Body image

I’m just recovering from surgery and it’s early days for me but I can see that this reasonably could become an issue for me, I currently don’t have a partner.  Hope someone else can come along and share their experience and offer some help. I do have counselling and that helps I think? Have you had any counselling? I’d also contact Macmillan and see if they can offer you support in this area? Xx

Im Just recovering from a mastectomy too. So far I haven’t seen myself and I don’t have a partner either.  I don’t know how I’m going to feel but I will always remember my Mother telling me after he that her self esteem was based on more than having two breasts.  This is really hard for us to bear but I think I’d rather be alive

Just WOW!!!!

Hi Tilly Ann,

I had a lumpectomy on the 17th December and my scar is still healing.  The day I came home I showed my husband the bandaged boob but he hasn't seen the scar since the dressings have been removed.  I used to walk from the bedroom to the bathroom with no clothes on , but I cant bring myself to do this anymore.  We have separate bedrooms so I'm lucky in the respect that I don't have to hide it from him in bed.  

I'm still trying to cope with the scar and not finding it very easy, but my phycologist has said that this will come in time.  I have to get used it it first.  I have started using bio oil on the area of the scar that has healed - getting to know the scar with my fingers is helping a little, I do look forward to the day I can confidently look in the mirror without crying or looking at it in disgust.  

Your not on your own honey.  We have a lot to deal with.  Take baby steps x x

I had mastectomy on 2nd Nov and undergoing Chemotherapy now.  I had very similar emotions, avoided looking in the mirror and have cried so many times when taking shower.  Slowly, I am getting used to not having a breast.  My husband has been so supportive and tells me that I am still very beautiful, he calls it a ‘bravery scar’.  So now, I have started congratulating myself for going through mastectomy.I am only 48 and want to have beautiful and healthy life.  It is still a small prize to pay to avoid reoccurrence and a chance to live for more years. Just take one day at the time, you will feel better as time goes on xx

Hi, sorry to hear you are having trouble trying to cope With the scar hopefully it will get easier as time passes and it heals.
I had a lumpectomy on 17th January so still very raw. Can I ask you when you started using bio oil please as anything to help the scarring would be welcomed

Sending you best wishes for your recovery x

Hi, just to say I was told 4 weeks post surgery if fully healed. I had to leave a section that wasn’t healed but started using bio oil on the rest then - small circular motions I was told. Makes me feel better and I hope that helps. Mickey xx️

Thanks MickyM that’s really helpful. Nowhere near there yet but good to know.

why am I feeling guilty not being at work makes no sense. This is cancer and everyone keeps telling me I need to get my head round resting up as I’m only post surgery a week today. Does anyone else feel this way ?

Follow up appointment for results of surgery and plan for radiotherapy isn’t until 7th Feb seems such a long anxious wait. Reading everyone’s experiences is such a help. Thank you to everyone with being so open 

Hi, No worries . That’s why this forum is good to share info and know you are not alone. 

Try not to feel guilty about work - work will always be there and when you go back you will feel like you have never been away. You need this time to heal physically and emotionally and you have radiotherapy yet to face (me too). I don’t feel guilty anymore, I know I need the time, I’m not capable of working. I just had to keep repeating that to myself and it worked, this is cancer and we are on the most important  journey of our lives fighting it xx️

Thank you.  That’s a marvellous attitude and I will try to adopt it x