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eihtak said:

Welcome
Hi, and as most say, so sorry we have to meet like this, but yet a great place to come to for help and support. I was just diagnosed with Breast Cancer in Feb and had my double mastectomy in March. I am also recovering from Anal Cancer Stage3+ and recently finished chemo and radiation. It was at a follow-up PET scan that the BC was found. I went in for my surgery on a Wed. and came home on Fri. Some people are only there a day, and some longer. The first couple days were more uncomfortable than really painful for me. I had two drain tubes on each side that had to be emptied occasionally. They will show you how to care for these in the hospital. Some people plan to wear a light jacket with those inside pockets to tuck the tubes in, but I just pinned them to the sides of a tank top and wore a loose sirt over. Plan to NOT make any fashion statements till the tubes come out, mine were all out within 2wks.(it depends on fluid build-up) You will have limited lifting for a short while, so arrange food, dishes, things you use often into lighter containers and on lower shelves...especially if you won't always have someone else around to help. I slept on my back with a bunch of extra pillows to have my head elevated and kind of under my arms also. I was told not to drive for a couple weeks and that was hard because I actually felt like I could after one. My lack of movement and reaction time was probably not really good tho, so best not to push it. Drink lots of fluid after surgery, its important to stay hydrated. They should tell you when and how much to use your arms, but let your body heal and don't overdue...you will have lots of stitches and don't want to tear any. At my follow-up appointment my doc put me on Arimidex, a med to block estrogen. because my cancer was ER+. I'm sure they will discuss all that pertaining to your situation. I do have some mild side effects from that, but so far manageable. Get some good movies, books, loose soft comfy tops, make meals and freeze ahead of time, and accept help from any friends that offer. Good luck to you, it is an emotional rollercoaster, and sometimes I feel like its all going smoothly and then in an instant I'm crying! There are lots of kind supportive people here, and we are truely blessed to have the technology to connect with each other this way, so please continue to post and let us know how things are going. As always, all in my prayers.

Monicalynn said:

hello
Mine is a bit reversed, had surgery first and then started treatment. I was diagnosed on Dec. 23, More biopsies and right side masectomy at the end of January and after pathology reports came back it was stage I IDC, estrogen/progesterone negative with Her 2 Neu positive. I am getting my third chemo treatment on Weds with one more to follow then 13 treatments of herceptin.

Like eithak said, have pillows for after surgery, I used them to prop up my right arm as I slept on my back. What surgery are you getting? lumpectomy or masectomy? My drain stayed in for about 10 days,