I'm saying hello and asking a question

Hi boldlady, sorry to hear you have BC. 

I too had an op on the left breast and lymph node biopsy at the end of March. You will be a bit delicate for a while and have bruising, but do the exercises recommended to help loosen you up. 

As for driving they recommend you don't drive until you are confident you can do an emergency stop. I didnt drive for 2-3 weeks to be sure. But could of drove before if i needed too.

No heavy lifting, the general after an operation. 

Just look after yourself and take it easy for a while and all should be good. 

Take care and i hope all goes well with your op. Xx

Hi there, I was stage 1C.   I definitely couldn’t have driven for a few weeks.  My breast was okay but oh boy the sentinel node scar was a sore one.  I couldn’t do housework or lift anything remotely heavy and movement wwas restricted.

I sympathise with the language problem.  I’m receiving treatment in Andalucia in Spain.  I have a little Spanish which deserts me in times of stress.  I hired an interpreter for crucial first appointments then I winged it.  I have all my questions typed out in Spanish and hand these over at the beginning of my appointments.  I’ve been lucky that my oncologist and radio oncologist speak a little English so we get by.  

I hope everything goes well for you x

Thanks so much for replying- looks like I'll have to be a little more patient.  The 'emergency stop' suggestion is a good one.  I remember that from when I broke my foot many years ago...

Thanks for replying.  I should have realised that the stress would make me lose my French.  The surgeon did take pity on me a couple of minutes into the consultation and suggested he spoke English.   Oh the relief!

Hi BoldLady 

I had the same as you, my first ever mammogram and I hadn't nearly bothered going for it as I figured 'I'd feel ill if I had cancer so what's the point of wasting my time going for the mammogram'.  Luckily as it was in a mobile unit an easy walk from my house, I decided to rearrange the appointment for when I wasn't at work.  Phew! Lucky I did

I had 80mm removed from my breast (and sentinel lymph nodes). I had the operation on the Wednesday and my boss had offered to pay for taxis for me from Monday so I could get to and from work.  By Monday, I felt able to drive.  Mine was left sided, so in UK the seat belt when over my breast which could have been dubious had I needed to do an emergency stop (as others have said), but you'll be driving on the other side of the car, so the seat belt should be fine on your good breast.

When you say 'I have so much I need to do', be careful of thinking this.  You MUST put yourself first and learn to accept that your body needs to recover from your treatments.  It's not just like a broken bone - I am 6 years post diagnosis and STILL I find my breast does hurt when pressed. 

Radiotherapy can be tiring too although I found it ok.  I couldn't do the breathe technique to protect my heart and it hasn't affected me in the slightest, they knew what they were doing, it just took them longer to plan the radiotherapy.  Drink, drink, drink plenty of fluids - it will hopefully prevent proper fatigue, but you might find that you are still tired if you are doing all the treatment AND everything else you normally do.  I run my own business as well as working part time, so I decided to close my own business for the duration of radio and I was fine throughout it.

The tablets can cause side effects, but I was ok on mine (anastrozole), just went into menopause a bit more (if that makes sense).  If you do find there are side effects, check out the coatings of your tablets as these can make a big difference.  Google helps a lot with this.  I was given a different brand once and it hit me like a truck!  

Good luck with your operation and treatment - and hopefully you'll bounce back easily, but don't rush and cause yourself to be worse off.

Kindest wishes, Lesley

I didn't want to drive, it was a good excuse to be chauffeured around for 3 wks. I had 30 lymph nodes removed, it was swollen and sore for a while. The breast was less so. The arm was stiff, the exercises did help. Still do them a bit and my op was in Dec. 

It's the confidence as much as anything, I found it a blow to my psyche, ego, womanly bits all rolled into one. It's a grief cycle thing and maybe fear if the unknown. I am much better now. Able to exercise and dance again. The hormone blockers are another thing to adapt to. One step at a time. Xx

Thanks for this Lesley, I'm gradually learning everything I never had to need to know know, and yes, I will try to take it easy.  We are in the last couple of years of a barn renovation, supposed to take 2 and we are in year 7.  I will try to close my eyes on it all..

I had to change my GP, he speaks English but refused to do so even although I was struggling with diagnosis and stress made my Spanish pants!    At the beginning he insisted on trying to do telephone consultations, no way that’s even worse!

I nearly didn’t get to attend my last radio oncology appointment yesterday, the narky receptionist decided my level of Spanish not good enough..I very quickly reminded her in perfect Spanish that my oncologist spoke perfect English.  Oh the joys!   It’s seems when I get angry my language skills improve no end x