Community

Hi all, I'm three years post diagnosis (followed by chemo, rads) and I have delayed recon surgery date in less than three weeks for LD flap with implant. I'm excited and scared! Did anyone have this procedure and regret it? Also, due to medication side effects I had to give up my favourite exercise of walking and decided to learn to swim as a new form of exercise. Now I'm actually good at swimming and find it great exercise. Also, it feels like mindfulness going up and down the pool, calms the head when I have to concentrate on one, two, take a breath! So I'm a bit worried about the potential weakness from messing with the back muscle and maybe ending up not able to swim. I'd be very grateful of any comments or advice. I'd rather know the good, the bad and the ugly in advance! Thanks, Jo

Hi I had a mastectomy in 2010 on my left breast and in 2013 I was put on the waiting list to have my right breast reduced to match my new boob. I received a call yesterday from the hospital stating that I will be called in the next month for my breast reduction operation. I am just looking for advice on what bra to wear after the operation. And also should I go down a cup size or just buy a bra for the size I am now which is a C cup. Would love any advice

Hi all I hope everyone is doing well. Unfortunately last week, 11 months after finishing active treatment I was diagnosed with bone mets. Right now I'm really really annoyed with my Onc and considering moving hospitals. If anyone had treatment in Beaumont and would recommend their Onc, could you pm me please? Maybe he's right & what happened would have regardless of where I was treated but I presented to him with node negative breast cancer 2 years ago and while under his care it has now spread to my liver and bones. I'm just so angry and upset right now and at least want a second opinion. Tia x

Hi there, Family member newly diagnosed Diagnosis made after presenting for routine mammogram Lump is not palpable - had mammo been done 6 months previous it would not have shown up Lumpectomy and node biopsy done Awaiting results of these Initial scan in doctors showed no presence of cancer in lymph nodes What is the likelihood that it will have spread to lymph nodes? Doc initally said radiotherapy only Reading now about different types of hormones if it isn't ER or PR + then chemo may be needed This has all been an (unwanted) fast learning curve. Trying to find out any more info I can find out

Hi All, I'm curious if anyone is on the Zoladex implant/injection with their Tamoxifen? Also wondering if any oncologists in Ireland are upping Tamoxifen to 10 years (rather than 5)? I'm still under my GP in the UK, but concerned if I want to move back home what the treatment plan will be.... Bettersoon!

How long is the wait for chemo? relative met with oncologist almost 3 weeks ago and no sign of appointment yet. It's 5 weeks post surgery. Getting concerned now - that it will recur in that space of time Secondly, the surgeon said they got all the cancer, and that they were doing the treatment to prevent recurrence. Does this mean the cancer is gone? Our main worry is that there are some rogue cells flying about and that the wait for chemo might mean they have a chance to multiply and spread.

Hi all, I'm scheduled to have my expandable implant replaced with a standard one in 10 days. I'm excited and hoping it will be easier than the reconstruction surgery. They tell me it's like "changing a tyre"! Has anyone else had something similar? What was the recovery times like? I've done the lymph removal, nerve issues, reconstruction, so none of these are a factor.... I've been offered a lovely new job to start the following week and am hoping for a new start, clean slate, no cancer story! Thanks

Discovered I had early stage IDC last November and had two lumpectomies within two weeks, second one to get clearer margins and remove nodes. I have since had radiation and taking the dreaded letrozole since February with side effects and tiredness kicking in now. When I returned for my results I was astonished when my surgeon told me they were unable to find any Lymph nodes under my arm despite being in theatre for longer than normal while he searched. Anyway he did a second tracer test in the lymphatic system and assured me that the cancer didn't spread but he himself said he never came across this before even though it is possible. Unfortunately this is hampering my recovery because I keep rthinking 'What if he missed something' and I'm feeling fearful all the time. I dont know whether this still leaves me open to Lymphodema and I dont think they know either. I had an excellent surgeon in one of the main centres in Dublin. Has anyone else experienced or heard of anyone who had similar?

Hi Everyone, it's been ages since I've been online, I hope everyone is keeping well. I went for implant/ expander exchange last week. I've had radiation so my worry now is that I don't get any infection or encapsulation which is a risk with radiated breast tissue. Is there anyone on here who has had this surgery and if so has it been a success? Thanks in advance!

My question : did any other husbands / partners experience unusual symptoms during their partners treatment ? my wife had breast cancer, lumpectomy, lymph glands removed, Chemo and radio therapy around 1998. During the time of her chemotherapy and radio therapy I had unusual hair growth under the armpits, I had never had it before that time or in the fifteen years since. We sleep side by side, so 8 hours close proximity exposure to chemo patient per night. The hair became coated with a heavy yellowish rubbery coating, they felt like the fibers you would find between the segments of an orange when you peel it. They were very easy to pull out and the coating went right to the base of the root. Sorry for the graphic description. Was this related to my wife's chemo / radio therapy, is it common, or an unusual occurrence . On a lighter note we used to just refer to them as my sympathy cheesestrings, yeah,, yuk She is doing fine now and has had no recurrence of the cancer, it's all a distant memory now, seldom revisited.