I Found A Lump In My Breast

[cleanasawhistle]

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.

Hi Gilly,thanks for you posts.
So you have a date for your op,I do hope it goes well and your recovery is quick.I know you are worried about your son and also the suppport from others. Hope your family come good and you can rely on them for help.
Thanks for the info in your posts it has been really helpful.

I have an appointment on Wed with my surgeon.
I am sure it is to discuss my op and hopefully I will get a date.
Really need to know what is happening ,if I can have recon at the same time then I have to go to a hospital that is 3 hours away so my OH and DS would have to come and stay in a hotel.

So my 4 chemo rounds are over with and the third lot was the worst. Really glad to see the back of it,found it to be a really lonely time.
Like we have noticed Gilly you hear all the right noises when you tell people you have cancer but you soon get forgotten.

I will be glad when its all over with.

Take care Gilly and I wish you a speedy recovery xx

Hi Everyone,hope all are progressing with treatment and keeping well.

Thinking of you Gilly,I know you are in hospital recovering from your op.

My operation will be next week.
I will be having a mastectomy and my lymph nodes removed.
Nodes will be tested and if cancer is found then I will have radiotheraphy.

I had wanted recontruction at the same time but the doctor said recon can get in the way of radio so better to wait.

I am scared,so dreading waking up in hospital and seeing my flat chest on one side. The menapause has also kicked in due to chemo and the hot flushes are comng on on a regular basis.Really worried about being in hospital with my bald head and not being able to just take my hat off when I get hot.

I have had a good week with visitors and a couple of lunches out with friends but I am feeling quite lonely at the moment.

I had been relying on Facebook to keep friends and family updated on my progress...got a bit annoyed with it knowing that I had suddenly got a few friend requests which I accepted but realised they didnt even say hi,how are you.Also got angry at seeing family like and comment on everyones silly updates but mine were ignored.So I had a hissy fit and deleted my wall and only use it for private messages now but feel like my life line has been taken away,especially next week when I will be home recovering and not being able to drive.

Does anyone else feel like others are bored with your cancer now ??

Had my pre op assessment yesterday and all is well.
Going away for the weekend before I get confined to the house again.

Anyone else got an operation coming up ?

I saw your thread pop up and realized I had read when you first posted. Wanted to say well done on getting through the chemo and sorry that there has been some dark times. I will be thinking of you -sending positive thoughts for your surgery. I'm sorry you haven't had the support you would have hoped from family/friends -hopefully someone thinking of you from the other side of the world will add to your list of supporters! Sending lots of good wishes your way.

Thank you so much Sunflower,very kind of you xx

So this time next week I will be in hosptal.....

I'll be thinking of you next week .

It's looking likely that my friend's mum has breast cancer too and she'll be going into hospital for an operation on the same day as you.

Much love x

Clean and gilly

Just read thread and wanted to let you know there is a stranger out here rooting for you . Your posts have moved me (and yes have some tests myself for a nasty coming up).

Gilly how you handle this as a single mother - I salute you

Just sending my best wishes - I won't post anything trite but I hope knowing the support of us helps

It's a shame about people in RL but I get it - all too common

to you both and all others going through this

And Facebook is the devils work

A close friend of mine has breast cancer and I think she has been on a major diet - for the reasons you state x

Hi cleanas, the waiting for an op is horrible so I am sending you my best. I was simultaneously climbing the walls and chucking the toys out of my pram (a true testament to the ability of women to multitask even in the worst circumstances). I annoyed myself so much that it was a relief when it came time for the anaesthetic as I wanted some time off from listening to all the thoughts in my head.
I am sure you are disappointed that the recon isn't immediate. Do you know what the long term plan is in that regard?

Thank you MiloCat,I am sure you will be a good support for your friend while her mum is going through this.

Thanks From hope you test results are good news.

Hi Save,how are you ?
My op is tomorrow.trying to keep myself busy to take my mind off things.More nervous than scared but just want it over and done with....want the whole flippin thing over with.
I suppose I will get test results from this op in a couple of weeks and then I will know if I need radiotheraphy.Its going to be a pain if I do cos the hospital for that will be three and half hour round trip everyday for 15 days. I can imagine it will be sma ck bang in the middle of the school hols too...hopefully none of it will be needed.
I have been told reconstruction can be as soon as I want it....when I have recovered from all other treatments.

Hope you are recovering well Gilly,I will be in touch when out of hospital.

Best wishes to everyone and thanks for support so far.

Today's the day to move everything you need to below shoulder height . Make sure any chocolate biscuits, teabags, toilet rolls, toothpaste, etc are within easy reach. It hadn't occurred to me before my op that it would be hard to get stuff off coat hangers, for example!!

I am ok now, thank you. Physically I have healed pretty well. I found that walking helped, it may have been very slow to start with but it got me out of the house and I am now fitter than before the op! Mentally, I have my moments but that 'oh shit' feeling can sometimes be gone for a few days which is a blessed relief.

I wish you all the best for tomorrow. X

Hope all went well clean. Thinking of you x

Just found this thread. A relative of mine is going through this but she's very stuff upper lip about the detail so this thread is giving me some insight - I'll ring her this evening for a chat.

I hope the OP went well clean. Very best of luck for the biopsy results.

And Gilly, I can't imagine how practically tough this must be for you. Speaking as a representative slightly crap relative, I think you should get your parents to talk to your siblings and make it clear that they need to rally round. Yes they're being crap, yes they should know better and not need a kick up the arse, but in the end what's important is that you and your DC get the support you deserve. Love and best wishes for your OP and recovery.

Good Evening Everyone.

I had my mastectomy and node clearance on Thursday morning.Woke up in recovery at 1.30pm with a dead arm but no other pain.Stayed in recover till 5pm untill a bed on the ward became available.

I was expecting to have an incision in my arm pit but its actually on my side prob same height as a bra band.So I am bandaged up across my chest and down one side with the tube from the drain attached to my side too.My side is very very swollen also.

I left hospial on Friday evening and have had no pain,I don't feel poorly just tired.

My drain leaked a couple of times this afternoon so I went back to the ward so they could have a look. They decided as it was still working well that they would leave it but did put an extra bandage across to catch any drips.
The nurse also changed the bag because I was concerned that it was filling quickly and wouldn't last till Thurs when I am supposed to have it all removed. The bag was filled up to the 400 ml mark.

Its very strange looking down and seeing my new shape.When I put a top on it feels twisted and not hanging right. The BC nurse did visit me on the ward and gave me a soft pad to add to my bra....there is no way I could wear a bra at the moment due to the swelling.I have an appointment at the end of the month to be fitted for a prostatitis.

Hope everyone is keeping well.

Did anyone else have a leaking drain ?

cleanas, I just wanted to say "Hi", and well done for coming through what's been a right marathon! Best wishes for your recovery, and take it easy. Virtual flowers, and chocolates for you!

thank you

Wishing you a speedy recovery -hope that as each day passes you gain strength and feel better.

Hi, I just saw this thread. I am glad you are doing well. I have just started my own journey into the unknown. I found a lump and after the mammogram and ultrasound, am now waiting for a core biopsy procedure to check if it is indeed BC. It is all so surreal, but reading about what others have experienced helps me deal with the the possibilities. The worst bit is my extreme anxiety as concerns the DC. Wishing us all strength.

Congrats on getting through it cleanas.

Royal, the waiting is just awful. Try to look after yourself as best you can.

On Thurs 11th June I went to have my drain removed,it was sore but not too bad.I told the BC nurse that I was feeling unwell and was concerned about the size of the swelling.she said all was fine.

On Friday I phoned the BC nurse and asked to be checked over because I wasn't feeling very well.I had a huge bright red lump on my side and felt a lot of pressure in my ribs.The nurse said I was fine and all was as expected.

On Wed 17th I phoned the breast care team again.Luckily my own BC nurse was back off holiday.She told me to come to the hospital on the 18th and she would have a look at me.
So I walk in all hunched over and with a cushion under my arm. The nurse said look at you,get rid of the cushion and straighten up. I said I cant straighten up and I feel awful. I took my top off and the nurse said OMG.At last someone was shocked by what they could see....what a bloody relief...felt like I was over reacting all this time.
So the nurse decided to drain the lump.250ml of gunge came out.I was told I was being admitted because I had an infection.

On the ward and I was hooked up to IV antibiotics.The lump was drained again on the Fri and Sat.On Monday 22nd I had another operation this time to wash out the infection and removed part of the large lump.

A couple of hours before the operation I was sitting chatting on the ward and suddenly my top was soaking wet. A small hole in my mastectomy scar had opened up and the gunge was just pouring out. A nurse cleaned me up and ended up having to stick a colostomy bag over it until the time for the op.

I had a week in hospital and came home yesterday.I feel much better.
Just letting everyone know,if you think something is wrong then kick up a fuss ....wish I had been firmer with the nurse I saw on the 12th and asked for a doctor to take a look at me.

Hi Clean, wow - I'm horrified by what you've been through and how you've been treated. Glad you're starting to feel better now.

OMG, cleanas, that's awful! I hope it all clears up now!

Just read your thread, really hope you're feeling ok and that everything goes well in the future

Oh you poor thing. That sounds horrendous. I really hope you start feeling better soon.