New here and just had diagnosis

Hi Acasia 

I’m sorry you have to be here, but welcome!

I had a very similar diagnosis two years ago. I had a lumpectomy, 5 days radiotherapy and now tamoxifen for 5 years. I will start by saying none of these treatments have been anywhere near as bad as I imagined and the worst part of the whole thing was the waiting. Although it feels like things are happening fast for you, try to take the positive in that at least you won’t have all the awful waiting! 

Recovery time will vary from person to person but I can share my experience. I was home quite late on the day of surgery but up and about the next day. For a few days I did get tired quickly so made trips out short. I was driving after about 10 days and also went back to the gym doing incline walking because I was missing my usual routine. Back to work after two weeks (I work from home) but could have easily gone back before. I had a little blip with some fluid moving to under my armpit after two weeks which did hurt quite a lot, but that eased after a couple of days. I also had the start of a suspected infection and had a haematoma drained, neither of these were painful. The antibiotics made me feel really sick and that was probably the worst treatment I had! By the time I had my results appointment four weeks later I was back to pretty much everything I was before and felt as if it had never happened, even went to the appointment in my underwire bra! One last thing, the nuclear injection thing sounds way worse than reality, it’s very quick, a little sting like any injection. Happy to answer any other questions you may have. x

I know I’ve been fortunate to have recovered so well and have no ongoing issues. I hope this is the case for you too and am sure you will be well looked after. Best luck with everything. x

Hello

Please can I just ask you about scarring and whether you needed physio before you radiotherapy. Thank you 

Hi SandyC 

Of course! My scar is maybe three inches and is along the curve at the bottom of my boob. I also have one under my armpit which is perhaps an inch and a half. These are both very feint now and nobody would ever notice unless looking for them. I have to say my surgeon did a fantastic job! 

I didn’t have physio before radiotherapy but did do the exercises we are all given and had returned to strength training in the gym by then so that probably helped. I had some tightness a few months later and mentioned this to a physio I saw for an unrelated back niggle. I was given some exercises to do which sorted it out quickly. I also had cording after about nine months or so (looks and feels like a guitar string!). I massaged this really firmly until it made a sound like bubble wrap popping and that also went after a couple of days. No issues since. x  

That’s amazing. Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

Can I also ask have you ever considered lymphatic drainage? 
Many thanks x

I’m very active (run, gym or Pilates most days of the week) so it’s not something I feel I would need. I think the tightness and cording were just ‘one of those things’ as part of the healing process. I don’t have any ongoing issues and genuinely believe this is because of the level of exercise I do. x

Hi Eebee, 

Thank you so much for replying. Been worried as I’m anemic and have just had Hysteroscopy Thursday to biopsy polyps as well and will be scheduled to have those removed soon.

 Consultant has requested iron infusion day before  breast surgery now so hopefully that will help with the healing. You have made me feel a little less stressed about it all.sorry you too had to go through it but very pleased you had a positive outcome and quick healing x