SURGERY DATES/TEST DATES/and RESULTS

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SURGERY DATES/TEST DATES/and RESULTS

FACECRAFTER

Facecrafter(Judy)    4/14     BiLat Mast with TE's  

swimangel72

March 16 - Stage 2 major revisions on right "foob"

July 1st - Hernia repair/gall bladder removal/abdominal scar repair

GramE

next Herceptin thursday, 3/12

mikita5

Bilateral MX w/DIEP reconstruction on March 30th.

swimangel72

Thanks for your prayers JO - turned out my surgery was postponed because my PS hurt his back! I'm rescheduled for May 6, 2009.........which means more pre-surgical testing unfortunately. I already lost a sick day for the last pre-surgical testing (I've only got 5 left until the end of the school year) - so I'll have to take a personal day for the next round of pre-surgical tests (the hospital is an hour from my house, so with the travel involved, I lose a day.) I wish the PS could do this "foob" fixing on July 1st when they repair my abdomen, but he already said he doesn't want to chance infecting it with anything from the abdominal area.

swimangel72

Thanks again JO - I am feeling well otherwise - and I agree with you about God making no mistakes.......I feel terrible for my lovely PS with his ongoing back problems (he has had prior surgery).......however, it was nice being able to spend time with my two daughters home from college on their Spring break without having to be an invalid. Also.........I was a bit nervous having surgery while still getting Herceptin - the new date is after the Herceptin tx's end - so I'll be less worried about the anesthesia.

I was shopping today at Home Good Store (I LOVE that place) and saw the cutest Raggedy Ann dolls in the children's section - and I thought of you JO!

Northstar

Jo, this is a great idea.   I'm finally going to have my exchange surgery on June 19, to silicone gel implants.   Since I've been uncomfortable with the expander fills, it will be really nice to be past that.  I'm looking forward to summer and spending more time outdoors, and not having the coconut shells strapped to my chest.   Hope the surgeries for you others, esp. swimangel, go well.  

Jo_Ann_K

Mammogram 9/3/2008, Biopsy (Stereotactic AND Ultrasound) 9/4/2008, Diagnosis 9/5/2008, Visit to the Surgeon (9/8/2008), Lumpectomy w/clear margins (10/1/2008), Results: DCIS <1 cm, primarily Grade 1, ER+ PR+, Radiation (10/2008-12/2008), Tamoxifen for 5 years (started 1/9/2008).

mikita5

Leaving tomorrow for J. Hopkins. More nervous now than ever b4. Had 2 meltdowns last weekend, but got some meds to get me thru this past week.  What a horrible thing to have to go thru. Everyone told me I was too calm about all of this over the past 2 months. Guess it takes a while to really catch up to the old brain.

I'll be so glad when this is over!

Deb-from-Ohio

Not much Jo, but I go for a CT scan this Monday at 8:30am, guess it's to find out if I'm really in remission or not....April 6th I go to my Breast Surgeon to find out when surgery is...

Hugs and Prayers

Deb

Deb-from-Ohio

Actually since the onc's office "forgot" to call for an appt sooner, I will go Monday for  the CT scan, then to the onc's office Tuesday for the results, they had to put a rush on them since I already had the Appt for Tuesday scheduled and he was expecting the results. So will just be till the next day..Can't wait to drink that contrast..ugh.  Will let you know Tuesday when I get home, my appt is at 9:40am.

Hugs and prayers

Deb

barbe1958

Incision revision - April 14th!

Too much breast tissue still left on my cancer side. It even sags! just to add insult to injury. I want it all healed for my daughter's wedding in Punta Cana at the end of May.

barbe1958

Oh, I'm sure it will be out-patient. Kind of like a lumectomy, but I already know the result. I do want him to check the tissue for left-over cancer, though, and will push for treatment if it's there. My surgery will get bumped if he gets an emergency, totally understandable. 

nancypat

Hi JO-5,  I'm following barbe!  Mastectomy w/no recon April 14th.  Getting more nervous as each day goes by.  Good luck barbe.  Just kidding about following you.  I just now figured this is one thread I am certified to belong to!

Nancy    1954(war baby)

nancypat

JO,

You are funny!  Thanks!

Nancy

barbe1958

THANK YOU JO!!!!!!!!!!!

On another note, I will be even MORE on the computer. I am at work and on a holiday weekend we are dead of course. At least when I'm typing I look very, very busy and studious....

I have Tuesday and Wednesday off and hope the weather is great. I forgot to call the hospital on  Thursday to get my book-in time, but then my husband called me at work (never does!) to tell me they called and I was all concerned until they told me why they called. Doi, shows you how concerned I am....

nancypat

Hi JO, Ladies,

My surgery went fine and I just got the call from my surgeon with the path report.  No sign of cancer in the breast tissue or the 8 lymph nodes.  Now I'm wondering if I'll still have to do chemo?  I guess I'll find out when I see the onc next week.

barbe, hope you are doing well.  Can't help but notice your other posts and we have more in common than you know.  Wishing all of you well .

Nancy

barbe1958

Nancy, thank goodness for the nodes, but with your tumour size, don't you "have" to have chemo? I'm no doctor, but from what I've heard on these boards, it may be a given....Please keep us posted.

As for me, I'm back to that tight swelling to burst feeling on my left side again. I hated that and have taken more pain killers today than I did after my mastectomy in one day! 

nancypat

Hi barbe!

I don't know.  All of this bc stuff is new to me.  If I have to do the chemo I guess I'll just have to do it.  I cut all of my hair really short in preparation (and to get rid of horrid perm and worse color) and now that I see what a pretty silver it is I kind of hate to lose it.  I guess I'm being vain but it's like, how much more do I have to LOSE!  Well, I could lose some weight but I'll probably blow up like a capon.  Oh, the indignities!

Sorry about your pain and tightness.  I'm having that today too but it's my right side.  I was fairly swimming through yesterday and patting my self on the back as to what a trouper I was.  Brain fart made me temporarily forget the third day is always the worst.  You work so hard but try to be good to yourself.  If you need the painkillers, take them (I am).  We are not Superwoman just some pretty super women. 

Congrats on your daughter and son's coming weddings!  I am so excited for you!  And believe me, when you do hold that first grandchild (got to do that four months ago) you will want more than just to hold him.  You will want to see him grow and learn and watch him play football with your heart in your throat when he makes that first touchdown or when she picks up a clarinet and is a natural like her mother.  I have megoblastic anemia which is terminal but I refuse to go down.  God forgive me, but I want too much more.  I kind of think you have it in you to do the same.  I'm behind you barbe, all the way! 

Nancy ( pantufas is Portuguese for baby's slippers )

REKoz

Hi- I am an "older" (in years ONLY) woman of 53 and I know I belong her cuz my friend Nancy is here as well. Hey Pantufas! I didn't realize you JUST had surgery! Surely, I probably read it on the other thread but chemo brain rules ya know? So, you are HER2pos just like me. I'm afraid that fact alone will put you in the chemo category. Because you will need herceptin for a year and that is usually administered first with some form of chemo. PM me if you want some more info.

I had bi lateral with expanders back in Nov. followed by a horrible infection and 2 weeks IV Vancomyicin. The PS (my 2nd- I FIRED my first!) abruptly stopped the fills (only 90 and 120cc's) because the cancer side foob is WAYYY too high. He did not want to stretch the skin under my collarbone and leave unstretched the area where boobs usually are!  So...I am finishing up chemo on the 27th...OMG, just saying that is the MOST incredibly liberating statement IN MY LIFE!

Will wait for counts to come back up and have revision surgery on May 27th. Praying for no farkin infection so that I can FINALLY see some results from living with this expander discomfort since Nov. 10th!!

I have a daughter (my first of 2- no boys) getting married as well on July 25th. Hoping to have some semblance of boobs by then. Estimating it will be almost a year by the time I have the exchange and all is said and done. Sometimes, STILL can't believe this has all happened!

Regards and Blessings to all,

Ellen

nancypat

Hey REKoz!  I'm cruising just ahead of you at 55 so sure, we belong!  Thanks for the info about the chemo.  I guess I knew it in my heart all along.  There are no easy way outs here are there?  I do remember my onc telling me I would need herceptin for a year now.  I'll see him next week so I guess we'll get that show on the road.  The sooner, the better.  I will PM you for guidance when that begins.  Thanks so much!

HERE'S TO THE 27th!  I am so happy for you!    Sorry about your infection.  Will be praying for no more, a speedy recovery from your revision and boobs for your daughter's wedding!  I can't imagine your expander discomfort for so long.  You're a better gal than I am.  Wishing you all of the best!

Nancy

neogirl

I am scheduled for my 2nd surgery on 4/30 to obtain clear margins and an axillary node discetion. My tumor size was 4.5cm. Just wondering if I can get a clear margin with that tumor size. 

maggie5

I'm having a bilateral mastectomy w/tram reconstruction on Tues. 4/21.  My youngest is graduating from high school on 5/14.  I'm hoping I can make it to at least the ceremony.  There is always an open house for all grads afterward. 

Thank you for all your help. 

barbe1958

I had my incision open up at one end and fill the taped dressing with bloody goo! I was at work and went to an urgent care clinic and they redressed it and put on antibiotic cream. They couldn't stitch it as they said it would get infected, but did tell me to watch for pus and fever.

I am surprised at the timing, seems pretty far out for this to happen... 

nancypat

Hi JO-5

I'm doing well.  Thanks for asking.  The drain was causing a lot of pain and aggravation.  I'm allergic to narcotic pain relievers and Tylenol was about as good as eating M&M's except I didn't get any satisfaction.  My bs said I could remove the drain when it was down to 15cc's so I did her last night and feel so much better.  I don't feel as though a cinder block is resting on my chest and I can move now without too much pain.  I can't say enough good things about my surgeon.  She is fantastic!  Wishing all of you a speedy recovery. 

barbe, how are you doing after your visit to the urgent care?  Lady, when it rains on you, it pours!  I hope you heal really soon!

Hey my friend REKoz!  How are you? Did your chemo problems mess up your surgery date?  (In the South we say hey instead of hi.  Didn't want you to think I was hollering at you)  I'm thinking of you and wishing you the best.  I hope everything falls into place for you.   

Nancy

barbe1958

Nancy, you removed your own drain! How did you cut the stitch? Did you remember to leave it open so there wasn't suction? Wow, girl, you are one brave puppy! Just as a caution so you don't worry, you may get some rib pain where the drain tube was sitting under your skin. It is now trying to heal where the tube had been. I was so worried, my surgeon had no idea, and it was someone here (of course!) who mentioned the pain could have been from the drain!

I am not going to look under the dressing until tomorrow, my day off, just in case I dislodge something...

Now heal! Nancy, HEAL! 

maggie5

Thank you Jo - I'm going to be 'marked' by the surgeon in a little while.  Pretty nervous about tomorrow but I know everything will be ok.

Thanks for everyone here. 

nancypat

Hey barbe!  Removing the drain was a piece of cake but I will admit I took a lorezapam beforehand so I would't be nervous.  I also had instructions from my bs and made sure the drainage was down to 15cc's.  I clipped the stitch with a steralized pair of manicure scissors while looking in the bathroom mirror.  I'm blind as a bat and had my extra strenth goggles on!  I did remember to release the suction and I slowly pulled it out.  I'm such a germaphobe (now watch me get MRSA) I disinfected myself and anything I could look at much less touch me.  I also have this super antiseptic cream I brought from Portugal that I used after my lumpectomy and SNB.  I'll ask my bs tomorrow when I see her for follow-up if there is an American equivilant because I want to use it with my port.  I found out today that with my stage ll and micromatastasis that chemo is a given.  I am really worried about that given my allergies to so many drugs but I know I need to take that measure or everything else I've been through will have been for nothing.  It's as close to peace of mind that I can get.

Bless you for warning me about the pain over my ribs and explaining why.  I was a little concerned that I had buggered something up.  I go for yet another anesthesia blab tomorrow and will find out when he plans to place the port.  They said that they would keep me overnight after that was done.  Ha!  I only stayed overnight after my mastectomy!  Go figure! 

I really hope you are HEALING NOW TOO!  It just dawned on me that you may have Cetaflex (cream) in Canada because I bought it in England too.  If so, get some.  It will heal anything!  Take care of yourself (that goes to all of you ladies) and keep us posted on how you are.

JO-5, thanks also for your well wishes and word of caution.  I will be diligent!  BTW, my fabulous DIL is from Mentor.  Any where near you?

God's blessings to all of you,

Nancy

barbe1958

Nancy, you done good!

barbe1958

My incision looks way better but has bruised more than my whole double mastectomy did! Go figure.