Mastectomy

Hi Rosie,

I had a mastectomy in Feb 2018 followed by chemo and radiotherapy.  Everyone is different but I found the recovery from the surgery not too bad. Practical things like having to sleep on your back and just being sore kept me awake. Get plenty of painkillers in and stock your freezer coz you won't feel like doing much. Rest when you need to. I found chemo harder and some days my sole achievement was to get up and dressed.  I had a group of great friends who took turns to take me out for coffee.  You'll get used to your chemo cycle and know when the really rubbish days are coming. You just have to go with the flow and set small goals.

Hope this helps, 

Jo

Hello Jo. I have paracetamol ready and I’m just doing some batch cooking and soup making. Thanks 

Did you have reconstruction at the same time as the mastectomy? If so, did the radiotherapy affect the implant? 

thanks 

Rosie 

I, too, live alone and only have 1 daughter who has 6 children - twins born just before my diagnosis.  I had a mastectomy with lymph node clearance on 3 December .  I cooked a few meals to freeze beforehand.  I have my shopping delivered weekly so don't have to bother with that.  I have a trolley which I get the delivery driver to put my shopping on which I can then wheel into the kitchen.  You won't be able to lift anything heavy with the affected hand for a few weeks after your op.  Make sure you have front fastening clothes as you may find it difficult to put things on over your head.  I didn't have recon so cannot comment only that I have seen comments that it takes a bit longer to recover.  In your circumstances I would suggest staying in hospital for as long as they will have you so they can look after you and you don't have to worry about meals etc.

Hi

I've had 3 lots of surgeries in the past year (see profile), none exactly the same as yours but after each I did have help on hand for at least a couple of days as it was on offer - I also live alone.  It was great to have family/friends around but I would have been able to cope by myself.

I would perhaps ask your pals to pop by every day or so to do things that you can't (open bottles/hoover etc) for the first couple of weeks (then you can reassess needs) and maybe cook you some dinner so you don't end up looking like frozen/canned soup!  I'm sure your new pals will rally when asked, I know I would.

Hope all works out fine for you.

Sam

Hello Sam. Thank you for directing me to your bio, I hadn’t realised we all had bio space in our profiles - so thanks  

Sounds like you are near the end of your journey and I love your positivity and humour. That is the way I am going too - I had 3 days of anger, upset and ‘why the hell me and why now’. But I thought I could put my energy to better use by staying positive, upbeat and hopeful. 

You used a cold cap during chemo?  I haven’t found anyone who has used a cold cap. Can yuh tell me, did it work? 

Thanks 

Rosie x

Hello Rosie,
Im currently on my 3rd chemo treatment, 4th is tomorrow and using the cold cap, I had my hair cut short beforehand and the cold cap is working. My hair has thinned slightly (I don’t have thick hair) but I definitely don’t need a scarf or wig. 
I find the first 5-10 mins painful on my head but once that’s done it’s just a bit chilly...it’s worth it I think. 
wishing you the best of luck for surgery, I’m having surgery after chemo 6 and hoping to have reconstruction at the same time too.

xx

Like other ladies I had my shoulder length hair cut short to give the cap a better chance of working and it did work...partly.  I reckon after the 2nd EC I started to lose hair, probably lost about 40% predominantly around temples/side.  As its short it looks a bit rubbish if not styled and washed every now & then but in doing things to it you're risking more falling out and with the added annoyance of having hair all over my pillow/face in the morning and all over the house (not a fan of unecessary housework) meant I couldn't be bothered with it so had it shaved off.

I'm not a particularly vain person and was amazed how good I looked with a grade 2, I got many compliments too.

Give the cold cap a go and see what happens.  You can get wigs on the NHS - I didn't - couldn't be bothered!

Keep being upbeat, it will serve you well.  And worth adding that I really enjoyed my cancer journey (bear with me!) as it meant I met tonnes of new people, really helped me focus on what's important as well as how important and valuable family & friends are. I used it as an opportunity to return to my healthy ways (historically a rollercoaster of couch potato/athlete) so another positive.

Sam X