Mastectomy: physical and emotional recovery

Jane was diagnosed with DCIS in 2007, aged 58. She had a mastectomy and a DIEP flap breast reconstruction at the same time.

Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Sandra - Interview 1 >> Sandra was in no pain at all after coming round. Because she was treated in the hospital in which she worked, she had lots of visitors and didn’t alwa

Sandra was diagnosed with DCIS in 2007, aged 50. She had a mastectomy and immediate reconstruction using an implant. After surgery, Paget’s disease was also found.

Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 55-60 >> Jane - Interview 5 >> The nurses were helpful and supportive. Jane improved every day and was discharged a day earlier than she’d expected.

Jane was diagnosed with DCIS in 2007, aged 58. She had a mastectomy and a DIEP flap breast reconstruction at the same time.

Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 55-60 >> Sandy - Interview 20 >> Sandy stayed with a friend for a few days because she felt tired. Back at home, she took it easy and knew her friend was only a phone call away.

Sandy was diagnosed with DCIS and, after a wide local excision, told the DCIS had actually been invasive cancer. She had radiotherapy and was taking tamoxifen.

Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Agnes - Interview 8 >> Agnes would have liked more information when she was discharged. She is having her dressings changed every two days because of an allergy and taking a

Agnes had a wide local excision, after which some invasive cancer was also found. She will be having radiotherapy and taking tamoxifen.

Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Gillian - Interview 4 >> Gilllian came home with a drain, which was later removed. A district nurse visited her for a week to check her wound. She was surprised to be in no pa

Gillian was diagnosed with high-grade DCIS in 2006, aged 50, a year after her first routine mammogram. She had two breast conserving operations and, later, a mastectomy.

Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 65-70 >> Hilary - Interview 10 >> Hilary felt a bit tired when she first came home. Her arm was stiff, though she kept exercising it. It took her about three weeks to start feeling bet

Hilary was diagnosed with DCIS in 2007, aged 66. She had a mastectomy and immediate LD flap reconstruction. She was awaiting further surgery to match both breasts.

Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Rachel - Interview 29 >> Rachel was in hospital for four nights and, within three weeks, could do most of the housework again. She will continue with her exercises for a year

Rachel was diagnosed with DCIS after her first mammogram. She felt she was rushed into having a mastectomy, which she had one day after her diagnosis.

Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Patricia - Interview 27 >> Patricia was in hospital for ten days after her mastectomy because she had a build up of fluid under her arm. Later, she had more fluid drained at the

Patricia was diagnosed with DCIS in 1999, aged 53. She had a mastectomy and, about a year later, a second mastectomy because she felt unbalanced with only one breast and worried about recurrence.

Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Maisie - Interview 19 >> Maisie looked after herself before and after surgery by eating healthily. She did lots of exercise and went for a walk even if it was cold.

Maisie was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and DCIS. She had a double mastectomy, immediate reconstruction and chemotherapy. She will also be having radiotherapy and hormone therapy.

Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Maisie - Interview 19 >> Maisie had a double mastectomy and both breasts reconstructed at the same time. She found it difficult to walk on her own at first but was determined

Maisie was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and DCIS. She had a double mastectomy, immediate reconstruction and chemotherapy. She will also be having radiotherapy and hormone therapy.

Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Beverley - Interview 15 >> Beverley was petrified the night before surgery and hardly slept. After surgery, she found the first three days uncomfortable and didn’t get much rest

Beverley was diagnosed with DCIS in 2006, aged 50. She had a mastectomy and DIEP flap reconstruction, which she was very happy with.

Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 55-60 >> Jane - Interview 5 >> When Jane first came home, she was tired, couldn’t move her arm very much and had discomfort around the scar on her stomach. She felt she was back to

Jane was diagnosed with DCIS in 2007, aged 58. She had a mastectomy and a DIEP flap breast reconstruction at the same time.

Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Wide local excision: recovery >> Wide local excision: recovery

Wide local excision: recovery

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