Calling all Female Divers

[glovepuppet]

I've been diving for 5 years and I manage circa 130 dives per year, most in excess of 1 hour duration, both salty and fresh water.

Just joined the forum but for very selfish reasons, I have just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer and I will be having a mastectomy followed by reconstructive surgery. Are there any other female divers out there who have been in a similar situation ? what I'm trying to find out is how long did you stop diving for and what problems you have found once you returned to diving ....

Any hyperbaric medicine doctors out there who have any opinions on the pros and cons with this type of surgery and the implications to scuba diving.. all comments welcome except for ...... stop diving

[scuba steve irl]

sorry to hear your unwell .

your in the right place for people to tell their story . many of us men in here had our brains replaced by our ba lls .

my advice see a dive doc they will give you the best advice but it will be on the heal of your recovery . as recovery rates depend on the person

[purple vonny]

Hiya Glovepuppet, sorry to hear your news. I'm not a doc or post mastectomy patient but I am a nurse and work with cancer patients.

It's an impossible question to answer because it depends on your ongoing treatment, rate of healing and general fitness as well as any drugs you might be on post op.

Mastectomy is often accompanied by chemo or radiotherapy to ensure all the tumour is removed. You may, therefore feel unwell and tired for a few months.

I have a friend who recently had a mastectomy and chemo who returned to "modern pentathlon" (riding, swimming, shooting, fencing and something else!) 1 year post surgery - but she was very fit.

The best idea is to work on getting yourself slowly better, gradually fitter and then gently try diving in a safe environment (like a pool) when you have had the go ahead from your consultant.

As for the prosthesis, ask your surgeon about that (they should be able to find out for you). I don't know the effect of new protheses and pressure/depth.

Good luck , I hope you are feeling a lot better soon. Don't rush it, get well.

[Scu-bamboo]

Can't help with the diving stuff - but i hope everything turns out just fine for you and you are fit and healthy in no time.
Keep smiling and i hope you will be well in not time at all!!
xxxxxx

[Adrian Kelland]

Glovepuppet,

It may well be that someone on the UK Sport Diving Medical Committee could point you in the right direction if they can't help directly..

UK SPORT DIVING MEDICAL COMMITTEE

Adrian

[yazzyfooty]

Glovepuppet hello
I cant help you with your query regarding diving post operatively it might be worth you contacting a dive doctor but I just wanted to wish you well in your recovery.
A positive is that your cancer has been discovered and not gone on hidden and something can now be done.
Keep strong and concentrate on getting well first. The sea will always be there.

[RogerViking]

what the others said get back on the road to recovery soon ....
best wishes

[Darren A]

Hi Glovepuppet

Sorry I can't answer your specific questions, but I'm sorry to hear of your illness, and wish you a speedy recovery . Hope it doesn't stop you diving.

Cheers

D

[Buoyant Babe]

Hi Glovepuppet.

As others have said I can't answer your specific questions but I wish you the strength and courage to get through it all and hope that your break from diving is not a long one

Helen xxx

[Jacq]

Like others before me I can't help with your question but only wish you a speedy and complete recovery and any information you find out would be appreciated on this forum as one never knows what is ahead of us.
Good luck with your diving when you get the go ahead.