Hi Hollibob,

How soon you get you biopsy results depends upon whereabouts in the country you live. Covid is still with us and affecting some areas more than others. It is more normal to wait 1-2 weeks for your results, but you must be in a an an overstretched area. Once the resukt is returned, your consultant still has to hold one of his regular MDT (multi-disciplinary team) meetings, with all the members of your care team. Here they will discuss your results and any further treatment, if needed. After this has taken place, they will contact you with an appointment to get your results.

It can be a shock to see yourself, when the dressings come off. The scars will gradually fade with time. You may always have a slight loss of sensation and shooting pains in  your arm, but these too can lessen with time. It is still early days for you and will take several months for everything to settle down. However, you should get your rash seen to, just to ensure that this is an allergic reaction to your dresssings. Is this red, sore or itchy? Are you still applying dressings? Many people have an allergy to zinc oxide, which is the basis of many adhesive plasters. There are hypoallergic dressings that can be used instead and cream can be prescribed for the rash. 

The best thing to do is to phone your breast care nurse to discuss this.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you Jolamine 

It was the breast nurse who removed my dressings and could see the irritation so decided not to redress them, instead just gave .e gauze to put in my bra.

I finally showed my husband this morning as I couldn't find the strength before, he was very reassuring which I knew he would be and I know I'm being too hard on myself.

I've logged back on to work today which is another step in the right direction and something else I was beating myself up over as I was determined I wouldn't need any time off! Yep I was wrong. I'm knackered already haha roll on logging off time :-)

Hi Hollibob,

Your nurse must have suspected an allergy in that case. Now that you're not applying adhesive dressings the rash should slowly fade. If it doesn't let the nurse know.

I'm glad that you plucked up the courage to show your hubby today and it's good to hear that he was reassuring. It is a tall order to go back to work. I had a lumpectomy 13 years ago and a double mastectomy 12 years ago. I found that I was totally exhausted when I started taking hormone therapy. What further treatment is planned for you post-surgery? I was self-employed, so could reduce my hours and still work, but it was hard going at times.

Regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi,

I had masectomy in Dec 2019 for DCIS. I understand how it knocks you. On one hand you are pleased that the cancer has been removed and on the other the feeling of  being disfigured. My biopsy came back clear as they had also removed the cancer that was in 2 of my underarm lymph nodes. I found once the dressing are off it heals quite quickly and then gradually the scars fade. Later on massaging with cream or oil helps. 
I am now on the waiting list for Diep surgery in the hope I will feel more normal again. It took a me a while to get the point where I could face surgery again. 

Wishing you fast healing and the biopsy comes back clear. 

Silver 

So tomorrow is results day... 5 weeks after surgery. Its been a long slog and the last few days have been the hardest.

I keep telling myself if there was anything sinister I'd have been called in sooner. I'm 99.9% sure it'll all be clear but that 0.01% is all I can think of!

Appointment is 5pm so tomorrow will be a long day but I am incredibly busy (and stressed!) With work so hopefully it'll go quickly. Feel like I've become nothing but a moaner and an emotional wreck!   

Hi Hollibob,

Well, the waiting is nearly over. I sincerely hope that all goes well for you tomorrow.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx