Follow up Appointment following Lumpectomy/Removal of Sentinel Lymph nodes

Oh Gander, I am thinking of you. Waiting for results is just so scary and the last thing any of us wants to hear is someone telling us to stay positive. But I found distraction a good method. For me, I just busied myself with work. If there is anything else you can focus on so your mind doesn't have time to wander to dark thoughts and worries then I can recommend the diversion. I found and have still found teading (which I always loved) to be too difficult to concentrate on. When I look at books on the shelf now it just seems that all the stories ate so silly and pointless or just too gruesome and depressing.

Netflix films and series helped me. I re-visited some of my old feel good films like Chalet Girl and Notting Hill.

if you just want a chat then I am here.  

reading not teading

Thanks, tried to organise to be out but not close to people, for next 2 days. Hubby is being great but I keep reading stuff then crying as can't get all this out of my head. TV is rubbish atm and as we only recently moved house, just have basic package. We can access Netflix BTW. 

Do you have catchup? I love the Great Pottery Throwdown or Landscape Arrtist of the Year.

Yes I made the mistake of reading things after my radiotherapy finished. I had avoided reading anything about breast cancer ubtil then. I scared myself too but I feel I just need to go with the flow as there is nothing I can do to change what has happened. I am sorry I can't be of more help but I do understand your fears and I am keeping everything crossed for you.

What about going to the cinema? It is really quiet during the day and you can lose yourself in a good film. Belfast is absutely brilliant.

Hello Gander, my lumpectomy was not clear and so went in again for a 'shave', after which they got clear margins. Just then had to have radiotherapy and they are happy I'm sorted. I am really hoping that you have clear margins, but just to let you know, all is not lost even if you don't. Give yourself a bit of slack as your feelings are perfectly normal and sleep will eventually come.

I feel your anxiety - I had lumpectomy and sentinel node removal just last Thursday and I'm already nervous about getting the results. My next door neighbour is about 8 weeks ahead of me with exactly the same diagnosis (same boob, same type which feels a bit weird!) And she advised me to try and only deal with the here and now and not rush onto the next stage in my head. I didn't fully appreciate what she meant until I saw my own scars and bruises but I think I do now although it's really difficult not to imagine every worst case scenario. No amount of being told 'stay positive' and 'you're strong you can do this' helps when it's you in the eye of the storm.

This situation is really pants and I wish you all the very best for Thursday. 

Thank you so much

I'm thinking of you Gander. Mines tomorrow and up until now I've blocked it out but now trying to think of questions to ask. I know it's in one node but worried about how many more nodes are going to be affected and what implications that has.

Keeping busy definitely helps with the distraction I find. 

It does. Good luck, just hoping hubby can be in appointment with me. Got to go straight from the appointment to get 2nd iron infusion. 

Good luck for today VWGirl. I hope all goes well. I did the same. I blocked it out and just took each day as it came. Keep strong.