Full mastectomy and lymphectomy coming up advice needed!
Hi all
I'm new to the group. ER+ breast cancer stage 3 at 41 years old. I'll be having the last of my 7 rounds of chemo tomorrow and then hopefully will be able to have surgery. I'm scared of the surgery - never have been an inpatient in hospital before let alone gone under the knife. Any advice welcome on what I can do to prepare, what to expect and words of encouragement. How was it all for you?
Love to hear your experience and receive your advice.
Thank you 😀
Comments
-
Hi Mabel 2310!
There's no reason to be scared. I had a double mastectomy with reconstruction and left-side lymphadenectomy (23 lymph nodes removed) in January 2023. I was very anxious up until the anesthesia. When I woke up, I was in the ICU, and I was moved to a regular room just two hours later. I didn't experience any pain or anxiety related to the surgery itself. Most women who had surgery on the same day were able to go home the following day. I stayed longer, not due to the surgery, but because I developed adrenal insufficiency after immunotherapy. The pain can be managed with paracetamol; I took two paracetamol a day for about 4–5 days.
You will be instructed to sleep on your back for several months after the surgery. The best decision I made was to buy a pregnancy pillow (I think I received this advice on this forum). It helped keep me on my back while sleeping and was comfortable to use when I later worked on my laptop.
I didn’t push myself at all until the drains were removed. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I’m more than happy to help!
xo
1 -
Hi @mabel2310
Welcome to the forum. We're glad you have found us.
Congratulations on getting through your chemo!!!!! Chemo was much harder for me than any of my surgeries.
It is frightening when you have never been through any surgery. I think the 'idea' of the whole thing is worse than the reality. Honestly, the worst part of either of my mastectomies was the drains. Dealing with them was just annoying. Follow the instructions they give you on movement and exercise your arms as directed. If you start reading threads on here, you will get a lot of information about what else to expect.
You WILL get through this too! Hang in there! We're all pulling for you!
Take care.
1 -
Thank you so much, that is really helpful and very kind. Thank you, that helps to keep my mind from thinking the worst and getting so nervous. I thought I had finished my chemo, but looks as though the oncologist has added one more round! I could have cried! Went skipping in like it was my last day to get another date for another round! Never mind, has to be done! So surgery now looking like September rather than August. But at least that gives me more time to prepare and I will certainly get that pregnancy pillow!!!
Thank you so much, you really have helped make me feel better xxx
1
