Hi, I had a mastectomy last year.  I only had one drain which was under my arm. This was removed about day 5. I did not have any fluid leaking from the drain site.  I remember the nurses measuring the amount of fluid in the bag each day. If it was less than, I cant remember exact amount, they could remove the drain.  Some people can have their drains in for up to two weeks. Maybe yours was removed too soon. I cannot remember having any swelling just a bit of excess fluid build up that eventually disappeared. ... View more

Hi, After my second round of chemo, I lost most of  the hair on my head in a matter of days. I have am up to my fourth round and still have my eyelashes but my eyebrows are slowly disappearing. I think after the head hair has just about gone then the rest slowly follows. So it will happen gradually. ... View more

Hi,   I have not had radiation treatment yet, I will be starting next year. But, the other day in the Shirley Shuttle I met a lady who was 78 years old and was in her fifth week. She  goes every day except on the weekends.  She said that she does get tired and that was why she was not driving. I found her remarkable and inspiring. ... View more

Hi,   I think you have made a good choice. I have only been diagonosed for about five weeks and a lot has happened. I think it is best to take whatever advice is offered and "better to have tried than to have not tried at all". Since my MRI I have thought of all those who do not have a choice in doing it because of the cost. Anyway, my treatment has progressed now to mayby surgery, chemo and then radiation. But, I have told everyone involved that whatever they think is best I will be happy with, because I do not know what to do.   All the best. ... View more

Hi, I have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. At first I had ultrasound, mamogram and core biopsy. I was booked in for a lumpectomy,and lymph node removal to be followed with radiation treatment. The surgeon suggested having a MRI at a cost of $610. I thought this really expensive, but I said yes, even it meant that some bills might not be paid on time. The MRI picked up more cancer in the breast that the other tests had not found. This led to a mastectomy. Some of my lymph nodes ended up having cancer in them so now I will be having chemo and radiation treatment. The thing here is if, I had not had the MRI, which picked up more cancer, I would be in a worse situation later on.   I also had been told that the MRI could be done cheaper at a hospital in Sydney, but there was a waiting list. ... View more