Mastectomy operation

[kitty1950]

Hi to everyone who showed an interest in my earlier posting in February, just thought I would post an update on whats happening. I had a successful mastectomy on 11th march and was discharged on 16th march. Went for the results last friday (27th) and out of 17 lymph nodes that were removed only 2 were cancerous and I have been given the all clear. I now have to have some sessions of chemotherapy to prevent it returning but on the whole I am pleased now that I have had time to digest everything. I am going to see the consultant this afternoon but I think that is just routine. I thank god that I found the lump early and got it seen too or else it could have been a much different story. I would like to thank everyone for their kind messages and encouragement and as the song goes "Thank you for being a friend". With lots of love from Kath. XXX

[sqad617]

Well done.

[bellmoore4]

Hi Kitty1950,
glad to hear your news.just a warning to all women.get checked. My sister was 50 in July last year,August she got her letter to go for a mamogram,which every women gets at 50.she was going to ignore it,saying she didn't need that.she went and they found cancer,they removed it,also just a part of her breast,just finished her last of 6 chemo sessions,i will not lie,she said they were hell, now got to go through 4 weeks of radiotherapy,but she has the all clear,so to all women don't ignore it,get it checked,chemo is hard but not as hard as what you've been through.well done,treat yourself to something nice and tell yourself you deserve it. good luck.

[wolf63]

Kitty

I bet that you are relieved at the news.

It is nice to see that a lump found early enough can have a very positive (and nice) outcome.

Best wishes for the future.

Susan

[DEN53]

Its lovely to hear your good news Kitty - keep well.

Best Wishes
Denise xx

[icemaiden]

Thats fab news Kitty1950.

Can I ask how long it took you to get an appointment with the specialist?, only I have been to the docs twice now about a lump and he decided to refer me yesterday, I rang the appointment phone number and they have given me the date of the 27th May as the earliest they can see me. Seems a hell of a wait to me.

[sqad617]

Icemaiden......ask your local hospitals appointments office what has happened to the governments "Two week waiting to see a Specialist for Breast Cancer.

[yogasun]

icemaiden that is a ridiculous time to have to wait.
It must be another postcode lottery because in our area you are seen within two weeks. Make a fuss about it, I certainly would.

[icemaiden]

Thanks guys.
I hadn't heard of the Two week waiting squad617, I will ring them again today and make a fuss.

At the time, It wasn't until I came off the phone that I realised how long the wait was. I guess it could be down to the postcode lottery too but two months is a long time.

[wiggywoo]

Hi Kath, what a wonderful brave lady!! and an inspiration to other ladies going through the same agonising time. PLEASE all you ladies out there do have your regular mamograms and cervical smear tests, early detection is a must.. Hope its good news from your consultant today..Take care, and as bellmoore4 says..Treat youself to something nice you deserve it.
Lots of love and best wishes from
Chris xxxxxxx

[sqad617]

IceMaiden....a few thought which may relieve your anxiety:

1) At the end of the 20th century, cancer services in the United Kingdom were in a state of disarray. Mortality for a range of malignancies, including breast cancer, was among the highest in Europe1 and "disgracefully" long waiting lists resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment were thought to be at least partly responsible.

2) Department of Health issued a circular titled Breast cancer waiting times�achieving the two week Wiating time

3) This initial optimism, however, was short lived. From the beginning, the value and effectiveness of the two week wait rule have been questioned. The number of cancers detected in this group of patients has been low,.

4) Over a seven year period, the number of two week referrals has dramatically increased, but the percentage of cancers detected in this group has decreased, and the number of routine referrals has decreased, but more cancers are now detected in this group.

Bottom line.....2week wait is to try and reassure the patient.....the long term results are the same.

Don't worry.

[wiggywoo]

Hi icemaiden,i'm sure kitty will post her reply ASAP. in the meantime PLEASE do as the others are saying, make a BIG fuss that wait is way too long, i had a lump detected in routine mamogram and was seen within 1 week. Good luck xx

[icemaiden]

Well I couldnt wait any longer and have just rang them. According to the nice lady on the phone, my Gp has referred me as a routine check up as opposed to an urgent check up. It would seem that my Gp is not overly concerned. The nice lady did say that the consultant will read my Gp's letter and will make a decision if he/she feels he/she should see me sooner. if this is the case, they will contact me to arrange an appointment sooner.

Sorry to hijack your post Kitty1950, and thankyou all for taking the time to answer me.

[kitty1950]

Hi icemaiden, Sorry it took so long to get back to you but I have just got back onto my computer. I too am sorry to hear about your experience, I first found a lump on 29th Jan, I couldn't keep my first appointment at the doctors on 5th feb cos of snow, saw the doctor on 9th feb, saw the consultant on 17th feb, biopsy on 18th feb, consultant again on 24th feb and told it was cancer, isotope dept for injection of dye on 10th mar, admitted to hospital for mastectomy on 11th mar, staples out on 21st mar, check up with breastcare nurse on 27th, check up with consultant today (go back to see him in 3 months), oncologist on 2nd april to arrange chemo. Not bad, all within 3 months of finding the lump, it just shows how quick it can all be done. If it helps you at all I am in the Calderdale area of West Yorkshire. It's ok for you to hijack my thread, we are all here to help each other when we can, as you can see from my replies including yours there are a lot of nice, caring people out there, you all deserve a pat on the back. With love from Kath.XXXX

[icemaiden]

Hi there Kath.

Phew! I was exausted just reading your reply. that is extremely quick. I am in the South-East so waiting times could be longer here. As I have previously said, my Gp referred me as a routine check up which is why the appointment is two months away. My gut feeling says it's nothing to worry about, and I guess my GP feels the same.

I am so pleased you were treated so well and you sound like a very positive person which will no doubt help with your recovery. And yes, there are indeed lots of nice people on here! xx

[chas2008]

Not sure what your long term plan is, but my wife has been through this mastectomy/chemo/radiotherapy etc. (shes 54) Just before xmas she had reconstruction with tissue taken from her stomach (tummy tuck included!) the results are amazing...it was her idea , no influence from me at all, its what she wanted from the moment of the first op which was just over 2 years ago.

[kitty1950]

Hi icemaiden. I hope my reply helped you in some way. I do hope for your peace of mind that they hurry up and get you seen too, as you can see from my experience once the ball is rolling it is quite a whirlwind journey and you don't seem to have time to think of anything else. Will you please let us know as soon as you get an appointment date or even before that if you just need to chat about anything. I sincerely hope that yours is nothing serious. I was told mine was age related ( I am 59). Lots of love. Kath. XXX

[kitty1950]

Hi chas, I haven,t thought about any long term plans as yet, for the moment I am just concentrating on taking one step at a time. I am not too bothered about reconstruction just now although I may consider it after my chemo sessions are over, I don't as yet know how many I will have to have, I just know I have to have them every three weeks, the thought of a free tummy tuck may sway my decision. Anyway I have plenty of time to think about it later. Thanks for your welcome input. Kath.

[icemaiden]

Hi Kitty1950.

Appointment not til 27th May so I will of course let you know what has been said/done. I will post it in Health and Fitness For your attention, as a lot can happen in two months! You might forget me!

xx

[Mamyalynne]

Oh Kitty am pleased you have got the major hurdle over with. I wish you strength which I know you have to get through the rest of your treatment and recover well. Take care.
Mamya x

Ice am concerned about your wait and hope all is sorted for you soon. Thinking of you.

Mamya x

[kitty1950]

Hi again icemaiden, I hope that you get an earlier appointment after the consultant reads the docs letter again, I will keep my fingers crossed for you. Rest assured that I won't forget you because I have written it down on my calendar. In the meantime speak to either a practise nurse or a nurse practioner at your surgery and tell them of your worries, you never know it may help. Anyway please keep us posted as to your progress. My thoughts are with you. Lots of love and very best wishes, Kath. XXX