3rd day after mastectomy and lymph nodes removed

Hi outdoorgirl, sorry to hear that your not feeling too good, poor you. Im going into hospital on Thursday for mastectomy and I'm absolutely dreading having it done. You can definitely do this,  it's still early days just try your best with the exercises even if it's little and often.  Hope you feel better soon.

Best wishes 

Hi Harley 

they must have a thing for doing mastectomy’s on Thursdays, I can honestly say everyone was lovely, the breast bit is not to bad but iam not going to lie the armpit bit feels horrible, are you having the lymph nodes removed or just your breast?? You will be grand, do you have help and people to speak too

Hi yes having lymph nodes removed and part of my lung removed as got cancer in that. Im on here as I find it a bit easier talking to people who have or are going through the same as my family say you got to think positive and you will be fine, but I feel that they don't really understand how I'm feeling and what I'm going through. If that makes sense. My cancer nurses are absolutely fantastic though.

Thanks for putting my mind at ease a bit about the mastectomy x

I went through cervical cancer back in 2009 and got through that, but I agree it’s nice to have someone to talk too ex specially when you can help each other through it.  But yes you need to stay potive , think positive and believe, it’s like being on a boat going down the river, there are a few stops to be made but you got to stay on that boat till you reach the end at times you just have to with the flow to reach the other end. If you ever need to chat iam always here  

Thanks very much outdoor girl, I really appreciate your kind words and will definitely chat again.

Good luck with your recovery x

Hi Outdoor girl - remember that you have had major surgery and a general anaesthetic. That can make a lot of people a bit queasy and sick and certainly out of sorts for a few days. I had a mastectomy last year and an axillary clearance. I admit that I didn’t have any pain after surgery and didn’t open the box of painkillers. So perhaps I was lucky with that. I did all my exercises, but have since developed lymphodoema in the chest wall and armpit area. I had 5 months of chemo before surgery, and my surgeon told me that it affects the skin that they are cutting into. But that won’t be you. So far, touch wood, I haven’t got L in the arm. I do my gentle exercises everyday, and I seem to control it. Sometimes I have a flare up, but some nice gentle exercises helps it to shrink again. Most of the time I don’t notice it. It certainly doesn’t stop me doing anything. 
Try to take each step as it comes. This is a journey. Be patient with yourself. You’ve had a horrid shock with the diagnosis. But you have a treatment plan, and in my experience, they know what they are doing. Xx

I got that a lot, they don't know what to say I think. Being positive isn't going to change anything but trying to be hopeful when I can. It's all overwhelming at times, at least it comes in stages. Just wait to see what my treatment plan is. X