mastectomy aches and pains.

Hello Andrew,

I’m a little further on from you. Mine was 8 weeks ago and I feel absolutely fine now. No aches, pains or puffiness just a bit numb along the scar. It still looks a little bruised but it feels ok. I had some cording in the armpit but that also has eased. I’ve been in the pool a lot and I can just feel it tightening up after a long swim. Another couple of weeks and hopefully you will be feeling all fine. At least physically.

I found the node clearance a bit harder but that was mainly due to my bra digging in to the site which won’t be a problem for you so hopefully it won’t be so bad.

Regarding accepting the scar. I think it’s probably a different thing for men and woman. Personally I wouldn’t bat an eyelid if my man had a scar like this. I think most women would feel the same.

best of luck 

Mx 

Hi Andrew, 

i had a mastectomy last April but have suffered with a lot of nerve pain which sounds a little like you’ve described. It got to the point that touching the skin was very painful. The surgeon recommended desensitisation massage. The nerve endings are misfiring and by massaging the area and using different textures it improved a lot. 

I still have a lot of tightness and I’m finding that maybe long term but a physio would be able to help you with that. 

Hope it improves for you x 

Hi Andrew, 

yes, massage (I assume you’re fully healed?) is a good idea, the nerve endings were cut during surgery and they are now growing and trying to find routes, massaging is the best way to help. (I was an OT and we used to advise skin massage post amputation which desensitises the scar) 

tiredness and aches are sadly normal, it takes up to 3 weeks for the anaesthetic drugs to fully leave your system anyway!

hugs xxx

Hi Andy_49 glad to hear all is healing well, the aches and pains and twinges are all very individual I think and are part of our New Normal. I had my mastectomy with full node clearance back in October and just today i have had a really tight pulling sensation from what was my boob round to my side. But go days with no pains at all. I still have nearly total numbness upper arm and armpit but that’s down to all my nodes being removed.
In relation to the scar I’m a real wus and have not studied it or even looked full on in a mirror yet, I’m told it looks absolutely great and my surgeon did a fab job but I have suffered emotionally since treatment ended and that’s just one step I can’t take just yet.

hope your node clearance goes well, do all the excercises as before and you will do fine, you got this, hugs xx

Hi Santababy, I am feeling like you....I hate the look and feel of my new breast but have been told it looks great....I had a mastectomy and implant in February and it feels tight and just too big but I know I’m lucky and realise there was no option but in quiet moments I look at myself and just feel sad....a bit gross but I get some nasty spots under my arm and wonder if it’s due to lymph node removal? It is a huge emotional struggle from start to finish and I totally get where you’re coming from....it will take a long time for our thoughts and emotions to heel especially if like me you overthink everything..... keep positive and enjoy the sunshine.... much love

Anna x

Hi Santababy and Anna, and Andrew too,

it takes time for you to accept the new ‘norm’ and regard the scars as a way of you having had cancer in the past tense! It’s the outward manifestation only, you might think you are the same person inside as you were before cancer, but actually you’re a bit different, you’ve had a life threatening illness and have come through it. Give yourself a hug for that, you deserve it!

and please look at the scars, they fade in time, don’t make a big deal of it, glance swiftly to begin with....you are defined by you, not the scars you may pick up on the way through life! 

Big hugs to you all xxx

Andy_49

Hi Andy
Am sure you're quite relieved that you didn't get the vasectomy by mistake, that would be marginally annoying on a few fronts eh?

I only got 4 weeks post mastectomy with SNB and was healing really well (had some antibiotics for lumpectomy other side) and exercises were a breeze. I did still have some sensitivity like you describe and couldn't comfortably sleep on the mx side. I wasn't bruised but did have the seroma under the arm but other than that not puffy at all. No cording though that doesn't affect everyone so I think you're comparable to where I was/would have got to.

I am fine with my lack of boob & scar, it was horrible to touch to start with from the chest point of view, touching it was a nasty sensation (no problems from hand point of view) but got better as the days went by massaging/moisturising it more. That said I will be having DIEP reconstruction at some point (more for natural symmetry and not having to use softy/prosthesis on an ongoing basis). I know us ladies can have nipple reconstruction and nipple 3D tattoos that look really realistic - maybe something to consider if its an issue?

For me I wouldn't give a flying monkeys if anyone I was with had missing boobs/nipples or whatever! Its a very personal thing and I've always been more attracted to personality (which you'd understand if you saw my boyfriend! Harsh, me??), and similarly if people aren't into me for me they can bl00dy well f*** off.

As you know I also had the ANC, it is harder going than the mx re recovery but only 10-20% more so I'd say, the exercises are more challenging and as I had my nerve cut I have the most discomfort from that. And the seroma came back (great!) and leaked which was a delightful experience (luckily I like horror films).

The most annoying thing about recovery has been not being able to get out on my bike and (when I could!) go to the gym to do a full workout. Walking is lovely but just doesn't make me sweat enough ...and can't walk fast enough or too far as get achey/tired which I think may be due mainly to the hormone tablets. On the plus side am still ducking out of most housework (thanks to the fab ever-suffering boyfriend!).

Sam X

Hi All

Its been a while since I've been on this site, but I knew there would be some help guidance and support here.

I'm having lots of pain with my implant and surrounding area. This is my second implant after the first one was damaged due to radiotherapy...had ANC with first surgery.

I hoped the change of implant would help with the pain but if anything it's increased the pain to the point that it significsntly affects my sleep and I have difficulty wearing any bra for many hours though can't manage without one. The implant is often red and I whole area just looks like a big puffy mess.

I'm considering having it removed and going for a prosthetic boob. Has anyone done or considered this?

Also, I want to  buy a compression sleeve. Do you really need to have them professionally fitted or can you buy them off the shelf?

Thanks folks. Hope you are all safe and well.

B

Hi , hope you have had a good sunny day. Really good to hear from you. I think our senses get heightened hence you feel your implant is too big, but I’m 100% sure it is perfectly sized. With the numbness following surgery I think I feel imaginary sensations and swellings that just aren’t there at times. I’m there with you on the overthinking and the current situation is not helping as I have times of real anxiety over what if this or what if that, I can’t just nip to the hospital like I used to but then I give myself a talking to and remind myself where I am on this journey and my thoughts go to those at the diagnosis stage or mid treatment.

take care my lovely, sending the biggest hugs 

Anne xx

Hi moomy, I love reading your updates you have so much good advice, thank you.

Well I had a better look today at my scar than I have ever looked before (not a full examination but baby steps) after your earlier reply and even though I cried I did feel stronger after. 
Keep well, enjoy this glorious weather, and keep posting, I don’t get chance to post often but love reading others stories and experiences 

Sending the hugest of hugs Anne xx