Masectomy

HI Youhavegotthis (great user name! )

Good luck with your mastectomy and node clearance tomorrow.  

I didn't have a mastectomy (had lumpectomy), so hopefully someone once else will pop on the post and give you more advice.  It's about 4.5 years ago for me, but I recall it was a fortnight before I got the results after the operation.  The team had (at that time) a weekly meeting and then the appointment was held on their 'normal consultation day' following their meeting.  For me, their team meeting was the Thursday and the consultation day was a Wednesday.  I had my operation on the Wednesday.  Their team meeting didn't happen the first Thursday as I wasn't included in their following day team meeting, so it was the following Thursday they had their team meeting and I was seen the Wednesday after this - being the 2 weeks.  

I guess it all depends on the date of the op. the results from pathology and when their normal meetings/consultation days are, but hopefully this gives you a rough idea of when to expect to be seen.

Kindest wishes, Lesley

Hello.

I had a left mastectomy and full node clearance on 13 Jan. 

My follow up appt is booked for 2 Feb so just under 3 weeks from surgery but it's usually about 2 weeks from my understanding. 

Make sure you've got a good stock of paracetamol and ibuprofen and a multivitamin

Vests and front fastening pjs

A heart shape pillow is essential for just taking the pressure off the drain point and wound and drain bag (pillow pals on fb send s pillow out free but a donation to cover postage is appreciated)

Take it easy afterwards but keep mobile and do your arm exercises. I found as the data have gone I need to massage the upper arm too where the nerves are knitting back together

I've still got my drain in as I'm still draining about 80-100mls a day but everyone is different but apparently it's only in for a maximum of 2 weeks. 

The few days immediately after surgery I felt the best and then I've had good days and days where I just feel wiped out and need an afternoon nap. 

I am worried about how many nodes are going to contain cancer and what it subsequently entails. I know there is definitely one as that was biopsied when my breast was originally biopsied. 

Good luck for tomorrow. Have you packed a book? I managed the luxury of reading an entire book which was a novelty (i have 4 kids so me time is a rarity)

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply back to me. I hope your operation went well and you are feeling better. We're you allowed anyone to wait with you before your op? I've got to go in at 730 and could wait upto 5 hours which is fine but it's gonna be nerve wracking on my own!

Have you had chemo before your operation? I wonder what it means if they find lots of cancerous nodes. It's so nerve wrenching isn't it I am so scared.

Thank you for the tips I will make sure I am prepared. Are you driving again now etc?

I was all alone except for 4 other women in the ward, 4 (including me were all breast surgeries) and the other was an older lady having a fracture repair with a slight bit of dementia. I think i was the youngest by at least 20 years. No one spoke to each other. I went in at 7.15am and I was 2nd on the list. They came and marked the breast and arm and had a quick chat with me and then at 10.30am I went down to surgery. I was fine until I went down to surgery but when they came and got me I got very upset. Not because of the surgery more the reality of having a boob cut off that i had been ignoring for a month. I woke from the anaesthesia at about 12.45 and back on ward at 13.30 and was picked up to go home at 16.00.

Chemo is due to start at some point at end of Feb beginning of march. 

I'm not driving yet as still have the drain in but if I needed to I could drive Hubby's automatic. I think it will a few more weeks before I can drive my car (vw caravelle) but I don't mind as I'm getting out of doing the school run lol

I find I'm fine with the appt date until a couple of days before then i start to get nervous xx

hi just wanted to jump in ...I had lumpectomy and full clearence 13 Dec so about 6 weeks ago...like you I was so so nervous! physically shaking and no sleep the night before. there were about 8 ladies in the ward and no, in my case, I got dropped off at the door. I was 2nd to last going to theatre by then I was incredibly hungry and thirsty...they did let us have tiny sips of water...when I woke up it did feel weird and I was uncomfortable ...the lump was almost directly below armpit so it was all in one place, two scars, they gave me extra morphine. back on ward for cuppa and sarnie ...had the drain in the drain bag the bcn gave me and the heart pillow also given to me pre op.

not saying it was easy but yes do the arm exercises religiously or you'll stiffen up. 6 weeks on my swelling has started to decrease, felt like a tennis ball under my arm, still have numbness tho, didn't drive for 6 weeks. I had 5 out of11 nodes cancerous, tumour grade 2 stage 3a. no cancer on ct scan now sleeves up for chemo for 6 months to clear up any stray cells. ask any question happy to help x

Hiya.  I had the same a week ago. I feel for you.  The fear is worse than the thing for sure.  At my hospital, you weren't allowed to take anyone in.  I was surprised there was quite a queue for the day surgery unit.  When I arrived I was taken to the day ward.  I had a proper bed.  There was a gown to put on and surgical tights plus sock/slippers.  The Breast Care nurse came to talk me through things and she gave me a bra, softie, excercise sheet etc.  Then the anaesthetist came for a chat. Then the surgeon.  It all felt normal and as you are in a different place, you just sort of go with it.  I felt very calm and focussed when it came to it.  However, I wish I had prepared my bag better.  Have the things you would like to hand when you get back to the bed like your phone, reading glasses, earphones, book, snack bar etc in one little bag in your big bag.  As soon as you get back into the bed, ask for it to be passed to you.  I found the ward quite short staffed and there wasn't much chance to ask people to help you access your things. You will feel quite out of it when you get back to the ward but might not realise this is the case.  Make sure you have clothes easy to put back on when you are free to go.  There wasn't anyone free to help.  Also make sure your bag is light enough to carry as if you need help, you might need to wait for someone to help.  I couldn't wait to get home for the best cup of tea of my life. 

I kept telling myself that the operation is straight forward, the pain will be manageable and I am capable of liking my adapted body.  This is all true.  They did a good job and I feel quite used to it already.  It is a strange thing no doubt, but I am so glad to have it behind me.  I have been lucky to have lots of well wishers but have found the question "how are you" a bit tricky (who knows?) so have told everyone I am having a quiet few days.  I wish I had done this from the beginning so I just focussed  on starting my recovery instead of feeling stressed to not be reply to everyone.  

 I didn't have a drain and the wound is looking good.  It is the node clearance site that is painful.  I was surprised that I did not have any dressings.  They used glue, stitches (dissolvable) and steri-strips. I was a bit shocked that it was so exposed but I got used to it quickly and this meant that I could shower in a couple of days.  I have been surprised at how little attention you get afterwards.  You are just left to get on with it.  My appointment for results is two and half weeks after the op which seems standard.  

I felt very groggy & emotional for a few days after the op.  Probably the anaesthetic as well as everything else.  It is a strange thing no doubt but it is absolutely doable.  Just get yourself through that door and breath.  Be kind to yourself.  Lots of love and best wishes xx