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Hi Anabrok, sorry to meet you here. You seem to have had a pretty rough time in the last couple of months and I'm sure we're all feeling for you.  Hope your chest infection clears up soon, it's difficult to stay positive when you are physically unwell, particularly if it's an effort to breathe. How is your son coping with the changes at home? Do you need any additional support (not necessarily directly for him as I guess that would be difficult, but for you and the things you usually do around the house) and if so do you need advice with working out how to get it?  Hope things go smoothly on 11th.

When I felt particularly low I kept going back to the following quote "You don't need to predict how everything will play out, just master the next step and continue moving in the right direction"  to try and distract my mind from overthinking all the possible negative futures. Wishing you well soon x

Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I think I feel miserable because the strong meds for the chest infection feel worse than the disease and I don’t get proper rest. But today my temperature is down and my oxygen level up. So that’s good. I haven’t needed any painkillers for a while either. My sons been a bit grumpy and unhelpful but that’s just his anxiety talking. My other half has been ok but isn’t the best nurse too be honest - although she tries. Too clever to have much common sense! I worry that I won’t be fit for work for ages - I work with vulnerable people, but it wouldn’t be right to return until I’m up to it. I need to give myself time to heal I think. 

I'm delighted to hear about your oxygen levels and temperature today. You seem to be on the right track but you are right, the strong meds probably did get you down. I think once you are better from your pneumonia you will be surprised how quickly you recover from the op. and will feel stronger about facing the next stage of your treatment. 

From what you've said you seem to be someone with a grasp of how to care for others. If you are anything like me, it may be hard for you to be your own best friend and shower that kind of care on yourself, but I hope it's not too hard for you to ask for the help you need or accept help from others. I'm guessing you are also right in that you probably need a bit of time before you go back to work (given what kind of work you do). 

Keep getting better and keep us all posted about how things are going for you. There are loads of people here who are happy to answer any questions you have and share their experiences in the hope that you find it supportive. x

I am sorry to hear that it's been really tough. My heart goes out to you, I can only imagine!

When your breathing is impacted how did you cope? Pardon my ignorance, how do you increase your oxygen levels when really poorly?

Sorry if my questions are daft. I am mentally preparing myself. 

C x

Hi thanks for asking. My breathing problems are due to severe asthma not breast cancer. Post anaesthetic pneumonia is a rare side effect usually but I have dodgy lungs, and they had to keep me asleep longer than is ideal for someone with dodgy lungs. The treatment was steroid tablets to bring down the lung inflammation, inhalers to open out the tubes and antibiotics to stop bad bacteria taking advantage. Of course all if that plus my low oxygen levels has slowed down the healing of my breasts but it should be ok. If I’d been worse they would have given me oxygen too but thankfully the steroids worked. Hopefully none of these complications will be relevant to you!

Thanks Anabrock for explaining

Hopefully as each day goes on, you will go from strength to strength, so admire your courage dealing with it all.... thinking and sending you my huge hug and healing vibes!

C x

Hi, just come across this and very similar to my experience so far.  9th August went to GP with breast lump, didn't get seen then until nearly 6 weeks after in breast clinic.  Had mammogram, scan and core biopsy and was told highly suspicious of cancer.  Returned week after to clinic and doctor was talking about lumpectomy and breast reduction but wanted MRI.scan to confirm size of lump as scan said  3cm and mammogram said 1.5cm and she wanted to make sure the correct size was removed.  Went back to clinic today to be told MRI scan has picked up numerous lumps and now I need to go for another scan and biospies.  What I can't understand is why the other lumps were not picked up on the original scan.  Now have been provisionally booked in for mastectomy.  Feel like I was given false hope in the last appointment and it all came crashing down today.  So fed up x

yep that happened to my friend too. Apparently they’re finding a lot of stuff on mri that was missed on other scans. They’re thinking of doing yearly mri on me as regular scans didn’t detect my cancers - you might be on the same lumpy breast trial I’m on. 

So sorry you are feeling fed up, .mel28.  When I went for my first appointment with the Breast Surgeon he felt my breast and noticed another lump which hadn't been picked up on the mammogram.  I was recalled later that week for another ultrasound and mammogram and further biopsies.  Whilst waiting I consoled myself with the thought that I was lucky they were being so through. Fortunately it was a benign fatty lump (which don't always get picked up on mammograms) but it was still very worrying at the time. Wishing you all the best with your mastectomy.  Hope you let us know here how everything goes. xx

This is where I am at at the moment. Had to have two more biopsies yesterday. Don’t know how to think positively as they are both so close to original cancerous lump. Urgh.