June 2010 Mastectomy

almagetty

Melissa: I'm thinking of you today as you undergo your procedure.

I've taken no tylenol since Sunday night nor have I used any ice packs. Not bad for 13 days post-surgery.  I still have a bit of discomfort, but it gets better every day. My "crawl your fingers up the wall" stretch has me at a full extension now.  Like marm, I have a wee bit of swelling still on the side. I also have a bruise still on the outside end of the scar.

reneemac

WOO HOO!!!

That's me screaming that "my drains are out!" It was uncomfortable to have them taken out but very little pain. The PS gave my TE some fluid today and it is uncomfortable, to say the least. He suggested that I come home, take a Vicodin and a nap. I did so. I feel okay but it is stiff. The nurse said that the pressure feeling would go away in a few days, if not sooner. I go back in 10 days for more filling - LOL.

Laurie08

Getty great job getting to full extension!!!!  SO excited for you, I am amazed at how fast you are healing.  Never mind Marmalade getting out and going shopping, wearing a regular bra- awesome!!

YAY!!!  for Reneemac!  So glad you got your drains out and that there was no pain.  I hope you get a good nights sleep tonight after the day you had today and feel better in the morning.

All sorts of positive going around Fantastic!  My fingers are still crossed that Melissa had a great day just like the rest of you ladies.

jsmiley60

Joystars: I'm so sorry! I cried when I read your post....my sister cried when I told her. Ladies, we have got to keep fighting this disease!!! We have got to find a cure so women, our children, grandchildren, nieces won't have to go through this!!!!!!!!

I have been taking percoset off and on with tylenol during the day. went to PS today and my bandages were all messed up so he redid it all and I felt so much better. I felt like I had a huge rubber band stuck in place on my chest! Been sleeping in the rocker recliner.......seems to do best as it keeps me on my back. My sisters have been here - last one came today and will be here til Thursday morning. I'm grumpy - need to cry, seeing my incisions today was hard even though I saw them the other day. So this is not easy, but I was relieved when the surgery was over.............

Hang in there guys - it will be over for you soon too! Praying for all!

joystars

Just few minutes ago I was on the phone with my oncologist/surgeon, she explained me (again, for the fifth time or so) how the surgery scheduled for next 24th its gonna be. Just for the record she is pregnant right now, so she relates to my case a lot and she and her team have been amazingly supportive and caring with my husband and me.
To be honest I feel quite relief after she explained with apples and pears the whole proccedure. Nipple has go out but my lymph nodes won't be touch (they are clean), only the breast will go out. And judging form the tiny  and clean scar I got from the lumpectomy performed weeks ago the healing is amazing! (I didn't see it before, I was such a chicken and in my mind was like if I don't see it, it doesn't exist)
So she reassured me she was gonna close the scar as low and flat as possible. Reconstruction process will come later, it's quite far from now as I need to have my baby first, chemo afterwards and then I can think about reconstruction options (about a year from now) in the meantime hospital offers two external protesis for free.

RobinLM, thank you very mcuh for your words! I'm trying my best to keep relax as possible and to try and see the bright side in all this. Been living in Oslo, Norway for about three years now. I find it really nice and love the weather here (yes, winter and te lack of light can be harsh sometimes  but snow was one of the main reasons that made me chose Norway as my second home). Do you like Stavanger? I've never been there but I would love to!

Almagetty, you are so right when you said we have to take it one step at a time, I don't really see there can be other way. The past three months have past so fast and slow at the same time. But the love and support of my husband and my very very close friends keeps me here. Family is too far away tho but their love and warm thoughts are with me always.

jsmiley60, thansk again for your kind words. I agree that we need to keep fighting so this disease doesn't affect more people and their families. I hope your recovery is going well. How amazing your sisters are there to help you during this process. I have my lovely husband with me but we both are expats working here in Norway (he is French, I'm Mexican) so both our families are quite far from us.

To all who might read this, thank you very much. I'm happy and think I really came to the right place to share what we all are going thru. Ain't easy, and yes there's been times I wonder if I will make it but just to remember that tiny heart beating so fast, so alive, so full of energy and love... makes me wanna fight. God bless you all my friends. Long process but in the end I hoep we all win the battle against this disease.

joystars

Oh and Laurie08, your words arrive in perfect moment. For me breastfeeding is quite important but I've been told by many (my husband included) that not doing so won't affect my affective bond with the baby. In fact my husband mentioned that in France (he is French) breastfeeding is old school, everyone is on the bottles this days including himself as a baby. So bottles might be fine for me as well.
Thanks so much for your kind words and for sharing with us all. I some how get the feeling that you have a happy cheerful spirit. Me likes

Laurie08

Jeanne, I am happy that your sisters are there to help and support you.  I'm also so sad to hear things are rough for you emotionally.  I don't have any words of wisdom, I just want you to know I'll be thinking of you.

RobinLM

Joystars...my half written message seems to  have disappeared.....

Stavanger is a beautiful place.... but I wasn't here in the depths of winter In Scotland the days are very short in december/january and it can get you down a little bit especially if you are working...

So good you have a supportive husband and lots of lovely times with your baby to look forward to, hopefully those positive thoughts will see help you through the next few months.

Robin

hugs

RobinLM

Orchidgal,

How did you get on with the sub -nip biopsy, you OK? How long until you get the results?

Robin

almagetty

reneemac!!!  I'm dancing the drain-free dance for you!! Woo Hoo!!!!! And your first fill, too!! You are definitely on the road to "finished with this whole darned thing"!! My first fill will be on Monday. I'm excited/nervous about it.

Jeanne: Having your sisters with you must be such a comfort for you. I'm glad the doctor rearranged your bandages and that you're feeling better. Facing your reflection in the mirror is truly difficult. Joystars is right, if you don't see it you can pretend it hasn't happened. I'm finally getting to a point where I don't get startled when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. And since the swelling and bruising improve daily, it's mostly a positive experience when I take a good look.

All my steri-strips are still firmly in place. I'm supposed to remove them as they become unstuck, but, as of today, all the corners are still firmly stuck. The nurse told me she would remove them before the fill if they were still there on Monday. Sometimes, I prefer that option. Other times I think that, if it could possibly cause irritation to pull off the strips, I want them gone ahead of time so that I don't have to deal with any additional discomfort on the day of my first expansion.

Laurie: Being able to fully extend my arm feels like such a victory! 

Joystars: Your positive attitude will carry you far through this. 

Melissa: I hope you're doing well today! 

StaceyA: I hope you're calm and at peace as your surgery date gets closer. 

Have a great day everyone! 

Getty. 

jillyG

Updates  

June 1 - 1Marmalade1 - LMX - DONE!!!!!!!!
June 2 - Reneemac RMX &TE, almagetty RMX & TE, lucylou BMX, Reneew53 BMX & TE -DONE!
June 3 - stacey2275 left mastectomy w/ te - DONE!
June 4 - ihatescreennames BMX & TE - DONE!
June 7 - Gettinpastthis BMX - DONE!
June 8 - MRDRN BMX with DIEP - DONE!
June 11 - helenap MX, jsmiley60 BMX & TE - DONE!
June 17 - wifemomx2 - BMX with TE
June 18 - StaceyA BMX & TE
June 21 - stlcardsfan BMX, recon and ooph
June 22 - MistyJ BMX with TE
June 23 - jillyg RMX and TE both sides
June 24 - webstermom BMX with recon, joystars Mx
June 28 - jblcsw10 - BMX
June 30 - Laurie08 BMX & TE
July 22 - orchidgal

Did I miss anyone?

almagetty

Thanks for keeping the list updated, jillyg! It's nice to see so many with the "DONE" designation next to them.  Soon, we'll all be past this surgery phase.

jblcsw10

Wow! This group is awesome. It has been so helpful to hear everyone's stories and to see women going through surgery and coming out on the other side. I went back and read April and May groups too and it really helped me feel calmer about what is ahead. Thank you all for sharing your stories. When I get scared I remind myself many others have been down this road ahead of me and made it. Looks like next to go is Wifemom tomorrow! Sending good energy your way. Jane

1marmalade1

Just got back from my onc/Herceptin appointment.  Apparently, I am now NED!  Onc also said because of the success of the neoadjuvant chemo, rads may not be necessary, since there were no nodes positive.  I will find out for sure next week.  Either way, onc told me to go out and celebrate!

Here's wishing wifemomX2 and StaceyA a smooth ride through their surgeries this week, and fast recoveries to the ladies that had surgery last week.

orchidgal

Welcome Joystars:

I'm sad that you find yourself in the situation you're in, yet happy that you have a supportive husband and that your doctor is taking excellent care of you. Everyone here on the June Mastectomy thread will hear you out and support you getting through this, and you'll fine. Hang in there and try to find some calmness in the everyday.

Had my double lumpectomy yesterady, under general anestesia, not so good, but better after water & food & a few hrs. sleep. Piece of cake. Ready for the big one - BMX - come July 22. How's everyone? Sounds like your soreness is where your drains were, yes? marmalade? Glad you are getting out and about.

Laurie08

Marmalade- congrats!  However I am clueless- what is NED?  But I do know that no rads and no positive nodes as wonderful

Melissa glad you seem to be feeling ok, when will you get results?

1marmalade1

NED = No Evidence of Disease.  And yes, wonderful it is!  Time to celebrate - it's been a long time coming!  Hopefully, if what the onc said is true about not having rads, I'm delighted - if it turns out otherwise, I can handle it - I've gotten this far.  Thanks for all the good wishes.

MistyJ

wifemomx2 and staceyA,

Strength waves coming at you ~ ~ ~.  I hope you find a comfort from the anxiety before, and peace of mind after! 

Bexter3

Hello sisters!  I have been catching up on posts and am just sending praises upwards for some of you and praying hard for others.  I wanted to give a quick update in case there are any folks curious about a BMX with no recon... My surgery went well.  It is day 9 and I got my drains out today.   Pain was okay until day 4, then it hit me hard.  By day 6 the MX pain was fine, the lymph node dissection is really painful, and nerves cut in dissection causing pretty intense arm pain.  By day 6 full extension of both arms without pain.  Still on pain pills day 9 for arm and dissection pain.  So in a nutshell that was my experience so far.

Great news... I had chemo before surgery.  Started January 2010, carboplatin, taxotere, herceptin every 3 weeks, 6 treatments total.  Prior to starting chemo, I had 4 cancerous tumors - 2 of which were lymph nodes - and a total of more than 110mm of cancerous tumors.  At surgery they found only one tumor at 1.3mm!!!!!  Chemo kicked butt!  All 12 nodes rmoved from axillary levels I & II were negative!!!! level II had scar tissue where cancer was! 

 Good healing and good luck to those of you still pending surgery.  Hang tough!

stlcardsfan

Gettingpastthis - that is awesome news about the path results! Glad to hear that surgery went well. Sounds like you are working your way thru this!

Marmalade - congrats on your results and being NED!!! I also have completed 6 rounds of TCH and have been told that cancer mass is undetectable on manual exam. Surgery next week will tell me for sure if Chemo kicked its butt as well! Based on radiation consultation that I had this week, unless margins are not clear, then no rads for me. Nodes were already found to me negative at time of port placement. 

Sending good vibes to those due up next this week - wifemomx2 and staceyA

Continued healing to those who have completed surgery. 

orchidgal

Ladies, we are building up such a head of steamy positive love vibes, nothing can stop us now! Can't really express the deep feelings I have for this group of incredible women, and want to thank every one of you for your unique and wise ways. 

JillyG: thanks for updating, it looks so good to see so many DONEs...yes! I'll be having BMX, SNB on both sides, & TEs.

Wifemom & StaceyA: you're next in line and we're surrounding you with our love and cheering you on to the other side.

maramalade: yea! NED, what a sweet phrase to hear. fingers crossed that you won't need rads.

reneemac: less than two weeks and you're drains are out and you're filling up - sounds like perfect timing and not much discomfort. Congrats on your drain-free status.

Robin & Laurie et al: will see BS Friday for path report, doing well, ran errands this morning, icing nips now, and only took one percoset this afternoon. Feeling so much more ready for the BMX! PS office called to say she will be going away the day after my surgery for two days, but the BS will take care of me, so I think I can feel good about it. So hard to schedule two busy docs plus a busy hospital at the same time. Full speed ahead...

JSmiley: this roller coaster will bring you up and down, hope tomorrow you feel better. if you feel like crying, let it out and those endorphins will calm you. And I agree about looking at the incision, best to skip it until the timing is right. The steri-strips helps mask it until we are ready.

almagetty: speaking of steri-strips, after my April biopsy I pulled off the top layer a few days later, but then that area swelled a bit, and started hurting, as it seems the pressure was stopping bleeding, too, so now I  know better and am leaving it on, however uncomfortable. Maybe the nurse can take it off?  So happy you are healing up quickly and have little need for pain meds. Sounds like you are doing quite well.  

MistyJ: how are you doing as you approach your surgery date on the 22nd? Hope you are feeling encouraged and  as calm as possible. Got your bag packed?

P.S. Has anyone had or is anyone having SNB, like me?  

Laurie08

Melissa, I am having SNB on my right side when I have my surgery 6/30.  I am planning on calling my bs this week to find out if I get lidacain (sp?) for it.  I hear if you get the numbing agent it's a cake walk.  So glad you are doing well and your spirits seem to be up, nice!

wifemomx2 and stacey I am sending love your way and positive energy.  If there is one thing this group has is positive vibes ♥

jillyG

I had the SNB for my first mastectomy and it wasn't bad at all.  They told me to put Emla Cream on it, not sure of the spelling, but I think that's it.  It was $10 for a tube at a drug store and you rub the cream on the breast in whatever area they tell you and then you put a little plastic wrap on it to keep it off your clothes.  I think it goes on about an hour or two before the SNB and it numbs the area.  Worked great. 

Circe

I am a NEWBIE to this wonderful community of sharing.  I have surgery scheduled for Tuesday / June 22nd.  I don't know if I have all the abbreviations figured out yet, but am having a BMX.  I had chemo first (6 sessions) because of the size of my tumor.  The good new, the tumor has shrunk to the point of almost disappearing.  My questions - I am a good candidate for nipple sparing, but have this fear/angst that perhaps leaving the nipple will "expose" me to a greater chance of a reoccurance.  I plan to have expanders placed during surgery.  IF I need to have radiation after surgery - just wondering if anyone has experience with expanders and undergoing radiation?  THANK YOU so much for all of your sharing on this site.  It is very comforting, and I feel like I have many "sisters" who I am immediately connected to, who I have not met.  Final question - has anyone rented or bought a "recliner" chair for the comfort of the first month of sleeping??   Also, I can't figure out how to post my surgery date??  :)  Hugs to each one of you!

RobinLM

Welcome to our group Circe..... yes it is wonderful

I think you can edit your profile somewhere along the top of the page.....sorry - not much help!

Sounds like you have good doctors, and it's great news that your tuomur has shrunk so small.... I have been told different things about nipple conservation..... Orchidgal is having some investigations along those lines... maybe you know the stats Orchidgal?

Robin 

1marmalade1

My hubby bought me an electric recliner - 65% off at Sears! - prior to surgery - I only slept in it for the first 3 nights, but it was great following that because it was easier to get in and out of than trying to get off the couch or the other chairs.  And it was a nice addition to our family room!  However, before we got the chair, I called a medical supply place, and they actually rent out recliners - they quoted me $150/month, and had a choice of 3 different styles of chair.  Included delivery and pickup.  Maybe you can try that.

Gettinpastthis:  Wow, your story is so similar to mine - even though I've felt pretty good since my LMX June 1st, you are right about the discomfort in the arm and area where nodes were removed.  I'm 17 days out now, and it is still a little painful, but the onc says it just takes a bit of time.  But all else is good!

Sounds like our crowd here are all doing great!  Our June girls sure are troopers!

MistyJ

Melissa, I love your positive vibes.  You seem like such a warm person!  Thanks for asking about me.  I am doing ok during the day.  Staying busy and not thinking about it.  I am having trouble sleeping at night now though.  This just started about 2 days ago.  My Mom and Grandma will be here tomorrow from NY though so that will give me some comfort.  Just still seems surreal.

Laurie08

Welcome Circe, it sounds like things are going well for you.  Sorry you have to be part of our club, but it's a good group!  I have bought extra pillows and plan on sleeping in bed- I am not the type of person who would be happy in a chair in the living room so I am going to give that a try.   

jsmiley60

My BS called yesterday with the pathology results: my tumor was 1.5 centimeters and it had been 2 centimeters, and of the 14 lymph nodes removed, 3 were cancerous. She said this still put me in an end grade one category. Not sure what that means....will have to ask questions when I go see her in two weeks. I guess I feel that these results reiterate that I made the right decision with the BMX. However, it doesn't seem like the chemo did very much........and why wouldn't the PET scan have shown a 1.5 centimeter tumor? is it too small?

I am feeling more soreness in my chest and upper arms starting yesterday. I am thinking the numbness is finally wearing off so maybe that is why....does anyone know? I have ace bandages wrapped on my chest and we keep rewrapping but they seem to either be too tight or move around too much so have to be redone. Hope to get a drain out when see PS tomorrow and maybe won't have to keep it so wrapped up.......

As you can tell I have a lot of questions this morning! I'm thinking of all of you and your recoveries and those still having surgeries.

orchidgal

Laurie: will make note re lidocain. Is that a topical treatment? remember the dentist giving some lidocain gel once.

Circe: just underwent a relatively new procedure prior to BMX I'll have on July 22. It's called subareolar disk resection. They take tissue directly beneath nipple/areola complex to see if they can get a clean 2cm margin. I'll find out Friday if I get to keep one or both, as my L. has DCIS close to nipple. I'm told this technique gives more comprehensive path results than frozen slide in OR, plus stimulates vascular growth to provide better blood supply, if done several weeks beforehand, for your skin sparing, possibly nipple/areola sparing MX. You might ask your doc if you can have this preventative measure. It is like a double lumpectomy, and today I'm rather swollen - where's the ice? 

MistyJ: Glad your relatives are coming to care for you. Are you listening to any guided visualizations? The BellRuth Napastek ones are great. Have been listening to the prepare for surgery and stress ones so far. Also have the pain one. 

Just found out yesterday that the PS will be leaving town for two days following my surgery. Not pleased. Will call to talk with her today and insist that she replace herself with another PS for those days or perhaps I'll go to the other one I liked, who is her colleague. Don't think it's too much to ask a PS to be around right after surgery. I've already delayed my surgery once due to her vacation in early July. 

gettinpasthis: sorry you are having pain from lymph incisions. not sure how you got the scar tissue where your ll level nodes are. glad it is all out of there, and that you have better mobility with your arms. am sure pain will decrease with each day. have you tried the lidocain yet, or numbing creams, as mentioned by others?