SURGERY SEPTEMBER 2018

[helenann]

Alex - glad you're out of hospital - nothing like your own bed - hope that infection keeps clearing up. I'm in the same 'boat' as you - so glad I found the cancer early - mine wasn't even a lump - it was puckering and a 'shifting' nipple that alerted me. I was tempted to ignore it as i'd had a mammogram 18 months ago that was clear and i'd lost some weight - so was initially putting the 'changes' down to this - but we ladies know when somethings not quite right and there was a niggle in the back of my mind which made me take some action - SO glad I did. 💪

JacqB - fingers crossed you still make your haoliday in March - I had a hoilday booked in France for September and all my appointments/surgery etc were worked around my dates - so hopefully it will be the same for you. Nothing like getting away to the sun to lift your spirits. ✈

Kateday - you say they have a replacement for you in work - but from what i've noticed on this forum you're irreplaceable, so i'm sure once you've got through all this you'll be back at the helm.😘

Rapunzel - so sorry it's looks like you're going to need chemo - but you don't need me to tell you that it's for the best given your results - zap those cells and you'll be as good as new.Then just keep taking the tablets (which is where i'm at now).💊

Chocxie7 - You said on another thread how you know you're not ready to face going back to work yet - I think we had our surgery on the same date- 24th Sept(?) - there is NO way i'm anywhere near ready to even think of going back to work. I love my job - so don't want to prolong this - but my arm is still stiff, the area where I once had a breast is sore and tingling. I have no 'power' in my right arm (if I try to close the curtains I feel a real pull on the 'area' of the reconstruction - as though i'm going to dislodge the implant). I'm knackered - can't get out of bed before 10.00am (not like me at all - i'd always be up by 8.00m even on the days I didn't work). 

Marla13 - I will continue to follow your 'journey' and hope all goes to plan - and we will meet up in the East end of London when we've come through all this.🥂

I hope everyone else in the September (and every other month) surgery is doing well - I'm following you all to check how everyone is doing.

Good luck for to all - you're all amazing - I know I couldn't have got this far without all your help and support.

Lots of love💝💝💝

Helen

xxx

[Kateday]

Glad to read your home Alex
And it’s lovely you want to keep eye on how we’re all doing
Well as hard as it is we have to take them moments to live
Had fab day yesterday being normal with my family
Safari and meal with my husband mum and foster children , couple drinks with friends and movie at night
Hope Everyone is doing as well as can do xx

[Xela]

thanks everyone and the infection seems to be clearing up.

I will be keeping a watch on you all. You really got me through the toughest part of my life ever. I will continue to support all of you. I was so so lucky to catch mine so early. It depends on which way you look at it, it was devine intervention or just a fluke it was caught so early. I’d like to think it was my dad looking over me. Xxx

[Chocxie7]

Welcome home Xela xx

[Marla13]

Welcome home Xela! I am so happy for you that you're home. 

xx

[Xela]

Hi everyone I’m home. Was able to have a little birthday Celebration for my bestie at her gorgeous home, a glass of champers & Chinese take away! I’ve been dreaming about it the whole week. Even though it was her birthday, I was the one being spoilt rotten.

I’ve made the mistake of then today to carry on as normal and ended up in bed now. I’m still on Oral antibiotics and placed into Tamoxifen. See my consultant next week.

JacqB sorry to hear your infections not clearing up, my consultant wanted me to stay in another 48hrs. He kept changing the lengths of stay. 48 then 24 then another 48. The problem is you plan your life and as we all know, illness knocks onto other people’s plans! We would all like to put the brakes onto life so we could just get get well and healthy, then start up again.

KateDay good look on Tuesday! I’ll check in to see how it goes.

Love to you all xxx

[JacqB]

Hi everyone
Looks like we are all being tested in one way or another.
My axilary scar is still not healing, in fact it’s getting worse every day even though I’m on antibiotics. Looks like it will delay my chemo, which is crap as the knock on effect is that I probably won’t make my holiday in March.
I hope you are home soon Xela.
Let’s hope the journey gets smoother very soon. Hugs to you all
X

[Kateday]

Hi
All
How is everyone today
Sorry to hear you didn’t make it home Alex
And it’s good to hear some are getting great results
Pastamissus im sorry you are going through even more
I meet oncology on Tuesday , don’t normally swear but **bleep**ting myself xx

[pastasmissus]

Axillary clearance postponed as found suspicious stuff in other breast on MRI. Got results today. CT clear, cancer in other breast, so going for right mastectomy with SNB and lext axillary clearance on 8 Nov.

Anyone got any advice for having both sides done at the same time?

[Marla13]

I've been following your journey Xela and though I really empathise! It sounds like you are better off where you are, where they can look after you. I'm so sorry though that you weren't able to leave when you had hoped. Fingers crossed tomorrow may be good news! 

xxxx

[Xela]

Not allowed home. Not past my parole and I’m not passing Go & collecting £200 😡

It’s clearing up but they don’t want me coming in again.

[Rapunzel2018]

Kateday - just wanted to send you big hugs! I really feel with you, and I wish you a lovely day!

xxx Rapunzel

[Kateday]

I’m still amazed how differently different areas get things done
My area seems to take ages
But as all ready mentioned our time seems like years rather than weeks since diognosis
I do hope you are allowed home today Alex
Well work have a replacement for me 😔 I knew this would be needed due to chemo , and I’m a nursing home manager so high infection risk there , but breaks my heart , just have to remember it’s not forever xx

[Xela]

Big hugs everyone! Gosh we’re a lot of tough women aren’t we? In fact it’s made me quite proud of being female, more than ever now.

Couple of the Ladies who had surgery had disappointing results😢 So I’m quite upset, after such a great day yesterday.

Hoping to escape costa del Castle Hill tomorrow.

Xxx

[Xela]

Cheers Chocxie! That brilliant thanks

[helenann]

Hi Thistle

Thanks for checking in on me.

I've been given calcium tablets as well as the Letrozole - 2 a day - I suppose as a precautionary measure (I guess they wont do me any harm). Surgeon said he's arranging for a bone scan and they'll monitor my bones in any event.

Glad you're finding the drug OK - so hope I will, too. Have been told if it doesn't agree with me to let them know and they'd see what could be done - but i'm hoping once my system gets used to them I shoudl be OK as well.

Surgeon said some people suffer with achy joints - so we'll have to see.

Its been 3 months since I first went to the doctor - it feels like a lifetime ago 

As I said - this forum has been a godsend - I know I would have been freaking out a lot more if I hadn't had this place to come to.

Going to focus on recovery and reconstruction now - and getting back to work.

Thanks, again, Thistle - we did it.💖💖💖

[Rapunzel2018]

Hello everyone,

also had results in today - and it's a mixed picture:

- no node involvement (3 were taken)

- ER + (no other receptors)

- one margin wasn't clear (2nd operation scheduled for the end of this month)

- cancer got 'upgraded' from 2 to 3 after pathology

- invasive tumour about as big as seen in ultrasound (15 mm) but also non-invasive on top of that (at least another 10mm).

This means that chemo is pretty likely now (plus hormones and radio). Got a bit of a shock to the system today, if I'm honest, because initially (after biopsy), things looked quite a bit brighter.

At least the nodes were clear, and a hormone receptor means I can at least try my luck keeping it at bay for a longer time (if I can stand the stuff ;-). Trying to focus on the positives. Such as (also): the weather was glorious here today.

All the best to all of you, whatever your results, BIG HUGS!

xxx Rapunzel

[Thistledown]

Hi Helenann

Came on here to check how your results went, and I’m over the moon for you..it’s great news! 😄

I’m on Letrozole, have been for a few months, - and though still waiting for the bone scan results to see if I need calcium etc, I’ve been OK so far🤞🤞 ... hope it proves OK for you too, (I think there are more positives than negatives as I do think those people who have no problems with it, do not feel the need to post..)

You came a long way and got through it, didn’t you? Well done, and very best wishes for your continued recovery..

Thistle xx 

[Chocxie7]

Helenann, that's fantastic- so pleased for you 😊

Alex, I don't know if this is any use, but there's a website, www.predict.nhs.uk/predict_v2.1 where you can input your own info and get survival rare statistics for different treatments.

Take care, I hope you're home soon xx

[Marla13]

Helenann,

Congratulations on your fantastic news! So pleased to hear no chemo or radiotherapy for you. 

Really pleased your new inflator is behaving itself too. 

Thinking of you and sending you lots of love....

xxxx