CHECK YOUR BREASTS!!!

[FiveSoloRings]

I got news this morning that one of my friends died yesterday. She was in her very early 30's, two young children and everything to live for. Despite a mastectomy a couple of years ago, the cancer spread and she is gone. I can't tell you how dreadful I feel.

It is so important that we check our breasts regularly. It takes a few minutes and could save your life.
One of my best friends had a message just like this one, but it was face to face and by her boyfriends exgf who also had just had a mastectomy because of breast cancer. This message from such an unlikely messenger almost certainly saved my best friends life.

Pass the message on please ladies. Make sure your friends and family are nudged into remembering to check.

Just wanted to pop by and say hello and good luck to all!

I'm back at the breast clinic tomorrow as I still have an infection. Will wait and see if it's more antibiotics or if I have to have it drained.

xxx

Oh Amapoleon so sorry that you've still got an infection. Bloody horrible for you. We have share virtual hand holding tomorrow as I am back at the clinic getting the results on a second load of biopsies. Will be thinking of you.

Pegotty - not sure if you can shower yet. Someone with more knowledge will be along soon. I know I recently had an (unconnected) op and was told a week for my incisions. Maybe phone NHS Direct?

pegotty - I had a shower the day after my operation (lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy under my arm) - I imagine different hospitals recommend different things...perhaps others might know differently - my wounds were glued (I guess dissolving stitches under that)
I think that situations like this do make you stand back and take a look at life and reassess - feel free to rant away.
Hola amapoleon - about poss.infection - what a pain..hope you get it sorted x

Pegotty, I had a shower the day after too, they told me not to blast the area but work round it and make sure it was properly dry.

Will be thinking of you tomorrow Ifancy

Thanks, Mas.

I'm all bound into a tight lacing corset My rubber boob doesn't sit quite the same as the natural one, but I guess that a casual observer wouldn't notice. I hope all goes well for you, Ifancy. I can't remember what about showers/baths. I never used a shower unless I had to. I also noticed that the amount of pain and bruising with a biopsy really depends quite a lot on the skill of the person doing it.

Rumours abound about cancer. I haven't used anti BO for years (so I probably smell awful). I still don't manage to clear a crowded room, and perhaps I'm blind to people holding their breath and trying not to sniff

The nurse has offered me a new implant. As yet I've said no, as I don't want surgery just for the sake of it. Mine is quite hard in places, and I don't especially like the feel of it. Wow! I have a straight back.

So sorry about this infection, Amapoleon. I do hope it gets sorted ASAP

Silent about smelling of BO! Who cares, so long as your healthy!

And thanks all for good wishes. Feel ok... it's when I (try) and sleep that my mind goes bonkers. And when I do drop off, well, dreams woul have Freud confused!

lots of good thoughts for you ifancy -we're here !
There is no definitive proven link with bc and use of anti perspirants as far as i have seen- I carry on using them anyway...

Just popping in to say am thinking of you ifancy. Hope you emerge from the hospital with only good news.

Peggoty, I was told two weeks by both surgeon and BC Nurse, so I'd say you can shower. Just be careful not to wash or towel it vigorously. Am sure it'll be fine. Hard not to worry, but two weeks is time for the wounds to seal. Just have a look to check they're not looking sore maybe? Must be hard waiting for Friday. Not long now though.

silent, I carry on using anti-perspirants too, though on advice of hospital only use Simple brand now. I looked into it a bit, and didn't find any hard evidence, but a lot of rumours for sure. If it makes you feel any better, I'm not sure about my implant either, but mostly because it flipped, so doesn't sit right. Apparently I have an upside down breast.

The joys, oh the joys of surgery! I don't use anti BO because I just don't. It's a habit I've got into, and now that I can't really feel the underarm affected by surgery, I don't like things on it, and I find it a bit alien to touch. I'm going to start sounding like a lentil-weaver in a minute, or as though I've just emerged from a swamp.

What does your boob look like in a bra, Smee?

Today I finished making a skirt I've been doing for months. Needless to say, it is a bit tight. A bit of boundless optimism no doubt... So... I NEED some form of waist control to fit into it!

Ridiculously perky silentc.

GOOD NEWS!!!! All Clear!!!

Biopsy came back as a fibroid type thing. I don't need to tell anyone how bloody, amaingly, fantastically relieved I am!! Feel like I've been hit by a truck....

BUT...! (there's always a but...)

Basically, they went back on their comment of 'Whatever the biopsy result, we'll remove the lump due to family history, as that's the only way to be 100% sure'. They want(ed) me to be referred to the clinic and have yearly mammograms from now on (pleased about this, obvs).

However, I very politely - in a most middle class manner - said that I wasn't 100% happy about that as I can't 'unknow' the fact the consultant said the above, as well as 'whilst our equipment is good, the only way to be 100% sure is to remove it'. Was with a female registrar and she went back over family history, said I was eligible for the gene test (not sure - what do you DO with the info if it's bad?!) and then asked to feel the lump.

She commented that it was very pronounced and she understood me being slightly anxious, saying 'you wil feel this every time you shower'. I said I would feel guilty about wasting NHS funds, and that I worried they would think I had Munchausens(!), and she told me not to worry about that and that if it were her breast, she would have it removed. And she is putting me forward to have it removed. I told her to tell her boss (My consultant) off and to take the money out of his salary. She at that!
I made it quite clear that if I hadn't been told the family history / equipment thing, I wouldn't be pushing and she did get that I can't unknow what I know!

So, having been my poshest, most articulate self I have got what I wanted. And now feel guilty!

Never happy unless I've got something to worry about. Neurotic? Me?!?

But THANK YOU Ladies for everything you have done for me over the past month and I will keep coming in here to offer reassurance / laughs / shoulders and virtual hand holding to you all (and, unfortunately, the newbies). You are ALL AMAZING

YAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!fantastic,wonderful and fab !!!!!
and you aren't neurotic or wasting anyone's time by asking to have it removed -you are right,you can't unknow things and you will feel it if it's left there...your mental health is just as important as your physical health...meanwhile -celebrate ! am so happy for you xxxxxxxx

YAY! i have read that is marvellous news. i have to go back to doctors in 2 weeks. I had a very strange fortnight so far not as worried as i have been about other things in the past with sudden bouts of terror. I feel i cant look ahead to holidays etc which is just daft

sorry above post was meant to say i have read every post on here

hey vintage - hang in there

Thank you MAS - as ever, you are completely right. A wise MAS you are! And Vintage - I hope everything turns out OK for you too.

Really pleased for you ifancy! And well done for insisting it be removed. Hope you are celebrating like a mad thing! I had my follow up appointment this morning. One of the lumps was a papiloma and the other a DCIS. The margin around the DCIS wasn't big enough so I have to go back at the end of July to have a bit more removed. I am thinking of a word, and it rhymes with "rollocks"..... On the positive side though, if the results are good after the extra bit has been removed I may not have radiotherapy. I am going to have a glass of something nice to celebrate with ifancy. And I'm going to have a shower as well!

Fantastic news Ifancy!

i will spread the news, and yes your right we don't check enough, sorry for your loss x

Ifancy, my dr said because I am young, I nearly kissed him, I'm 39! That it was better to have it taken out in case it turned into something precancerous.

Pegotty, Hope you enjoy your wine!

On my front, excuse the pun, hahaha. I still have an infection but dr was happy with how I was handling it and I really didn't want more antibiotics. So he has left it in my very capable hands, hahaha and I have to go back if I can't manage it. Otherwise I don't have to see him for 3 months, hooray!

Hello Mas!

Good luck Vintage you will get some great support on this thread!

Just caught up. A big YEAY from me too, to you ifancy, and one for you too peggoty. Shame you both have to go on for further digging around, but soon you'll be clear, so yippeed.

Hi Vintage, sorry you're in the waiting game, but it'll soon pass. Come here to moan or ask anything. We're here to help you pass the time. Wishing you a good weekend. Keep busy.

Been celebreating all weekend! Sore head now....!!

Thank you all for kind wishes and hope you all had a glass of something chilled over the weekend too? Well, it is hot...!

Amapoleon - I nearly kissed my radiologist after my mammogram, when I told I needed an ultr-sound as my breast were too dense and pert for a good image. I think SHE was glad when I didn't! (I'm 40)

And how lovely that you don't have to go back to the hospital for 3 months - what a relief that must be for you.

Hope you enjoyed your shower Peggotty!

yay for ifancy !

***

Hope everyone is ok?