Blue Boob , Chemo , panicky .

Hello KSR. I had a lumpectomy in mid May and also have a blue boob from the dye they injected during the surgery to identify the sentinel lymph nodes. I've also been told that the colour can last for some time, although it will apparently gradually start to fade. 

I also had cancer identified in one (out of three) lymph nodes that were removed so will be starting chemo soon. I'll be interested to read any responses about chemo tips and using a cool cap too, and I found this really helpful blog yesterday which is worth a look:

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/one-life-live-it/posts/chemo-side-effects---hints-tips

It's normal to feel panicky but I'm just taking it a day at a time and trying to focus on the fact that the treatment is going to help. Keep posting here as there is a lot of support available from others who are in the same boat and feeling the same so you won't be alone x

Hi Lalalou, thank you so much for your reply just hearing from someone in a similar position makes me feel less alone . Thank you for sending the link will have a read of that  and hopefully our blue boobs will fade , it was a really shock for me when I looked under my dressing to have a smurf boob .

I had chemo before lumpectomy and I would recommend keeping a diary of symptoms as I found that really useful with each cycle, to see what to expect and when. Although each cycle was slightly different, there was a general pattern and being able to look back and remember that really helped me. I switched drugs half way through as I was on EC-T so had different side effects then. I found nausea the worst with EC and aches and pains and chills the worst side effect with docetaxel. Everyone's side effects are different though. I tried to eat 3 healthy meals a day and keep my fluid intake up but it can be a struggle to eat or drink when everything tastes so yuk!

I didn't cold cap as was told hair would fall out anyway on those drugs plus I get headaches and migraines and the cold cap can trigger them. I have always had long hair but I shaved it off ahead of chemo to feel in control and I actually really love it short now it's growing back so well. 

I got the blue dye too. My op was in Feb and it has mostly faded now, I was told 6 months for it to go completely. I'm still a bit swollen too. It takes a long time for breast tissue to heal and my surgeon said it doesn't like being disturbed!

I think we all feel panicky at times but remember you are in the best care and the treatment options for breast cancer are incredible nowadays and so tailored to your individual cancer. Trust in your medical team.

Smurf boob is right - I've been calling mine Papa Smurf! :)

Hi Beathebreast thank you for your reply and the chemo information and a diary sounds like a good idea . Glad to here the blue is fading with time . Your right I should trust the medical team it just can feel so overwhelming at times and so I’m glad I’ve come on here to get the support from all of you in this community . 

It is really overwhelming, just take one step at a time and you'll get through it. I have found everything has got better with time. I am a couple of months on from radiotherapy, I finished chemo in January and had my operation in February. I feel good now, I feel like I've put it behind me in spite of the 5 years of hormone therapy still to go. 

Thank you for the support good to hear it get better  as things move on .

Mine was green( just to be different) so Hulk-boob here! I’m just coming up one year from surgery and it has faded - just a patch about the size of a 10p where it was injected 

Good luck with everything going forward 

Oh hulk -boob that’s really made me laugh, so glad  it’s faded hopefully mine will in the end as mine is all blue and very bright . Lovely to hear everyone’s blue green boob story’s .

Laughter is good 

keep going