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Have you been diagnosed with breast cancer or Brca?
 

At The Areola Training Academy, we understand that the journey for breast cancer patients can be difficult and challenging. That's why we are providing this information. To ensure that every patient is given the best care possible. This page includes everything you need to know about what to expect from your cancer or brca diagnosis, including checklists, what to expect during your treatments, and anything else you may need to know. We are committed to helping cancer and brca patients through their journey and ensuring they feel confident and comfortable every step of the way.

Questions for Oncologist / Macmillan Nurse

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Chemotherapy

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  1. What types am I getting?

  2. When will it start?

  3. How will you know if it's working?

  4. How long does it take?

  5. What are the side effects, when will they happen and how long will they last?

  6. How long does it take for the side effects to start?

  7. What do I need to monitor at home?

  8. What do I do if I feel unwell at home during the day, in the evenings and at weekends?

  9. Is there anything I should and shouldn't do during treatment?

  10. Can I have / do I need somebody with me? 

  11. What is the total length of the treatment? (months) 

  12. What is the cycle length of each treatment? 

  13. How many in total?

  14. How is it administered (cannula or picc line)? 

  15. Is it likely that the course of treatment could change and be adapted depending on my reaction and outcome?

  16. Hair loss? Cold cap?

  17. Do I need to isolate? 

  18. How long between chemotherapy and radiotherapy - weeks/ months

  19. How much radiotherapy am I likely to need?  one week/ 2 weeks/ 3 weeks 

  20. Is the radiotherapy administered daily?

  21. What should I get up to between treatments? Eg how much exercise/ activity?

  22. What do i need to know going though it all?

 

WORKING

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  1. Please can I have a sick note to cover me for all of the treatment? 

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                                                                 2.​When am I most likely to be able to return to work?  

 

Diet

 

  1. Are there any supplements that I should take? 

  2. Are there any supplements that I need to avoid? 

  3. Any food I should also avoid? 

 

Operation recovery

 

  1. Will I always feel numb under my arm/breast or will I regain feeling? When is that likely to happen?

  2. How long do you feel the shooting pains across your breast area?

DIEP FLAP RECONSTRUCTION

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Before Surgery:

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  1. Stock up on meals in your freezer as much as you can. Get the meal out in the morning/night before and then just prepare veg, salad, pasta, rice etc to go with it.

  2. Buy an extra long phone charger as the normal ones won’t reach the bed – you can’t move too much the first day so this helps a lot. Here’s a link to an iPhone one  http://tinyurl.com/y4g7nee3.  I am sure they do them for other models too.

  3. Exercise as much as you can.  If your mind and body are strong your recovery will be easier.  

  4. Bras: Mastectomy favourites from Asda http://tinyurl.com/y24cuz5a  £15 for two and are very comfortable.

  5. Pants:  Sloggi Maxi Control. Here is a link to a two pack from Amazon http://tinyurl.com/yywac9f2  

  6. Binder:  This binder is much more comfortable than the one the hospital gives you http://tinyurl.com/yxsrhh5j  

  7. Mini Fan:  You are wrapped up really warm after the operation and the room is kept very hot.  http://tinyurl.com/yyh57nyr 

  8. Water bottle:  You have to drink loads of water.  It’s hard to drink out of a normal cup without a straw so a water bottle is a good investment.

  9. Hired a cleaner to take the strain off family – just once a week to vacuum, polish and change beds.

 

Surgery: (anonymous patients point of view)

 

  1. When they say you wake up feeling like a bus has hit you, they are very accurate. No pain just no energy. The operation is long so the anaesthetic takes it out of you hugely for a good 2 days. 

  2. You wake up attached to a lot of equipment that is checking main stats such as blood pressure, pulse, oxygen levels etc.  You will also have an oxygen tube in your nose.  There is also a fluid drip to keep you hydrated.

  3. I had 2 drains – one in my new boob and one in my stomach.  I also had a vacuum pack on my stomach which was attached to a small box that you have to carry around when you go to the loo.

  4. The high dependency staff are in the room with you all the time and they will check you as follows:

  1. Every half an hour for the first 12-24 hours

  2. Every one to 2 hours for 24-48 hours

  3. Every 4 hours after that for about a day

  4. Every 8 hours from there

Your stats are checked plus the temperature of the new boob and your body.  A doppler is used to check blood flow and sounds just like a heartbeat.

  1. The room is really hot!

  2. My appetite was poor for the time I was in hospital so I kept to bland meals like soup and toast.

  3. Physio visit the next day after the op.  They give you exercises to do in bed and then help you get out of bed.

  4. On day 4 I went down and up the stairs.

  5. You will have morphine on a button.  I kept topping up as soon as it allowed me as I was nervous of any pain. I came out of surgery at 7.30pm approximately.  They took the morphine off me at about 10am the following morning.

  6. Your catheter will also be taken out at the same time as they want to get you out of bed asap.  THIS IS NOT AS BAD AS YOU THINK IT WILL BE!  I was so nervous I cried but it really surprised me.  The most noticeable thing is that you are just so exhausted, and a trip to the toilet completely wipes you out! Also, I was very nervous I would damage my stomach wound but of course you don’t.  I ate my lunch sitting in the chair that day.

  7. Once I was off the morphine, I was given tramadol twice a day.  By day 3 I was only taking paracetamol in the day and a tramadol at night – I didn’t need it but got a more relaxed night’s sleep with it.  

  8. I was able to have a mini shower on day 3.  You are helped with this and you just have to take care that your dressings stay dry.  It was heaven!  On day 4 the nurses helped me wash my hair.

  9. I went home on day 6 with tramadol in my medication bag but haven’t taken one since I have been home as haven’t needed it.  By day 19 I only took paracetamol at night.

  10. I had to administer an injection for 7 days after getting home.  The nurses will teach you how to do it.  It is fine and very quick.

  11. Take easy clothes to go home in and slip on shoes as you can’t bend to do laces up.

 

At home:

  1. Take all the advice from the breast nurses and do absolutely nothing for 2 weeks.  Just eat, wash and rest.  If you follow this you will heal better.  It’s really hard not doing anything but it’s only 2 weeks of your life!

  2. I had a full shower on day 7 after all dressings had been removed.  I still had one drain in but it was fine to shower with.

  3. Do the exercises that they give you as it really helps mobility.

  4. Day 16 I went out for lunch.

  5. Day 17 I went round the shops for an hour.

  6. Day 18 I walked round Packwood House.

  7. Day 19 I walked 4km.

  8. YOU CAN DO THIS!

Websites to research with important infomation
 

Our clients recommended surgeons for Diep flap surgery
 

Our clients recommended surgeons for implants
 

Caroline Mcuiness

Would you like a friendly chat with someone who has been where you are now?

Please fill all areas of this form so we can match you up with the best person to talk to.

What advice would you give to someone knowing everything you now know?

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The one thing I would say to someone is that if they want a double mastectomy even if it isn't advised or offered they MUST push for it! I was told I needed a single mastectomy and a lumpectomy on the other, I pushed for a double and eventually my surgeon agreed, they are not aloud to offer it if one breast is "healthy" I pushed for a double for my long term peace of mind, it took alot of conversations and been very strong with it but I have never doubted it!

 

 

Samantha

What advice would you give to someone knowing everything you now know?

Another peace of advice is to talk to people about your worries, I struggled with my mental health alot from the minute I had my biopsy through diagnosis and being open with loved ones and having people to talk to is key 

 

 

Samantha

What advice would you give to someone knowing everything you now know?

I wish I didn't bother having a nipple reconstruction as its flattened down to nothing. My advice is to just stick to the tattoo and don't bother with the nipple reconstruction.

Sarah

What advice would you give to someone knowing everything you now know?

If you do opt for a nipple reconstruction make sure you ask your surgeon to make it a lot bigger than the one you was born with due to how much it contracts and softens. 

Sarah

What advice would you give to someone knowing everything you now know?

Take the counselling sessions they offer you because you lost likely will need them and it doesn't do any harm even if you just go for one.

Anonymous

What advice would you give to someone knowing everything you now know?

Massage your scars, as it will soften them to make them less painful and improve them. 

Tammie

Wonderful piece written by a wonderful client

There is a saying that tough times never last, but tough people do, so when cancer touched my boob, I decided to kick its ass..."

 

Here is what I've learned so far 

- Cancer causes shopping - seriously, it's one of the most dangerous side effects.

- At the beginning of your journey you will spend way more time making other people feel better about your diagnosis than them comforting you. Definitely stops you wallowing.

- Taking up yoga, meditating, burning candles and drinking green juice is not for everyone. Mostly made me want to smack some people (although the green juice is good). 

- The music on your Healthcare providers authorisation line will become the music you remember. Hope it's not 80s elevator music like mine.

- My godsons have coined a new phrase "Cancer Christmas" - it's the festive period when all the people who love you send chocolate, brownies, fudge, cupcakes, hampers, cheese plates and your neighbours give you a LOT of lasagne. (Side effect -  no longer fitting into your new mastectomy bra)

- Trying not to laugh when your seven year old tells you the doctor forgot to put your nipple back on is a difficult, but not impossible, feat.

 

And the last trite but true for me saying - the sun never stops shining, sometimes the clouds just get in the way... and any cancer diagnosis is more like an eclipse than a rain cloud.   But the sun is still there and as I now focus on my recovery, and thank you to people like the amazing Gemma from Gems ink, it shines a whole lot brighter and the sky becomes clearer.  I think a cancer diagnosis inevitably changes you, and I've decided it's changing my life for the better.  Im thankful every day for my friends, family and loved ones who have done and continue to do so much for me. Im so grateful to all the amazing medical professionals that are guiding me through my journey, but also to those behind the scenes that have discovered cutting edge medical treatments and cures, and help us fight this battle with such an incredible arsenal of weapons . I have decided to laugh whenever I can (mostly at myself)  and bring a smile and some happiness to someone else at every opportunity - and if all else fails, every now and then, hide your head under the duvet, eat your weight in chocolate and wait for the clouds to clear again!  

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