DCIS (low grade) and Mastectomy

Hi Lisa

i was thinking of you yesterday. Thats great news Lisa I’m so happy for you. How are you feeling?

How did you feel when you first saw you’re boob? I know what you mean about how it feels. I feel like I have a brick in my bra, it feels so heavy but will settle It’s amazing what they can do though. I’m too old to be wearing tight low cut tops, when I have my bra on you cannot tell any difference.

Tuesday I had a real down day I think I over did the day before so yesterday I got dressed, went for a walk and gave myself a talking too and had a better day.  

I have my appointment today and am hoping I get my drain out 30ml today again and they want it to be 20. Are you sore under  your arm? Mine is so tender. With the exercises I’m worried that I do more harm and pull something so the last couple of days I haven’t done them 3 times, I will try from today. 

Take care and sending love and hugs. Xx

Hi Lisa How are things with you? 
I thought I would let you know how I got on. 
The MRI got the sizing wrong. The consultant said 90 per cent of the time it’s correct. My lump was 19mm grade 1, no cancer in lymph nodes. No further treatment apart from tamoxifen for 5 years which is great news. I’m a bit shell shocked by it all. 

The drain is finally out too which I am soo happy about. Have to watch out for fluid build up in my boob which I’m a bit worried about. 

Take care and sending love and hugs. Keep in touch. Debbiexx

Hi Debbie, my apologies for the late response, I must be doing something wrong on here as I don't get notifications when you post and then I forget to check (menopausal brain fog!). Firstly wow, that's amazing news for you, I'm so happy that you don't need any further treatment other than tamoxifen. You must be overjoyed, and yes, shell shocked too. Glad your drain is out too, its great not having to carry them around anymore isn't it! I was ok seeing new boob! It wasn't as bad as I'd anticipated! It has a new dressing on but not as big so I can see the shape and how it looks compared to my other one! I think my surgeon has done a fantastic job, my nipple has gone but he managed to save some of areola. I hate how it feels at the moment, sore, itchy, numb but like you, I don't wear low cut tops and I look no different to the outside world! I have a seroma under my arm which is very painful so I'm trying to increase the exercises (which I hate doing as always in pain afterwards but I know it's all for good reason!). Having a bad day is absolutely fine, I do too and despite having the all clear, our bodies have been through a lot, they're still healing and adjusting after surgery is not easy. Sending love and hugs and I'll do my best to check back more! Lisa xx

Hi Lisa, 

Im not great with modern technology I get by just when my daughter is at home I ask her to do stuff for me and can see her rolling her eyes. My hubby has been doing a lot of that too this last 2 weeks. 

Menopause has a lot to answer to. I was on HRT but had had to come off it when I was diagnosed. It did help with the night sweats but still got loads of the other symptoms and to be honest coming off it hasn’t changed anything. 

Having the drain out makes such a difference. After having to lie on my back for 2 weeks I thought great I’d be able to lie on my own boob( not sure how to describe it) but I find when I do my new boob feels really heavy and uncomfortable I’m hoping this will get better. How do you find it? 

It’s amazing at what they can do Lisa I wasn’t expecting mine to look so much like my other just a little more pert. Yeah I know what you mean about how it feels. Mine feels so heavy, tender and my armpit is sore., I’m sure they will settle. That’s good that he managed to keep some of the areola. They said to me that when they took the drain out to watch out for a fluid build up in my boob, a bit moving about is normal but if it gets bigger then I have to go into have X-ray and fluid removed. Lots to take in and look out for. Will they do anything with your seroma? They told me I didn’t have to carry on with my exercises as I had good arm movement but it is still tender under my arm. 

Your right our bodies have been through a lot and emotionally I think this rollercoaster ride is going to continue for a while even after good results. 

Im going to shower myself this morning, little things we take for granted have been such a struggle. Weather is awful today so no walk today.

Lovely to hear from you. Take care and sending love and hugs. Xx

Good Morning Debbie (I remembered to check in!!!!) Haha on the eye rolling!!! My husband dare not eye roll me after going through this!! But I think my daughter has on numerous occasions!!

My menopause symptoms come and go and think I've been peri menopausal for 10 years. It's quite calm at the moment, other than being terribly forgetful!

It is amazing what they can do. I was so pleasantly surprised. That said, I haven't seen it fully without a dressing so I've got that to come next week and seeing a nippless-boob. With the seroma, they estimate its about 10ml and so didn't want to drain it as that creates another site for possible infection. I'll do my best with the exercises and see if that helps but I wouldn't be surprised if they drain it next week. 

I'm still taking shallow baths and having someone wash my hair as I really don't want to get the dressing wet. I'm not a bath lover so can't wait to get back in the shower soon! 

I'm a back sleeper so have found sleeping OK even with the drains! Are you wearing a bra in bed? I was told to wear one for 4 weeks and now actually can't imagine not wearing one in bed as it gives that extra support.

Well I think the rain has eased here so I'm going to go out for a walk. I haven't been out since my op bar a couple of hospital visits so its much needed. Officially finish isolating on Monday, wohooo!! 

Have a lovely weekend and keep in touch. Love and best wishes Lisa xx

Hey Lisa your getting better at this!!

Yes I’m still wearing my bra they told me to keep wearing it for a while to help the implant. I got one from M & S and 2 from Asda which have been ideal.  The Cancer Nurse gave me some dressing just to put in my bra to stop my wound from rubbing on it. 

Successful first shower. I managed to wash myself and my hair, the things you take for granted. Had a real good look at the bruising and boob etc. All healing well. 

When are you back for your dressing to be removed? 

Hopefully weather will get better so can get some fresh air. I’m off to see my Mum. 

Tske care sending love  and hugs. Debbiexx 

Hi Lisa 

Im just checking to see how things are going? 

Your finished isolating today. I had to isolate  after my Covid test for 3 days before operation but haven’t had to when I came home. We all had to isolate 2 weeks before hubby’s operation and 2 weeks after. So different. 

How’s your new boob? I’m struggling with the feeling of mine at the moment just feels so hard and heavy. I’m sure it will settle. 

Are you planning going for a walk today weather permitting?

Take care and sending love and hugs.

Debbiexx

Hi Debbie, oh my, sincere apologies...do you get notifications or are you just better than me with checking for messages..?! It was my daughter's 20th birthday on Monday and my 1st day out of isolation (yes same as your hubby, 2 weeks pre and 2 weeks post op). We went out for lunch and again for dinner in the evening, we haven't been out out since October so I thoughtt let's do it!! I was shattered for a couple of days and then had a really low day today. Saw my breast nurse yesterday, she removed the lighter dressings and said how well everything looked, bar a little bruising. She's put some steri strips over the scar just for some added protection and I go back next week, probably for the last time for a final check up.

Today I had a really good look as was trying on some new bras. I think it was a downward spiral from there and the enormity of it all really hit home. I know I'm extremely lucky that I don't need any further treatment but our minds need to heal as well as our bodies don’t they. I guess this will just take time.

As the swelling is slowly easing, I can feel the implant more. Really don't like how it feels especially when I walk. It doesn't feel heavy just tight and a little bumpy in places. How does your under arm feel? I still can't straighten my arm fully above my head. One day at a time eh!

Sending love and best wishes, Lisa xx

Hi Lisa

I get an email mom my phone when you reply to the post. Don’t apologise I’m so pleased that you had a lovely day celebrating your daughters 20th birthday. I would have gone out twice too. You want to do normal things but your body tells you otherwise after you’ve done it.

It was my birthday yesterday and I have overdone it so I’m having a day doing nothing today. We went for lunch with my daughter and granddaughter and then they came back to ours until 7.30. 

Im sorry to hear that you had a low day,  I do think that we will be having a few more of those. The CN said to be your body may be healing emotionally it will take a long time and I do think she is right. I know exactly what you mean about feeling extremely lucky that no more treatment is required however the last few months of waiting, diagnosis, appointments, sleepless nights, decisions, have I made the right decision, surgery, healing and then accepting the new you is bound to take its toll so we have to be easy on ourselves. 

I still can’t lie on my side and can’t straighten my arm above my head, can get it above but arm won’t straighten. I went to Tesco yesterday and something was on top shelf my left hand was full but had to put all the stuff in my left hand on a lower shelf as couldn’t reach with my right arm . 

Im still not driving as too sore under my arm Each day at a time Lisa it’s still early days. I hope you get on ok next week. Enjoy the sunshine. That’s something else we’re you told about being careful in the sun, injections etc where they have taken the lymph nodes? 

Take care and sending love and hugs. Debbiexx

Hi Debbie, belated Happy Birthday wishes to you  hope you had a lovely day. I definitely don't get the email notifications despite me checking the settings! Annoying!

Hope you enjoyed the Bank Holoday weekend, we had some much needed family time which involved some long dog walks on the beach,  I am shattered today! My youngest has his birthday this week and so it's on with the next celebration! I must be bonkers to have 7 young boys over for a picnic and garden games! Pass the wine!!

I'm feeling physically stronger this week. I took my first full shower at the weekend, was very nervous as to date, I've been having a shallow bath with my bra on . I did have a wobble I must admit but it's another of the 'firsts' box ticked and another step to feeling normal. Mentally, I'm still good day, bad day but being peri menopausal doesn't help and I think my emotions are just mushing in together! It is overwhelming what we've been through but I am so so thankful the journey has ended where it has. I do feel so lucky.

I'm still the same with my arm, mainly the under arm area, feels tight and can't fully extend my arm above my head yet. I'm on the go more now and so hoping it'll improve with time.  

Back to the hospital tomorrow, hopefully for the last time. Will be checking when I can drive and get back to work! I know it's only been 3 weeks since my op but just local driving with extreme care must be ok..? Do you work and if so, when are you planning on going back? I'm self employed so don't want to be off for too long! 

 Sending love and best wishes,

Lisa xx