1 week post Mastectomy and Reconstruction Breast Cancer Surgery Update 

Thank you so much for sharing. You have an amazing spirit & have comforted me so. I am having a double mastectomy sometime in August. I am a retired nurse & I don’t feel you over shared at all. Your authenticity shines like very few. God bless you and yours on this journey ♥️

You look fabulous for being 1 week out of surgery! Thank you for 'over-sharing' I believe it will be extremely helpful for anyone going through this. You are a brave and beautiful woman.

So good to see you and thankful all went well, overall. It was absolutely NOT oversharing - it’s reality. We’re women, we share empathy for one another and it’s important to know the details IMO. Thank you for being brave enough to be vulnerable for us and disclose your experiences. ❤

Thanks so much for the great report. I wish I had this before my breast cancer surgery. I had estrogen positive stage 3 left sided breast cancer. I too live in Alberta - 2 hours south of Calgary. Other things we have in common: my husband’s name is also Kevin and I, too, have had 2 kidney stone surgeries/removals. Crazy! You are so right about the pain of the lymph node mapping. It literally took my breath away! I had six nodes removed and 3 contained cancer. I’m happy to see you recovering so well. Loving your videos🦋

I had a family member that went through same surgery at your age. The worst part for her was: they withheld her RLS medicines, and she was in absolute hell over her legs on top of the post op discomfort. So - note to all that are following your progress: if you have RLS- discuss with your doctor about your medication plan before it’s too late! Glad to see that you are looking great, and best wishes that all turns out well for you!!! My relative is about 18 years out from her cancer ordeal, cancer free, and it’s just the bad knees and scary memories for her now. I dearly hope the same for you.

Thank you so much for sharing! I believe you shared just enough, and it wasn’t oversharing. Surgery is the next step in my treatment plan, so it was helpful for me to understand some of what may be next, and it helps lower my anxiety. Since beginning breast cancer treatment, I feel like I’m flashing people every time I go in the room, so I appreciate your funny moments as well. Thank you, and more blessings for the rest of your recovery.

So glad you have shared your journey, that your surgery went well and that all the surgery possibilities seemed to fall in your favor. Hoping you are still doing well and feeling better every day. Words seem insufficient, but sending empathy and hugs your way. You are an inspiration!

Thank you for sharing! I had my mastectomy ten days ago and this video helped me to prepare and to know what to expect.

I go in for my double mastectomy on Monday, so this was so helpful. I feel like knowing what is coming helps me prepare a little. Thank you for your candor and I hope you get your drains out soon!

Not an over share. Thanks for posting your experience.

A heartfelt thank you to you, Sarah, for putting this video out there and sharing all the details you did. It's so incredibly helpful and reassuring. I have the same type of cancer as you did and am about to have my 4th of 6 chemo cycles in 3 days time, so this surgery is in my not too distant future and knowing what to expect helps to feel like I'm not taking a leap into an abyss. Doctors and surgeons can prepare and educate you, but nothing feels more authentic and reassuring than hearing it from the person actually having undergone surgery. Thank you for being courageous, wise, funny and vulnerable all at once. The ripples of this video have made it all the way to Italy from where I'm watching you. Infinitely grateful for your openness. Wishing you good health and all the serenity in the world as you navigate your new normal and move forward. 😉

I can relate to the contrast CT scan feeling, and the socks!!! Hospital socks have no heels and are so so uncomfortable! You are a fabulous story teller. I’m so glad you’re doing well💕

❤ Thank you!!!❤ I have only had two surgeries before and can't remember them. I'm going into a mastectomy in May. I really needed to hear all of this.

I REALLY appreciate that you shared your experience and included details that no one else thinks to mention, like cozy socks and blue urine afterward. A very specialized girl talk. I feel more prepared for my upcoming mastectomy 2/2024. Best wishes on your continued recovery. ❤

Thank you so much for your video. Your story is so helpful. You are so brave . I'm heading for x8 months of intense chemo and then a full double mastectomy at the end. I am really scared. I have to go thru two state hospitals in my country which usually have long waiting lists. I got my chemo port last week which is helpful as I'm so traumatised by needles in my hands or wrists. I'm stage 3 breast cancer with two different cancers, one in each breast.

I am so glad to hear that all went to plan and I am sending good wishes for the best results on your pathology. Also for a cosmetic outcome that you are happy with in the end. Thank you for sharing your journey. 🌸💕

Thanks for sharing Sarah. Enjoy listening to similar experience to mine. I too have HER2+ breast cancer. Diagnosed in August 23. Had same TCHP chemo regimen as you. Just had mastectomy and full axillary clearance of lymph nodes two weeks ago. Recovering well but my arm is very sore and not yet able to lift it above shoulder height. Still have drain in. Construction was not possible at time of surgery, as I have to have radiotherapy next. Maybe in the future 🤷🏼‍♀️ Keep sharing your recovery story ❤

Your “over sharing” is extremely helpful. Grateful for your honesty. ❤

Your videos really help. They make me feel less alone in this. Thank you!

Great information. And glad your surgery went well. I’m 3 days away from mine. Thank you for sharing your journey. It’s super helpful.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I’m in Calgary and surgery is in 4 days so I’m rewatching your video. You explain everything so well. It makes me feel much more prepared. ❤

Thank you for your generosity in sharing. I’m sure this info will be useful to others.

God Bless you Sara. Thank you for sharing your CA journey and your surgery journey also. You are brave, strong and a gift. thank you for all your fiber knowledge also. You are funny, especially when you share the "over share" situations. xoxox Keep the strength.

Thank you for sharing, I’m scheduled for my surgery next month. It’s helping to know that you’ve made it through this difficult phase, and there’s no reason why I can’t do it too. Thanks again.

This was an excellent video and definitely NOT an over share. You helped me with my concerns about post op recovery as I don’t do well with anesthesia. I’ll be having a conversation with my surgeon and anesthesiologist. Thank you for sharing and blessings to you and your family.

Glad you did well 🩷🙏🙏🙏

Thank you for sharing this is really helpful for what I have to experience within the next few months with my her2+ breast cancer. I hope you are healing well 💝

I’m happy surgery went well and your recovery is going smoothly

Thank you for sharing so much! I had my bilateral mastectomy this morning. This was helpful and you are amazing. 😊

Thank you so much for sharing and being vulnerable. I have HER2+ breast cancer and found this most helpful. I have been anxious about my upcoming mastectomy and this has reduced that. I send you healing light for your continuing journey.

You are so awesome! Thank you for sharing you are so brave!!

Thank you. Appreciate all the small details. Will be going through it in two weeks. Very good presentation

Thank you for sharing. I'm so scared and this really helped.

Thank u so much I really really need this info being I soon will be going thru the exact thing god bless u in ur journey

Thank you for sharing . Your Amazing .

Sarah. I am so glad you posted a video, I have prayed often for a good recovery for you. You are so strong and so informative. Just found your channel a short time ago and am trying to catch up. I am not a kniiter (unfortunatley) but, I am going back trying ti catch yp. You are so talented. and your yarn is beautiful. Your kids picture at Halloween was so cute, they were so adorable. Praying for a complete recovery, good reports from your doctors and the best of health, Sarah. Stay safe and take good care of yourself. So glad your parents were able to be there for much needed help. s

Hi I'm stressknits Stacy Elstone's mom. So glad to hear you are doing well. I'm going on week 4 of post bilateral mastectomy. I hear ya on the pain of the nuclear meds hurting. I had a shot of nuclear meds near my lymphnode are of least breast. It was a terrible pain and pressure. Sorry that you are going through so much. I will keep you in my prayers

Thank you! Very helpful. Glad the surgery went well for you. ❤

So glad to see you back again, and so glad to hear surgery went as well as could be expected!

Thank you for sharing!

Here in the states they administer anti nausea intravenous drugs with surgery. Helped me greatly! You are correct, ct with contrast creates a very warm feeling that you think you peed! The numbness will go away after months. It's annoying but it will leave. It's been many months and it's just going away

I don't know how can i thank you for putting these videoes and sharing tour cancer journy with us, I have triple positive breast cancer and I am on TCHP too. I do have a question, how far after your last chemo you start HP insuyion?! I will appreciated if you can answer it!

Thank you for sharing your experience. It was not over share for me. Also had a mastectomy done last week and know what it feels like

So happy you are doing well.

Thank you. Was great to listen to your experiences.

Very interesting video. I had my mastectomy on 2nd February, the sentinel lymph node tracer injected the day before, like Sara, but in case anyone is scared of this, (and I know we all have different experiences) mine hardly hurt at all - dental injections are worse! You might be lucky...

So glad you are on the other side of this part of your journey. I can't imagine having my hands tied down and having an overwhelming need to itch. Yikes! Toradol is an NSAID, in the same family as ibuprofen. I am wondering if you meant Lortab?

You look fabulous in your short short hair!

❤omg thank you. i am so much less scared.my imagination was much worse. as i metioned i have the her2 breast cancer.start chimo in 2 weeks

Thank you. So helpful.

Thank you

You may have some different sensations in the mastectomy area months later. My surgeon didn’t mention it but my oncologist told me it’s normal. I had my mastectomy before chemotherapy because HER2 was discovered from the surgery.

Thank u so much ❤️❤️❤️💕💕💕💕

Your content helps me so much. Did you lose your taste during Chemo? Had my first round of TCHP on 3/20 and all my food started tasting like I bit into an aspirin by 3/24. I am concerned about my nutrition.

I was really happy to see this video here today, so glad to see how wonderful you look. 🧶 💜