Waking up post mastectomy

Hi OffForARun

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. While I can’t give you any advice about how you’d feel after a mastectomy I noticed that you didn’t have any replies so I thought I’d reply to you to move you to the top of the discussion.

Wishing you the best of luck with your surgery and subsequent treatment.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Thank you

Hi OffForARun 

you can read my story on profile if you wish just click on name .

I can’t really say how you will react as we’re all different I had my single mastectomy 8days after diagnosis so not much time to think beforehand . Final decision made on a Tuesday op on Thursday .

Must admit I wanted a Masectomy age might have helped to make that decision but also just wanted rid of cancer . 
When I woke up I felt a lot better than I thought more discomfort than pain because of meds given before and during op . My advice would be take all that is offered so you can gain movement . You will be given arm  exercises to do which helps great deal . Again no need to push beyond pain barrier but do regular and will be able to do more and keep good movement . Also can loosen you up so pain improves .

Personally I had dressing on wound but did take a peek almost straight away so it didn’t build up in head . Again when dressing removed had a look easier after peeking before another patient and I even shared wounds .

For me the change in my body has for me  primarily been no cancer not no boob ,but that’s me . I did not have reconstruction  and happily use prosthetics.
Other people found it harder than me so if I found they were looking at chest I would make game of it by saying guess which one ..they very rarely got it right .

For me humour helped a lot just remember surgery and anything else on your plan is kicking cancer into touch .

I wasn’t running but even during chemo I was managing up to 10000 steps at end of cycles 

good luck 

thank you for that margaret, this is all so new to me, due 12th oct right one, so had no friends or family that i have been through this with. keep saying to myself you have to do this, they caught it early but the largeness of the op terriefies me and how i will feel/look afterwards, the nurses said to google "flat friends" any one aware of these, thank you

Thanks so much Margaret - I hadn't considered how other people might respond post-mastectomy, though I do have 2 kids (12 & 9) and am aware they will need some support in seeing my different looking body. I am still processing the word cancer to be honest and I think that's why I'm thinking more about the mastectomy than the fact it will hopefully mean the cancer is gone. I mean that's the priority right! I definitely will be doing a lot of walking - you sound like a force managing that many steps during chemo! Really appreciate your response. Wishing you all the best for the future. Becky

It looks like 'Flat Friends' is a Facebook group created by and for breast cancer patients who chose not to have a reconstruction.

It is a body blow whichever way you look at it. Being cancer free is the main thing. It's traumatic on both counts. Choosing life above the boob is absolutely the main thing. As Northerner says one can fix the outside with an implant or fake boob. Implants for some cause problems. I am happy to be alive and well and dancing again. 

OffForARun   & w1cky 

With regards how you look afterwards I was lucky in the 8 days prior to op I had been introduced to the boob lady who gave me a gift of a softy boob to go in bra until I was ready for prothesis. I named softy Freda ….prothesis was a lot posher so called Clarissa .

Clarissa is now a normal part of  morning dressing routine . I have a large cup so rarely go without prothesis .

She also provided a shoulder bag for drains and a heart shape cushion for under arm support which was brilliant . I also bought a V support pillow which was invaluable .

As recommended I reorganised wardrobe so a collection of button thru tops were the first choice of apparel . No stretching to get on . Good excuse to buy new  

My advice for aftercare is listen to your body rest when needed eat little and often stay hydrated and take meds  . 
6/8 weeks after I started chemo 

All of treatment plan for me is on my profile .

The important thing is 4 year later I’m still here annoying everyone  

With regards the steps during chemo ..it was 21 day cycle so 100 if lucky day one gradually building up each day til higher number at end of cycle then start again not necessarily going out would use WII machine 10 min at a time never pushed too hard too far .

Flat friends are good also knitted knockers .

best wishes to you both 

Me too Northerner, I'm a Northerner too. We can't change can we, annoy away. 

Hello there I’m a fellow runner and c section warrior! I’ve had 3! My children are 6,3 and 1 and I’m 2 weeks post mastectomy I had implant reconstruction. I felt very tired first few days and got lots of rest. I ate well and drank lots of water . When I felt up to it I started walking round the block and after a week I could manage 10k steps if I took it easy (everybody is different though!) but listen to your body. I’ve had a few days where I felt complete fatigue so I’ve had to watch how much I’m doing. I’ve been doing my daily physio exercises and mobility in arm and shoulder getting better. I looked at my body day after discharge so I could accept the changes and actually I felt ok about it. I think I felt relieved that the cancer had been operated on! I showed my kids because they have always seen me naked and they needed to understand what part of mommy was sore so they didn’t climb on me! 
as for running, yes I miss it just like after c section but I’m happy to keep active with walking until I’m healed. Running will be waiting, it’s a drug!
all the best to you xx