Hello, new here

Hi I had a lumpectomy in July my scar is around my areole, it was glued but seemed very lumpy but now that it’s healed it’s very neat, so yours may look very different when it’s healed completely and the swelling goes. I still haven’t seen an oncologist, I saw a nurse for my results 5 weeks after my op and only just had an auxiliary clearance due to 2 positive nodes because I had a weekend away booked for the beginning of September.

When you see surgeon at the end of the week you’ll be given your results and then told what comes next but tell them that you’re going away at the end of the month and you can start it when you get back a week or 2 shouldn’t make any difference and they are pretty flexible.

Good luck with your results and enjoy your holiday.

Diane x

Thanks Diane, I’d expected the scar to be on breast skin just below areola but he seems to have actually cut the areole itself and it’s got over stitching all along it, leaving  it looking like that big fish which has fat lips. Makes me feel ill to even describe it! 
Thanks for the advice about telling them what we have booked. 
It seems strange not to see an oncologist. I my husband had cancer and being in oncology was so supportive and felt cared for. Feels very isolated for me. 
hope you are doing well? 
DaisyQ

I agree it does feel very isolated it feels like you’ve been left to deal with it yourself but I think it’s more that the surgical side has to be signed off first and then you’re passed to oncology. The oncologist discusses your case in their MDT meetings though but we just don’t see them until later. 

Im doing ok, I had auxiliary clearance last Thursday, feel a bit tired but other than that I’m in no pain and have good movement like before the op. My surgeon is a woman and she likes to use glue, so I had no stitches or dressing’s either time.

Have to wait 3 weeks for my results and then find what the next step is.

Diane x

It’s the weeks of waiting that’s really ‘doing my head in’

sorry to hear you’ve had further surgery. 
sending best wishes and thoughts to you x

DaisyQ

Hi DaisyQ 

The wait is  the worst part. Oncologists won't begin any treatment in my area untill a patient passed 6 weeks from surgery.  I am now 9 weeks from surgery saw an oncologist last week for the first time and starting treatment end of next week.  My scars are horrific to look at I had a bilateral mastectomy , but I'm ok with that just want to get better. My surgeon not seeing me now until one year passed . Hope you can get your holiday as we need things like that after everything we are going through. 

Take care 

Jayne X 

Hi Jayne, thank you for replying, it’s reassuring to hear that other people are on that timing. I’ve realised that my comment may sound insensitive to someone that has had a mastectomy, so I’d just like to clarify that it’s not actually my scar as such that I dislike, in all honesty I was expecting that type of wound. I have seen mastectomy photos and do not find them horrible at all.  It’s actually my surgeons stitching that I have an issue with, the way the two sides have been drawn together, and overlapping! It’s very generous of you to be so kind, after what you have been through, and I thank you, it does help. kindest regards, 

Daisy Q

Thanks for reply Daisy Q , 

1. Yes it took  quite some time for me to see an oncologist I would have liked to have seen one at the start but it is what it is . My scars do look horrid not straight ! And I have little chunks of flesh under my arms which I was not expecting I wish they had prepared me better before all this .  I just can't face more surgery to put them right .  But I can understand that I may change my mind about that , but  I can't see my surgeon for a year anyway. .   I have not heard of overlapping scars   before I hope you can see surgeon and ask them to put it right.I hope you can still have your holiday it's been a difficult few months for all of us .

Take care 

Jayne X  

I thought you might like to read a further example about timelines.  I don't know when you had your operation, and I guess every person and every hospital is different, but I was told to expect to wait for 6 to 8 weeks for my breast to heal before I was given radiotherapy. My lump was picked up on a routine mammogram at the end of May, my op was on 21st July and my radiotherapy started last week (28th September).

Wondering if you have recently called your Breast Care Nurse to see if / when to expect to hear about the radiotherapy - and potential dates?  Do hope you manage to go on holiday. x

Hi  and another warm welcome to the forum. The waiting is tortuous and it’s worse not to know what the timescale might be. I used to rush to the door when I heard the post in case it was my oncology appointment. I remember being infuriated when an NHS letter arrived and it was ‘only’ my follow up appointment for a year later….. but then said to my husband ‘well I suppose it’s good that they think I’ll still be here in a year’ !! In the end, I had my oncology appointment 6 weeks after my op, and rads started 4 weeks after that, so 10 weeks between op and rads. Felt like an agonising wait each time. But all done now, nearly 3 years on and just popping daily hormone busting tablets. As others have said, do let them know re your holiday plans as people here have had treatments arranged around pre booked holidays. 
Wishing you well and sending love and a big virtual hug your way, HFxx

Hi Katherine. h.p.

Thanks for your information. I've found it difficult waiting for my lumpectomy. I'm having it this Friday at a Nuffield hospital, as mine is overun with a backlog. I have been wondering what will happen afterwards. Didn't know about seeing an oncologist and also about the radiotherapy. Thanks again for your advice and information. 

Wishing you well going forward. 

Sue.