Cancer Support Thread #81 Newbies welcome

[TopOfTheCliff]

This is a kind and friendly place for those with cancer or those worried they have cancer (or who used to have cancer) to hang out.
Please introduce yourselves and chat away. No issues are too big or small here.
Top

@PaddingtonStareBear so sorry you are going through this. With you virtually.

@BerryJay
I was told to allow 12 weeks, but that’s if you have a reconstruction, and it depends on what type. I had a mastectomy with no reconstruction less than a week ago, and I could be back at work now - office job. It’s taken much less time to recuperate than the lumpectomy and sentinel nodes removal I had just a few weeks earlier. Mentally, though, I’m all over the place and not in a fit state to work.

@Daisypond thank you for sharing with me. I hope the rest of your recovery goes smoothly. I completely agree that the mental side of things takes the biggest toll. Look after yourself.

I'm still waiting for Vaccum Biopsy date and then results. My Consultant seems fairly convinced it will show the cancer is back based on Mammogram/ Ultrasound. I'm spiralling between hopeful and hopeless minuite by minuite. It just feels so unfair - I'm only 29, I have 2 young children who need me and I've already done this once before. I was starting to feel like me again and I desperately don't want that taken away. It will be what it will be I suppose.

They've never been ready for me when I've arrived for any appointment. I'm having my head shaved tomorrow after of chemo. And for lots of hats and scarves ready. I'm already getting too hot in hats so expecting that to get worse. I do get quite warm generally anyway, hubbie always knows to turn the heat down in the car when he gets in if I'm getting in too, especially if we're at the hospital!

@berryjay sending you the biggest good vibes. I’m so sorry to hear you’re going through it again. I’ve had breast cancer twice and although I was older at my first diagnosis 36 I had two smalls so I really sympathise. I hope this might give you a bit of hope I’m now 56 and although I’m waiting for an ultrasound Ive had 20 years since I first heard the C word

@paddingtonbearstare that’s so tough I’m sending you virtual strength and care

@paddingttomstarebear We're with you x

@PaddingtonStareBare Let us know how the CT went. Sending you hugs & support, this cancer journey can be incredibly lonely and frightening. Sincerely hoping that whatever the medics were looking for can be treated/isn’t anything too worrying.

Oh I appear to have something in my eyes, thank you all for the virtual support. You don't know how much it helps - it truly does, especially from those in a similar boat.

What a day.

Well the results are, and I quote "There has been excellent response as at this date from the chemotherapy."
Doctor was very pleased with my results, he said he was cautiously optimistic and these were all excellent markers.
I'm only halfway through but why am I feeling like I should be happier than I am?
😔

@PaddingtonStareBare Paddington I am here with you and thinking of you, admittedly I was asleep during your CT so not a lot of use today, sorry I am glad you had some better results though completely understand you don't feel elated with them as there is still a difficult path ahead but at least you are making good progress.

Thanks for the advice on sleeping after a mastectomy, DH has volunteered to sleep separately. I feel mean but he completely understands and I do not want to end up bruised. Only thing I am not sure of is who gets the single bed and who gets the double or whether to get like a sofa bed for me which reclines a bit but not sure how comfortable the cheaper ones would be and I like soft mattresses.

So sorry to those of you going through this multiple times and those so young. I am late 40s and that is bad enough as still have kids at secondary who very much need me but with younger kids or pre kids it must be so much worse. Hugs to you.

Sorry if I missed anyone I am only half awake atm. The ct yesterday felt really drowsy after, but had to drink lots so stayed up last night and now really sleepy today.

Hi. Haven't posted on here for a while but always read along.

I was diagnosed with early BC nearly 2 years ago. Therapeutic reduction & lift on affected breast + RT + Tamoxifen. No lymph node involvement and tumour only 1.7mm big.

Finally, finally got a date for the matching, corrective surgery on my other breast for next week and was thrilled. But just told today it's been cancelled. No reason.

Is anyone else still waiting for this surgery?

Hi peaceanddove I had a mammoplasty and sentinel node biopsy in March 2020 (last operation before lockdown moved anger surgery to a private hospital. I was left very uneven- d cup in cancer boob and ff in other. When I spoke to my surgeon in April 2021 he said i wa looking at another 18 months minimum before I could get my symmetarisation/reduction on the NHS. I was lucky and could afford to pay and have it 3 weeks later in June. If I hadn't paid I would still be waiting.

I am just starting treatment but was researching reconstruction now versus reconstruction later and one thread I came across not sure where said current wait on nhs for reconstruction later where they are is 3.5 years. Our hospital do appear to be running round flat out and would guess taking the cancer out is taking priority but its frustrating the waits, I want mine out first then will need radiotherapy so later reconstruction probably makes more sense but 3.5 years means may well need to go private. Which is probably the governments plan but seems very wrong. I will ask about timescales when I go.

Grrrr... late call last night that they want a third blood pull to check neutrophil count, so I am back to the hospital this morning for 11 and PS wants to see me in the surgical pre-op suite. So much for quarantine! If the counts are still too low Ill be postponed and I don't have any more house to clean or cupboards to arrange!

@PaddingtonStareBare if you are this far in treatment I think you may not be feeling the good results news due to that always present fear of the other shoe dropping at any time. Diagnosis is such turmoil with always seemingly getting worse news or plan changes that when something actually is going in the right direction its hard to not be skeptical and think "yeah, I heard that before and then everything changed". No need to feel anything, just keep on keeping on.

@Silkieschickens
I was told the wait for reconstruction would be six months to a year in my area. I thought I could live with that. However, if you can get your head round it, it’s probably best to go with immediate reconstruction if you want reconstruction at all. I couldn’t- my prognosis and diagnosis all seemed to change so quickly that it seemed urgent to get the cancerous bits out as quick as possible.

Thank you. If it's going to be another year or more then I'm very tempted to have it done privately.

Hope you’re ok @herbalRefreshment and your bloods have improved

Yep - I checked out fine so we are good to go, 80% packed an partner is sorting out "tech" right now. So ready for this to be over with!

Will report back later in the week.

Hopefully won't be long for you Peace Maybe try calling and asking for an estimate if you haven't already. If you can't get one maybe wait a couple of weeks and see if another appointment comes through. Ours are very busy, the 2ww is a 3ww due to volume of referrals and staff off with covid and the doctor on my appointment to tell me treatment plan left half way through as said had to do my referral letters then. I do wonder if you go private if you get more choice in methods / result, think I may just have been watching too much 90 day fiance. The private price list brought that plan down to earth, around £14k. Ouch.

Thanks Daisy I do not even know now if they will offer immediate reconstruction as the first plan quickly went out the window at last appointment when I queried it and doctor checked and found a second lump taking it to 7cms and he said to expect worse on surgery. I think radiotherapy will follow which may restrict options. I am veering towards ensuring all cancer out first and trying to restore appearance later. Also concerned about people saying left with lots of scars as whole point for me is to look back to before or look OK but obviously very secondary to getting cancer out, just don't want to be reminded all the time.

Just got hospital appointment through for Friday morning, glad that is confirmed, was worried they had forgotten as said on Monday would call me on Tuesday then called on Wed and they said Thursday. But are just so busy. Overall the speed is fine though just need to keep an eye on things and be prepared for what might tell you.

Glad your results have improved Herbal.

Thank you Silkie. Apparently the only reason I was offered the surgery at quite short notice was because it was someone else's cancellation. No idea where I am in the queue.

The thing is, we're going on holiday with friends at Easter and then again at the start of July. Was so pleased thinking I would be fully recovered and could feel safe and comfortable wearing a bikini (none of our friends know I had BC).

I had a tummy tuck back in May and my surgeon did offer to correct my breast at the same time. I wish I'd said yes now.

The hospital did say to me they are having a lot of cancellations at the moment due to covid and people changing their minds so hopefully another one will come through, they said can be very short notice as soon as same day (probably does not apply to surgery) but probably cancellation list and being always hospital ready will help.

I’m going for my covid swab tomorrow morning and then isolating until Wednesday morning. I’ve got wine tonight then it’s loading as much fluid as I possibly can until the day to give them a chance of cannulating me.

My surgeon (also head of the breast unit) likes his team to do as many reconstructions at the same time as the original surgery as they can so women aren’t waiting years. I had two surgeons doing mine in a 6.5 hour operation but otherwise I would have been massively lopsided.

MrsPnut I am very lobsided too. My new boob is a pert 34D and the other is a droopy 34G! Trying to find bras has been a nightmare.

I hadn't made the Covid connection Silkie thank you. I am retired so can literally go at the drop of a hat. Fingers crossed I get a call soon. Bet it will be Xmas Eve!