Breast cancer

Hi Poppysundpwn  and a very warm welcome to the Macmillan Community but sorry to hear about your diagnoses.

Navigating the cancer journey can be such a stressful and challenging time but getting support from people who have walked the ‘exact same' cancer type journey can help a lot (I have a completely different cancer).

The Community is divided into dedicated Cancer Specific Support Groups (Discussion Rooms) so can I recommend you join and post in our dedicated Breast cancer support group. This is a safe place to talk to others with a similar diagnosis, treatment experience, to ask questions and get support.

To connect in with the group click on this link> Breast cancer then once the group page opens click on “Click to Join” when the black banner appears or “Join” under “Group Tools” (this all depends on the device you are using)

When you are ready you can introduce yourself by clicking “+new” or “+” in the top right next to the group title. You can copy and paste the text from this post into your new post.

The Macmillan Support Line is open 8am-8pm (timings may differ across services) 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00. This service provides cancer information, practical information, emotional support, benefits/financial guidance or just a listening ear.

We also have our Ask an Expert section but do allow a few working days for a reply.

Do get back to me if you need further help navigating the community.

Hi Poppysundpwn

Another warm welcome to the community and I am sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

When I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer for the second time I considered a mastectomy.  I then had a pre-op appointment with my surgeon in which he said her as going to do a lumpectomy so I mentioned to him that I was think about having a mastectomy and he said that was something that could happen down the line if needed.  I then discussed it with my breast care nurse and she told me to go away and think about it which I did and I decided against it as a mastectomy is no guarantee that the cancer wouldn't come back again.  I had my lumpectomy last month and got the all clear last week so I was glad I changed my mind.  While it's completely up to you I would go with what he surgeon recommended as he's the expert.

Hope this helps and best of luck with your surgery.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Hello Daisy53

Thank you so much for your reply. Thats just what i wanted to hear. 

I want to do what the consultant recommends. It just hard when everyone around is saying different. As you said he is the expert. 

So pleased to hear you have the all clear now. Thats great news

Xx

I had a lumpectomy and axillary clearance as it had spread into my axillary lymph nodes, for stage 2 breast cancer followed by radiotherapy....five days a week for six weeks.  That was 32 year's ago with no recurrence.  It's a shame you had to wait so long for the results of your lymph node biopsy. When my surgery was done in 1991, the procedure was all carried out on the same day, each node removed was tested for malignancy there and then. My breast surgeon said that the two-in-one procedure helped patients recover quicker not having to go through two general anaesthetic procedures, things have changed a lot since then (unfortunately). I found the long course of radiotherapy was fine, I just felt a bit sickly for the first week and tired, then had, what I can only describe as severe sunburn around the area which cleared up quickly once the radiotherapy course was finished. Mastectomy surgery is such a major operation which I was not prepared to do as I had a young family to care for and a job.  Just listen to your consultant's advice, they are the specialists and know what is best for you.

Thanks Poppysundpwn.