:32

Found it on Friday.
Managed to get an appointment with my GP yesterday morning,he was really nice and tried to put my mind at rest.
I have just had an appointment through the post for Wed 12th Nov.It says I will be diagnosed on the day.
The weekend was so long waiting to phone my doctor and now I have to wait over a week for the next step.
I think the not knowing is the hardest bit so far.

Thinking of others going through this.

OP posts:
Littleham · 07/02/2015 10:11

Thank you cleanasawhistle. It is quite hard to stop imagining the worst isn't it? Silly really because it could turn out to be nothing. I think it is my family history that is making me think such gloomy thoughts.

Glad to hear you are out the other end of both your operations. You have been amazing!

I'll update you in a couple of weeks.

Original poster
cleanasawhistle · 07/02/2015 16:12

Thanks LITTLEHAM and I will keep an eye out for yor news.Good luck.

OP posts:
Original poster
cleanasawhistle · 10/02/2015 13:15

My chemo starts on the 19th Feb....
So yesterday I went wig shopping,I had an appointment for 1pm and I think I was out within half an hour.
I tried on a couple of wigs that were close to my own hair colour.
When I had picked one the lady actually cut and styled it while it was on my head.She told me how to take care of it and keep it looking good.
It was a really good service and I am so pleased I went.

Not sure how I will feel when I have to wear the thing for real and actually leave the house....watch this space.

OP posts:
PlumpingUpPartridge · 10/02/2015 14:48

Hi cleanasawhistle, my DM had a few lovely wigs when she went through this, you wouldn't have known they were wigs at all. She ordered one or two off ebay too I think (amazing what you can buy)!

A friend of mine fucked up royally though; she had no idea of DM's illness and said to DM, cheerily 'I haven't seen you in a while - not with that hair anyway!' Friend MEANT to compliment the hairstyle, DM left the room sobbing. Friend was prostrate with apologies when she realised what she'd said!! The message here is not to take anything that anyone says too seriously - how often do you look at other people's hair, anyway?

Good luck from me Flowers

Original poster
cleanasawhistle · 10/02/2015 15:07

Thank you Plump and bless your friend.

I am known for my sense of humour and I am not easily offended.
Some of my friends have come out with some crackers...

Told not to get frustrated,the last thing I should do is sit here pulling my hair out.
While discussing my operation options was told not to make a rash decision and cut my nose off to despite my face.
and I've told everyone it wasn't a problem if I lost my left breast because I've always been a right tit anyway (got that corker from my son)

The only thing I have told friends and family is to please not tell me when I am sitting there bald and bloated that I look awful....I am sure it is not a good look for anyone.

OP posts:
Original poster
cleanasawhistle · 10/02/2015 16:33

The breast care nurse has just phoned.
I have to see the doctor tomorrow to be told the results from my last operation.
Feeling nervous but it has to be done.

OP posts:
Lilymaid · 10/02/2015 16:49

Cleanas
Wigs are great. I got a lot of compliments about my hair (and how well I looked Confused) when I was on chemo. Not so many compliments now my hair has grown back to normal length Confused Confused

malteserzz · 10/02/2015 17:03

Good luck for tomorrow clean as will be thinking of you Smile

savemefromrickets · 11/02/2015 07:59

Good luck for today, cleanas.

Hello to everyone else. I hope you are all doing ok.

Original poster
cleanasawhistle · 11/02/2015 18:59

Had bad news today,I will be having a mastectomy when my chemo treatment is over and maybe all the lymph nodes out too.

For those of you with lymphedma...how bad is it ?

Thinking of everyone,hope you are having better days.

OP posts:
savemefromrickets · 11/02/2015 20:13

Cleanas, I'm sorry to hear that. Like you, I was escalated to the mastectomy pile after a previous op didn't clear everything. I had a fair amount of time to decide what reconstruction I would prefer and I found it really helpful to talk to others who had had various surgeries before making my decision. If I can be any use, please PM me.

Original poster
cleanasawhistle · 18/02/2015 17:07

Chemo starts tomorrow.....

Thank you Save for all your messages,you really have been through it too.
I have to decide whether to have recon at same time as mast and which procedure to opt for.

Any info you wish to share would be of help.
Hope you are well and recovering from your op,take care

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Original poster
cleanasawhistle · 19/02/2015 14:28

I went to the hospital this morning....met a lovely nurse,put in a cosy room.We went through the usual paper work etc etc.
Cannula in drip turned on and then the nurse said ...you did remember to take your steroid tablets yesterday?....I said I haven't been given any tablets.So the drip was turned off and I go back tomorow afternoon.

OP posts:
savemefromrickets · 19/02/2015 16:54

What a PITA!!

I'll send you a PM re recon when I get chance. I did start last night but fell asleep!

malteserzz · 19/02/2015 17:21

Oh what a pain when you'd got your head around starting today :( good job they checked though, good luck for tomorrow

Original poster
cleanasawhistle · 19/02/2015 18:40

Thank you,I am fine,would rather it had been done but things happen.
Just releived that the chemo is at the local hospital and not the one over an hour away.

How are you both ?

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savemefromrickets · 19/02/2015 20:00

I'm knackered. Half term is killing me but at least it's proved that I'm not ready to go back to work yet (I was tempted to try) Smile.

I've just had a facial which was a present. Why have I never had a facial before? It was amazing.

Original poster
cleanasawhistle · 19/02/2015 20:46

I hope you are managing to rest SAVE,pleased to hear you have had some pampering .
I have never had a facial,not even a manicure.
I was told about Look Good Feel Good...think thats right.
Its like a pamper day for female cancer sufferers.A room full of beauticians and treatments and they show you how to draw on your eyebrows and do false eyelashes.You even leave with a goody bags worth a lot of £££££.

Anyone attended one of these ?

OP posts:
Littleham · 19/02/2015 20:56

Good luck Cleanasawhistle. I hope all the treatment goes well. Flowers

I got the all clear from my appointment. A large cyst which will go by itself. Apparently they are quite common, but at least I know what to look out for now.

Original poster
cleanasawhistle · 19/02/2015 21:38

So pleased yours was good news Little ,you are always going to think the worst no matter what anyone says,untill the facts are there....

OP posts:
helzapoppin2 · 19/02/2015 22:00

cleanas, good luck with the chemo. I seem to remember being given a couple of bottles of tablets, steroids and anti nausea tablets, and told to take the anti nausea tablets as a matter of course, and not wait until I felt sick. I actually only felt a little sick once. Tired, though!
Your sense of taste goes funny. I was craving Ready Brek, but they don't have it in the US. Anything simple and soothing.
I was also told to get Bonjela, although I didn't need it, and Dulcolax because you can get constipated. Hey, ho, the joys!
Glad you're being treated locally, that's a big plus!

savemefromrickets · 19/02/2015 22:40

A friend did Look Good and raved about it. I haven't signed up as I'm not having chemo so it seemed wrong to take a place. I'd have loved the goody bag though. Smile

malteserzz · 19/02/2015 22:52

Look good feel better was great really gave me a boost in the middle of chemo and got some lovely goodies Smile

gillybean2 · 20/02/2015 18:08

Hi Cleanas. Sorry I've not been in touch much but the chemo has hit me for six. Have now had my third course and they've finally got the sickness and dizzyness under control but I am on 3 different drugs now just for that. My next 3 sessions I have to take steroids before, so it sounds like you're having different drugs to me to start with.

I see from your messages you are having your chemo today. I hope it goes ok and the side effects can be controlled. I'm not used to making a fuss but after two misserable rounds of sickness and pain I didn't think I could take any more. My third round was delayed because I threw up the tablets 10 mins after taking them. And I was sick again during the third chemo which was when they finally started listening to me saying how bad the sickness and dizzyness was. So, as well as saying take all the anti sickness tablets they give you, I advise that you say loud and clear if you are suffering as they can and will help you with it when they realise.

As you're having 4 chemo rounds in all it's likely we'll be having our mastectomy ops about the same time as I still have 3 of my 6 sessions to go.

I'm having reconstruction at the same time (tummy tuck to be used for the skin and fat). I opted for this because at 44 I'm not ready to be flat and I don't think I would be happy in terms of my wellbeing and body image. I am having it at the same time because I'm not good with hospitals, surgery etc and so I don't think I could face going back in a year's time to have delayed surgery. I want to get it over and done with in one go. I also don't want to have an implant which would mean repeat ops to replace every 10 years which with my phoebias I wouldn;t be able to handle. Going through this has been really hard and no matter how many times I get told my needle phobia will be cured by the end of all this I seriously doubt that. So basically for me there was really only 1 options.

My dsil had a mastectomy a year ago and is now facing going back for more surgery. She is large busted and is suffering back problems from being lopsided so she has to have something done. But she is at the point of not being able to face yet more surgery after a year of dealing with breast cancer.

It is a hard choice but at least you have a bit of time now to decide what is right for you. Good luck with the chemo. Take your anti sickness tablets as soon as you can. Don't wait like I foolishly did the first time...

Original poster
cleanasawhistle · 21/02/2015 15:49

Yesterdays chemo went well.
I sat with the drip for two hours,in hospital about 2 hours 40 mins.
I came home with anti sickness tabs and steriod tablets to start taking for my next chemo on the 13th March.
I ate breakfast this morning then got a grip in my stomach and had to run to the loo,same after lunch.
Also woke up with a warm pink face,took my temp and its fine.
If I have flu like simptoms or a temp of above 38 then I have to go to A&E straight away.

Hope everyone is well.
Thanks for all the input Gilly,so sorry you are finding chemo such a horrible expierence.Are you having lymph nodes out at the same time as your matectomy and reconstruction ?
I think I have decided to get rid of the lymph nodes and still thinking about the recon and which procedure to pick.
Too many decisions just make my head spin at the moment,I'm fine and well but there seems to be no end in sight.

Have you lost your hair Gilly,do you wear a wig ?

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