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.

I did catch up on the wine, thank you.

For those with lump removal ops, I have posted on the tamoxiwotsit thread for post op soft bra recommendations, as underwiring is not the way to go.

Also, I heartily recommend an electric toothbrush for anyone having a boob op. I didn't have one the first time round and had to get someone else to hold me down when I cleaned my teeth . Poor DP is most upset he bought me an electric toothbrush a few years ago as that's the only perk of the whole process gone.

Oh, and it's worth getting Arnica tablets to help you heal faster.

I wonder if there are any more tips I've missed - please post if you find any.

I did also mean to say good luck to everyone . Our ops will be here before we know it.

No I don't have an alternative op date,they said it could be earlier or later.
I just want to finish my Xmas shopping and get everything wrapped first.I need to know that Xmas is sorted and that I don't have to leave the house if I don't want too.

Thank you SAVEME for mentioning soft bras,eletric toothbrush and the Arnica tablets.

So what do we need in our hospital bags ?

Those with children,would you contact the secondry school and tell them what is going on ?

Hi cleanas, I have been off Mumsnet for a few days and missed your news, I'm sorry it wasn't better but it sounds as though you are getting good care. Do come and join us on the tamoxigang, we are a friendly bunch. And wrt your kids school, yes I would tell them. Mine are primary age so a bit different, but it's good to let them know what's going on at home so the school has some context.

Hi Clean, I posted earlier but this is snazzy new name. I would definitely tell the school. Another mum at ds's school had told school when she was diagnosed with breast cancer (about 4 yrs ago and she is fit and well now) and the school knew exactly what was going on when her ds had a major wobble one day and could help her DS without him having to go through the painful process of explaining that he was frightened because his mum had cancer. This was primary school, he was 11yrs at the time. As I said his mum is fully recovered now

Another one from the tamoxigang thread who's sorry to hear your news and wanted to offer you some support . Depends on your child if you tell the school, I didn't tell dds as she asked me not to. She didn't want anyone fussing over her and wouldn't have wanted to talk to teachers about it. They're all different though

cleanas, I had a lumpectomy. I wasn't offered the chance to "balance them up",though, but, no matter!
I had my op in the US, where we were living at the time. It was just before Christmas and we arrived late morning. We were sitting in the waiting area when, down below, a choir started up singing Christmas carols. I thought it was very jolly! Unfortunately I heard the same repertoire about five times over. I was actually glad to get away from it and on with the medical stuff!
Good luck, I hope they come up with a date soon!

Hi CLEANASAWHISTLE, I went in & spoke to the head; my eldest was 14 at the time. It was necessary because other staff needed to know what he was going through at home & how he was feeling. They were very supportive. Best wishes

Well I have had the whole weekend to fret, google and lose sleep. On a more positive note, the house is pretty clean.

Did anyone else feel very achy in their affected knocker? More so than all the prodding attention it's been getting.

Actually. Don't answer that. I probably could do with not knowing.

I'd definitely inform the school. You could do it by email so that it's all written down for the person(s) who need it and you won't have to have a face to face conversation.

My mum has bc and I've had her staying here etc over the operation period. My kids are a bit younger but they've seen it all going on so I told the school who have been extremely kind to them.

Glad your lump is confined, some good news in the middle of the bad news!

Best wishes to you.

I will answer that as it will reassure you. Yes, I have, but oddly I have been even more achy in the non-affected one. That or someone shut it in a car door and I didn't even notice at the time.

How is everyone today ?
Anymore news ?

I did inform the school by email and they have replied.

My doctors receptionist phoned today and said my GP would like to see me,made an appointment.

Not heard anything else,thought I might of had an appointment re my pre op assesment,but no nothing.

Still waiting for an appt to come through... I have even been answering the landline. So far I have found out that I can claim back a cumulative total of about £14554.30 worth of PPI insurance if I add all the calls together, am entitled to 7 new boilers and can claim for the accident I had. I don't remember the accident I had. It must have been really bad. Think this experience is going to make me rich... I just have to call this long phone number starting with 090....

Thanks saveme. I am not sure if anything can reassure me, because on top of the self diagnosis of breast cancer (and probable liver cancer due to my excessive long term alcohol intake) I have also decided I have Munchausens and am wasting everybody's time.

Oh how the nights are flying by...

Anyway, enough of my whining. Hope the rest of you are coping well. Cleanas it sounds like it is a veritable flurry of appointments with normal life popping up in the middle expecting you to just get on with it (doesn't let up does it?). Are you feeling a little less reeling?

I'm sure I have at least two types of cancer on a good day, it's at least five on a bad one (one of which will be named after me - if only I liked my name).

Savemefromrickets is a lovely name.

Hope everyone is ok.

My operation is on the 18th Dec.

Urgh. That's rubbish. Although trying to see the positives, you'll be over and done with it and home before Christmas where you can rest.

Hope everyone is rallying round for you and you don't have too many of the inevitable festive pressures weighing you down on top of this. X

I don't mind too much,I would have hated it to be any later though.

I think its the day the school breaks up so my thinking is when I get home ...son will be off school ,OH will have finished work so no alarm clocks to set and we can enjoy a quiet lazy Xmas.

I hope I won't be in too much pain or feeling low.

So how about washing after the op when I get home ?
Will I be able to have a shower,is there any way of keeping the dressing dry ?

I had a different operation, mx with immediate LD flap reconstruction. I couldn't shower so I bought the vernacare washing foam that they use in hospital & washed myself down with it.
So glad to hear that you've got a new operation date, once it's gone you'll be free of it.
I took into hospital a face cloth, toothbrush and paste, baby wipes, polo mints, a bottle of squash, my kindle, a photo frame with DH & DC, hairbrush, hair ties, skin wash foam, slippers, front fastening nightshirts, a large soft dressing gown. I also took a soft top with a soft support built-in, instead of a bra, but with having surgery front & back, I wasn't up to wearing it for quite a while. I came home in a button up shirt and a front fastening cardie; anything that made getting dressed easier. Just looking at my list, I was in for a week, but it was a different operation, how long will you be in for?
Good luck & do look after yourself before you go in, don't run yourself raggèd. Getting better will take all of your energy.

Frances, thank you! I totally forgot about front fastening tops! You've saved my bacon.

whistle, I got given painkillers. I was ok after, but then I didn't have small children. We coped! All I wanted was peace, quiet and boxed sets! I hope you get well looked after! Are they doing your nodes? I had a tube from armpit after because of that. Two of them were iffy!

Gurgle: I would laugh if I was allowed to name it saveme...! As it happens, I was being a bit dramatic after all and my Larry is a loner. It looks like I have lazy, antisocial cancer but we'll know for definite after my nodes are done shortly.

Can I have some box set recommendations? I'm not one for watching TV but I have been set up with Netflix and told to have at least a week off to recover from the op.

Netflix box sets, well, I watched House of Cards all through and liked it. Breaking Bad is also supposed to be very good.