4 months post bilateral mastectomy

Momci

I had invasive breast cancer in my left breast and noninvasive in my right breast. Had both removed. Thanks to genomics testing I was able to forgo chemotherapy and take a pill to stop estrogen producing cells. Have done very well until the last two weeks. The left side especially hurts and is very tender on the side of my breast area and a little to the back. Is this part of the healing process? I can handle pain but this doesn't seem to be letting up much. Especially when laying diwn

Beesie

Did you have reconstruction? And if so, what type?

If you have sub-pectoral implants I'm wondering if you might have strained the pec muscle. I've done that and it felt very much as you describe.

Momci

I opted to not have reconstruction.

Momci

I opted to not have reconstruction

RoseMHales

Dear Momci,

I had both breast removed also and I am having pain (especially in middle of my chest where the scar ends) and a tightness that feels like my chest is going into itself. I had surgery on June 5. They say after a couple of weeks healed but I don't feel it and they left fat pockets under my underarms and on July 25 I see the doctor about getting them removed. I pray for you and hope your pain goes away. I don't know the answer and have been trying to find out.

Momci

Dear Rose, thank you for your kindness and prayers. The surgeon’s nurse had me come in because of my worry. The surgeon thinks it’s nerves healing and put me on medication to help. I go back in two weeks to follow up. I guess my worry was I developed a tender sore spot overnight in my left breast and that’s how I found out I had cancer. The right breast was developing cancer and no one noticed it. So, when a tender hurting spot appears I get worried.

I still have some numbness in both breast. That’s normal. As far as pain in healing I have been blessed.

I will pray your doctor can address your pain issues. We will get through this

Darnit_DDD

Hi Momci,

I’m a little over 4 months out from a BMX with no reconstruction and am having similar sensations, especially on the lymph node (R) side.

It feels like nerves in the incision areas have come back to life.

I was told it’s a common experience by a friend and survivor, as well as a medical massage therapist.

I have 19 inches of incisions, it occurred to me that maybe I expect too much too fast? After all it’s just been 4-5 months.

I’m giving my body 18 months to digest and recover..

Best of luck to you!

hodgepodge

The healing has been a longer than expected process for me too. I have days where I feel like I'm almost back to normal and then other days where every chest muscle and around under my arm into my back aches and tingles. My surgery was in April. I'm having reconstruction so I chalked it up to these miserable tissue expanders. Momci, would you mind sharing what your doctor prescribed to help?

HopeFloats007

First time posting! I am almost 4 weeks from bilateral masectomy after having reoccurrence only 15 months after lumpectomy, chemo and cyber knife radiation. Even though my genetic testing was negative and the original regimen was supposed to cure me, my first mammo in March, 6 months after radiation was not good. Biopsy in May confirmed, same invasive ductal carcinoma in treated breast. After masectomy, in situ found in specimen from left breast. My cancer was HER + and I am 52 years old with very little history of breast cancer in family. Masectomy was barely mentioned after first diagnosis because the regimen of lumpectomy, chemo and radiation almost always works. The big catch though is that instead of whole breast radiation, I was coaxed in to cyber knife, a very targeted radiation that works wonders for other organs. No long term research on breasts. Of course, the cyber knife sounded great, 35 treatments cut down to 5. After masectomy and expanders inserted, right breast skin and tissue that had been radiated began to "die" and expander was removed along with dead skin. I was left with open wound, that finally, has begun to grow again. If this continues, then no skin graft, hallelujah! I had 4 drains after sugery, only 1 remains after yesterday. I have terrible "phantom" pains in both breasts and worse muscle spasms in left breast where expander remains. I have excellent surgeons whom I trust totally but I never dreamed I would be so incapacitated after 4 weeks. Just last week was I able to dress myself and not use a walker to get to a standing position. I am looking at many weeks before I can return to work which is an administrative position. I can't drive and use a "grabber stick " to get things off of floor. I can't sleep lying flat in bed so most nights I am in recliner. The worst part is my mental state. Although, I have been blessed throughout this surgery with a very committed, tender, strong supportive partner who has drained and measured fluids and rebandaged areas that I couldn't bear to look at, I am having such a hard time mentally that I wonder if I'll ever get better. Some days are better than others but some days, like today, it took me 4 hours to muster up the courage to even leave the house. I had a full blown panic attack in the pharmacy and had to go to my car and go to drive thru for me meds. I feel so ashamed because I'm weak minded when I know so many have gone before me and survived, seemingly without such problems I am experiencing. My employer has talked behind my back as if I have done all this electively and even made the comment to someone that I didn't have cancer and that I had let my doctors talk me in to this surgery. My fiance', God bless him, told me tonight how much he misses "me", dear God, so do I. I don't do support groups in person, just can't handle them but I know that I need some wisdom here, I'm walking a very thin rope of surviving or drowning. Medication is prescribed but I am very wary of addictions but I don't know what else to do at this point. I paint reclaimed windows and furniture for therapy but even as much as I enjoy that, I am miserable. I am hurting, scared and troubled. Both parents have passed and my fiance is truly only real person I have to count on but I am afraid that if I can't get this mental "fear" under control, I'll lose him also. Any suggestions or direction from anyone is greatly appreciated.

JRNJ

Hi Hope. Sorry no one responded to you. You have a right to your feelings and should not apologize to anyone. I am in a lot of pain 17 days post op and am struggling mentally and don’t have a plan yet. I don’t want to talk to people I just want to be left alone. But they don’t get that. They all want to “help”. I know I should be grateful. But everyone was too busy for me when I was fine now they won’t leave me alone asking questions I don’t feel like talking about. Are you feeling better sweetie? No I’m not!!!! I hope you are doing better! Why am I still in so much pain in my chest? Will it get any better

HopeWins

JRNJ- so glad I'm not the only one! I have guilt, but I just don't want the attention. I barely want to leave my house, let alone have talk on the phone or answer 50 How r u feeling? Texts or have visitors...

It's kind of nice to run into people who don't know at the grocery store. The other day, my husband and I stopped by the wine store and we're friendly with the manager there. We were tasting a new wine with her and she said - How are you? You look great. I was so caught off guard. I knew she knew... but for some reason the question startled me. Like - I had forgotten for a second that I had BC and she reminded me...

It kind of sucked. I'm afraid I'm turning into a hermit and it might be a downward spiral. The longer I keep everyone at arms length the bigger deal it will be when I see/talk to them. I haven't seen my family in like 9 months. I'm dreading the attention, drama, questions...

Momci

So sorry! Just received an email with your question!

Gabapentin. It worked for me. I am eight months post surgery and still have the numbness. The nerve pain is very seldom an issue now. My biggest issue is extreme tiredness and joint pain now. My oncologist ran blood work to discover I am extremely anemic and my vitamin D was way too low. She also took me off the Letrazole for a month to give my body time to regroup. Prescribed vitamin B shots for four weeks and Vitamin D capsules three/week for three months and an iron tablet. Feeling it getting better. I had no idea what to expect on this journey. Most days are ok but those off days can be extreme emotionally.

I read an article the other day that was so true. When the doctor says the cancer was all removed, family and friends think great, it’s all over and through with. But, it’s not. We will get through this!

Yogatyme

Hope, your experience is exactly the same as mine and my worries about becoming a hermit match yours. I am forcing myself to go out a little more but truly just want to be home w DH & our animals. Hoping this is temporary.