Life after Breast Cancer: What’s next?

Posted by prc73 @prc73, Apr 23 12:44pm

I would like to know please . Most comments I see seem to be surrounded by struggles making me feel as if people are almost better off without these aggressive treatments and should maybe have tried something else . I have met 3 ladies who almost died just from first round of chemo and had to go without it as their bodies fully rejected . I just want to know . What is life really like after procedures?. Do you get your back to the things you where doing that you loved . It’s so scary for me to think maybe I won’t be able to go for power walks like l used to, to go dancing, to run to travel , wear my high heels and just to feel sensual like a woman .

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

prc73 | @prc73 | May 11 3:44pm

In reply to @christylv "I am sorry to hear that. So do you have to get a mastectomy then ?" + (show)

Yes they have said Mastectomy. They are saying only in the one breast but I have a choice to do bilateral if I want to but don’t have to .

Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | May 11 5:47pm

In reply to @christylv "Hi! Were you getting mammograms with alternate MRI’s when you were recently diagnosed?" + (show)

No, I never did get regular MRIs. Just mammograms. Fortunately, I am crazy about self exams. My doctors never want to order anything more than mammograms and I have never had a ever picked up on a mammogram. I still think they are important, statistics prove that out, but I have been lucky enough to find the lumps myself.
Are you getting MRIs?

tmoss0084 | @tmoss0084 | May 11 7:08pm

In reply to @auntieoakley "Ah geez, that just stinks. I am heartbroken for you to be facing those treatments. Not..." + (show)

I was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer on my right breast and invasive mammary cancer in lumps in my right and left, and a lymph node. Stage 2/3, last Wednesday. I see all my doctor’s next Friday for treatment plans. Thanks for sharing your good news!! Gives me hope! ❤️

christylv | @christylv | May 12 8:44am

In reply to @auntieoakley "No, I never did get regular MRIs. Just mammograms. Fortunately, I am crazy about self exams...." + (show)

Yes. They want me to do one mri a year. Then mammogram. So every 6 months I alternate. They talked about an ultrasound too. But not sure I will get. Depends on what my breast surgeon suggests.

tmoss0084 | @tmoss0084 | May 12 6:13pm

I haven’t had a MRI yet. I had a mammogram and a diagnostic ultrasound followed by 3 biopsies.

toomanyquestions | @toomanyquestions | May 15 7:10pm

I thought I would never play tennis again. I am 17 months out from double mastectomy and I play better tennis than ever! And… I don’t have to wear a sweaty bra. I went flat. For the first few months I wore a sports bra anyway. One very hot day in Florida, I asked myself, why am I wearing a sports bra??? Now I’m sooo much more comfortable. I remember being so sweaty that peeling off those tight elastic bras was like trying to escape from a boa constrictor!! So yes, I have my joyful part of my day back with tennis, but… back to normal… no. The rest of the day, I can’t quite get that back yet. One step at a time I guess.

toomanyquestions | @toomanyquestions | May 15 7:15pm

I just noticed your post has the word “sensual “ in it. I think that’s what I miss the most, surprisingly. My husband doesn’t look at me anymore. I don’t look at myself. I can’t feel my chest anymore. It feels like permanent novacaine. I just have to accept there is no sex no sensual no matter how great I look in clothes. It’s just a facade. On the tennis court, I can just forget about it for a little while