Hello everyone, I’m new and I’m really upset, confused and very scared. In the last 8 years or so, the nipple on my right breast went inverted. I left it a while, then saw my GP. He examined me and said that it was “Coopers Ligaments” that is common with larger breasts as the weight affects the ligaments as we age. Nothing to worry about. Last year I moved to Yorkshire with my partner, we’re both from North of England but had lived in Scotland for 49 and 53 years respectively. We registered with a new GP practice and it took my records much longer than my partners to arrive from NHS Scotland.
My nipple in the meantime started to feel and look very different. But, I didn’t give it much thought. Then in May, most of my records had arrived at the GP practice and I went to see her bout my nipple. That was 5th May. I was referred to Castle Hill Hospital on 14th May. Mammogram, scan and biopsy. Appointment to return was 6th June. There I was told that a 1.5cm tumour had been found behind my nipple. The next day 5th I had to return for pre op tests and an op to remove nipple, tumour and two lymph nodes was booked the following Wednesday 10th. Then a five day course of radiotherapy would be booked.
4 weeks later I returned to see the surgeon, who then explained one of the two nodes was cancerous, so I now have to go back on 29th July for an operation to remove all the lymph nodes in that area. No radiotherapy, it’ll be chemotherapy. I’m finding this all too much, the awful side effects to expect the lymphoedema, the care not to cut, scratch or graze my right arm and hand for infection. How these effects can appear years down the line. The photos they showed me of different swellings, skin conditions etc. Not to mention the side effects of the chemotherapy.
I am considering refusing the operation because I’ve been reading that radiotherapy is an alternative. If I refuse how long will I live ? I’d rather have quality of life than quantity. I have no dependants, not seen any relatives in decades. It’s just my partner, me and our little dog.
I need more time, more advice, to make a well informed decision about this impending operation which is less than 2 weeks away now. Please can anyone relate to this ?
