BLOKES WITH BREAST CANCER

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Hi    I have recently joined this female dominated cancer world  I have had mastectomy followed by lymph node clearance joined optima trial so skipped chemo and went onto radiotherapy for 5 days and tamoxifen daily. Pain scale: Biopsy 8-10  Mastectomy 3-10  Lymph node clearance 3-10  Radiotherapy  1-10 This is a really hard cancer if you happen to be a gentleman sat in waiting rooms listening to woman talking about there treatments but it is the only way a male can find out the pitfalls of treatments and i would like to thank and apologize for listening in because without this there is nothing out there for males! We are told dont go on internet at clinics but how on earth can you find something or someone to talk to,i personally felt like i had been pushed of a cliff as i could not find a solution having contacted a charity and the internet is all about female led questions. I mentioned this to a consultant and his nurse came up trumps with a male support network at Breast Cancer Now , so any males looking for advise ,support look at this charity because there is nothing out there for males and when you find a post it is usually years old . Thank you  

  • A Blokes BC journey might/ probably start with referral from GP. The start of your long road to recovery, first stop after 3-5 days trip to hospital to see surgeon who will request biopsy and mammogram.3weeks to find out results and then plan surgery  in 4-5 weeks. Day of surgery trip to nuclear science dept to have radioactive injected into tumour, doesn't hurt by the way, Operation done tumour removed along with a couple of lymph nodes to check if cancer has spread, discharged same day. 2-3 week wait to see results of lymph nodes, if one has cancer trace may have to have all nodes removed from under arm,3-4 week till op may have to have a drain in for 7 days but op done as day case. After this it is on to oncology where you will discuss chemo-radiotherapy-hormone treatment or none if you are lucky or decide to pick your own treatments having talked it through with family and BC nurse. I would strongly advise talking to the nurse they are your one stop shop for information and honesty. One year on and its back for mammogram and oncologist chat .This is a short eg. of what lays ahead and although it can seem a brutal  journey it is doable and blokes are making great recovery's as are the ladies on here and you will get through this. You might have some tight ness around chest area ,mine didn't start till after radiotherapy but you get to live with that .I wish you all a good recovery. You can pop on this forum for any information, the ladies are really helpful .Kind regards.     

  • To all the blokes out there who are currently going through or have finished there treatments i wish you well and please don't forget this forum is open 24/7 for any questions or advice.  kind regards

  • Just a reminder and heads up if you are getting ready for surgery, I would highly recommend getting a V shape pillow for under arm, after surgery ,it will be your best friend for a couple of weeks. Kind regards. 

  • It would be interesting to find out if any one out there are having a long wait for surgery, reading in the press some areas in the country are having problems regarding cancelling operations .kind regards

  • It would depend on the surgery, but as far as I know they are proritising cancer patients.

    How have you been? Still undergoing treatment?

  • Hi things are ok,I have good weeks and bad days mainly due to fluid build up on chest which i defuse using paint roller,I have finished all treatment and I am on tamoxifen, so things are good,hope you are well.kind regards

  • With so much talk everywhere about mental health it would not surprise me if everybody on this forum has suffered in silence  some way. What  with ops, treatments, waiting ,thoughts,  and it truly is remarkable the strength shown by everybody on this forum who battle against this alien inside us. Kind regards

  • Thank you  , so very true!

    Onwards and flatwards (don't do hills) and keep walking if you can!

  • Former Member
    Former Member in reply to BWBCancer

    Hi I've just read that reply, how does that work as I'm post OP and have fluids building regularly 

  • Hi there, ok, help me out with the paint roller? I also have fluid build up / swelling / breast lymphoedema and I'm not very good at the massage so open to all ideas?   Thanks 

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