4 months in and I have lost my peace of mind….

Hi Bosha, I’m a year down the line since my ops. I had to have 2 as cancer was found in my sentinel lymph node. Even now I still suffer with pain and it’s sore to touch.  I’ve had my first mammogram and all is clear. When speaking with my oncologist, surgeon and breast care nurse they have all said hopefully over time it will get better. The pain and soreness I have is scar tissue and radiotherapy side effects adm things still healing like nerves.. I still worry about reoccurrence and that is it still there. My sleep has been crap and even worse since I was diagnosed. I’m learning to live with my new normal I don’t think it will ever be the same as it was before.  Do check things out with your breast care nurse/surgeon. Perhaps they can give you some reassurance and confirm what the twinges etc you are feeling. 

Wishing you all the best 

Hugs from cuffcake x x x x x

I am almost 3 years since my lumpectomy and still get pain. They need to cut through nerves, and breast tissue itself doesn't like to be disturbed so takes a very long time to heal, depending on big a lump they needed to remove. Long term pain is very normal, and I get pain a lot as they had to shave a piece of my chest muscle off so whenever I use my muscles (all the time!), it is disturbing the whole area. It is not a significant pain though, and once you accept what it is, then you tend to ignore it as a niggle.

If you have any worries at all though, you should go and see your GP or call your BCN. I went and got a lump near my scar checked out, which turned out to be scar tissue. They said they would much rather people came in to be checked out and it turned out to be nothing than worrying about it at home

Hi I'm 8 mths in just finished radiotherapy same except lymph nodes removed I still have stabbing pains. 

Just try to be positive I have my moments when I think it's all going to come back but I try not to dwell on it and look forward to things, it's not perfect but if I was to let it take hold I would have no life so just carry on with living, let yourself have a moment now and then we all need a release valve, and live don't let it rule your life 

Hiya Bosha

I too have shooting pains inside the boob and soreness in the boob and underarm.  I spoke with my consultant breast surgeon who says this is normal (op was this February) post surgery and radiotherapy and may continue for some time.  Paracetamol and ibuprofen and a good supportive bra (gravity causes pain when I move due to being bigger boobed) were the only suggestions for management of the condition.  Boobs take a long time to heal.  Seemed strange for the pain inside my boob to show up suddenly several months after surgery and radiotherapy but apparently this is normal.

Woop Woop . I have finally had blood test taken for genetic testing to see if I am at high risk for breast cancer/ovarian cancer. Only have to wait another 4/5 months for the results to come back. If I have any genetic indicators that put me at risk then I will be presented with options for preventative measures and it will be much easier for my girls to be tested should they wish to. A long battle to get this far, feel relieved that the test is in process and there is nothing more I can do at this stage!  It should help with my anxiety about it coming back, shame this test is not available to everyone and terrible waiting times (unless you are Sarah Beeny it seems!) but I believe it is well worth fighting for.

BexF

I can completely relate to this post , I’m 8 weeks post surgery and mostly pain free and then I’ll get some stabbing pains . But the worse is the fear and anxiety that it’ll reoccur and the feeling that I’ve lost the person I was before this diagnosis 4 months ago …..this is on my mind all the time and i struggle with sleep too x. I too feel like life will never be normal again but there is an expectation from friends and family that you’re ok now x

Yes we are both at the same stage of our cancer journey and to read your post, it could be me writing it. Family and friends, yes they also think I am fine now, it’s gone, no need to worry, be positive, you have done the tough part. BUT I do not feel that way. Living now is the tough part. Maybe in time, when things settle, as future testing confirms everything appears ok, I may start to feel more positive. I do hope so, but at this point in time, all I feel is fear. And when those twinges happen, it’s like the cancer is saying to me…hey, I haven’t gone….And that fear of being told it’s back and worse just haunts me. Nights are so bad at that too. Friends say do not feel like that, be positive, enjoy the fact you are cancer free. Maybe it’s just too early for me to think like that….my fear is it’s going to be like this for ever and that is not a good thought. I want my old life back but that’s gone.

Sending you a big hug and here’s  hoping all will be well again one day…. Xxx

I’m the same. Stabbing pains on side of mastectomy which worry me along with any other random pain!

Hi Bosha

Welcome to the forum and I'm sorry that you have been diagnosed with breast cancer and that you are struggling at the moment.  It takes time to get used to the new you after a cancer diagnoses.  There's a great paper written by a Dr Peter Harvey called "After the treatment finishes - then what?" which perfectly sums up the post treatment world  I read it when I struggled after my own cancer treatment and I found it very helpful.  Here's a link to the article: https://www.workingwithcancer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/After-the-treatment-finishes-then-what.pdf.

I hope you find the article helpful.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Thank you Daisy53 for that link to the article. I found it extremely helpful and was glad I read it, making me realise that how I am feeling is normal, and ok, and showed me where I am in this long path of ups and downs. Thank you! X

Hi Bosha

I'm glad to hear that you read the article and found it extremely helpful. x