August 2010 Mastectomy

lago

Don't panic. I have a feeling the doctor might say to you what was said to me on my former "good" breast. They see saw stuff that would have to be monitored with MRIs and Biopsies… not something you really want to do every year. I agreed and we did the BMX without doing a biopsy. It ended up in my case I did have some LCIS (precancer). Glad we got rid of it.

But I hope I'm wrong and everything is just fine. Keep us posted. BTW chemo #3 tomorrow for me. 

Halah

lago, how often do you have chemo? And how are you doing with it?

kad2kar, my doctor called me to tell me I have cancer (when first dx'd). She didn't call me in to her office to tell me that. So perhaps in your case there is just more to be discussed that requires more time? Try not to worry! Easier said than done, I know. Hugs to you...

Mindy xxx

lago

I go every 3 weeks. Tomorrow my 3rd of 6. So far not too bad. I am experiencing some neuropathy but most of it goes away prior to the next upcoming treatment. Haven't had too much fatigue but some muscle aches. Lets just say I finally stopped my 1 hour power walks in the park and now I'm doing 35 minutes on the elliptical/30 minutes on the treadmill in the gym instead. I hate working out but I feel great afterwards!

kad2kar, Minda does have a point. I had my initial meeting with my BS then didn't see him again till the day before surgery. He actually called me to tell me all the "news".

Pawprint

Having my exchange in the morning at 9am pacific time. Feeling a little nervous but understand that this surgery is much easier than the double mastectomy w tissue expander's. I am having silicone implants and the doc says there will be no drains this time. I have to limit arm movement and lifting for awhile. I have been very tired and feel weak, and gained weight mostly in the stomach. Arimidex and menopause,  feel like a round beach ball. Hope you are all doing well out there.

lago

Good luck brokendreams. No drains that sounds great. Let me know how it goes. I'll be doing the same thing in the future.

BTW I just found out today that I am going on Zometa when I start Arimidex. My bone density test showed I have osteopenia (and my mom had osteoporosis, and I'm white, and thin and basically the poster gal for this). Has your onc mentioned anything about your bones on this drug.

kad2kar

Lots of Love and Luck your way,Broken Dreams. Ill be thinking about you, I was supposed to have mine then,too. OH WELL. You will wake up feeling much better than you do right now Im praying for quick healing for you.  Iago, ThankYou for your kind thoughts. You are an upper for everyone.  How many more chemos do you have?  Is Zometa a bone strengthener?  Winter storm, ThankYou for your words. Fingers crossed for good news. Ill report Friday PM. BLESS you all.

Carrol2

i had no issues on the one breast but took it anyway. I am glad i did so far. I did npt want to worry about it down the road plus i wanted better symmetry.

lago

kad2kar thanks for the compliment. I'm glad I'm an upper ;-)

Zometa (Zoledronic Acid Injection) is a bone strengthener but it is also used with women who have bone mets. So far the studies have shown that it can reduce the risk of getting bone mets by 35%. This is the print out from the New England Journal of Medicine my onc printed out for me. (I've only read 1/2 of it so far.) http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0806285

RobinLM

morning girls,

Had an appointment with my BS yesterday.... he said that when he saw my Path report (noxious cocktail but nothing invasive) he was relieved because he believes that I would've been the 1 in 4 lady to get invasive cancer....Before my Op he had to argue with the other Drs in the team (they discuss everyones treatment before hand) that I should be allowed to go ahead with the BMx......... Whilst I am obviously relieved it's made me feel anxious....... the massive lump they biopsied me for was still B9, but while poking about for some calcium crystals they found the other stuff....... I have been so fortunate....... can't understand now why I feel so disturbed.....

Meanwhile my left Frankenfoob continues to look worse and worse as I get back to activies.... will have to have remedial work on it next year.

How did tuesday go Lago? Is the neuropathy getting better - thinking about you. x

Kad2kar - thinknig about you too - wishing you good news on friday <<hugs>>

xx

lago

Robin, was thinking about you too the other day.So glad about the B9. Sorry about the Frankenboob. I really hope they can resolve that soon. What else have you been up to?

 
TX #3 went fine. My onc isn't concerned about my nueropathy. She says the type I'm getting will go away. It was almost gone Tuesday. Of course the heel acts up a little now in the morning but that's it so far. So far not too achy from the nuelasta shot but I started on the Aleve last night.

My onc is also going to put me on Zomeda when I go on Armidex to protect my bones. My bone density test shows I have slight osteopenia.Considering my mom had/has osteoporosis, I'm white, thin, used to smoke and used to drink a lot of soda I'm like the poster gal for osteoporosis. Also Zomeda seems to reduce the chance of bone mets by 35%. This is the article she gave me to read: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0806285

So how am I really feeling? I went to the gym yesterday and worked out: 35 minutes on the elliptical (6.8 mph level 3) and 35 minutes on the treadmill (4.5 mph/ .5" incline walking). I guess you can say I'm doing great. I think I'll do strenght training at home today. I need to start that up again.

Pawprint

hi everyone....The exchange surgery went great. Surgery was about an hour, recovery room about an hour. Very little pain so far. Some arm limitation, but doc said to keep arms down until silicone implants can remain in place. I see the doc this afternoon to remove the bandages around my chest. Had to make new incisions because my other incisions cut around the nipples( i had nipple/skin sparing masectomy), are still healing. The new incisions are under the breasts in the fold area.I am still taking Arimidex, Effexor and Fosomax...doc also added vitamin D my blood work said mine was very low.

So all of you waiting for exchange surgery, you will be surpised how good you will feel afterwards. As time goes on i hope i continue to heal with minimal pain and have better range of motion. Take care all you brave women out there.

Carrol2

Thanks brokendreams I have implants in my future but have not gotten the TE even yet still in chemo. I can't wait.

lago

Thanks for the update brokendreams. Not sure when my exchange will be done since I might have a couple more fills and I do have to get through chemo. I'm only 1/2 way through (3/6).

kad2kar

 Wishing all the girls of August 2010 a Very Happy Thanksgiving.  I have to wait until after biopsy 11/30 to find out what my next course is. Wishing you all a very gentle easy time.  Eat Hearty Me Ladies.

lago

Thanks! and Happy Thanksgiving to you and the rest of us August cistas.

Pawprint

Happy Thanksgiving to all the August 2010 group. I hope everyone is healing well and moving forward in their treatment. The process seems to go on forever, and the waiting game, waiting for tests, scans,surgeries.....Thank you all for being there in support as each one of us, scared as we were, and some still are, tackled breast cancer. You are all amazing and I wish you each a happy holiday.

taranebraska

Happy holidays everyone.  I thought I would be miserable with the holidays, but I'm finding that they seem more special this year, even though I'll be finishing my chemo on Dec. 23, and have to work through the 5-6 days of yuck afterward ... it will then be over.  Watch out New year!

It seems like August was forever ago.  Although I don't check in that often, I tell everyone how wonderful this site is, how great it was to freak out with a group of women going through the exact same thing, feeling pure panic before surgery and being able to compare our healing afterward.  Nothing like it!  Thanks to all of you and I appreciate you all!

Paula1231

BrokenDreams

Thanks so much for the update!  I am up for my exchange in February.  Very helpful info, and i am soooo relieved there is not much pain.  I have had enough in the area.  Tara I am sooo glad you are almost done!  I start my Taxol on the 23rd of December so I will be thinking of you and knowing that it will end and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Happy Thanksgiving to us all!

Paula

Halah

Wow Paula, starting chemo so close to Xmas. What a shame.

Tara, yes it does seem August was forever ago. I remember how we had our surgeries ahead of us. Now we are dealing with the new normal and/or other treatments. Glad to hear you will be finished with chemo before Xmas.

Kad2kar, 11/30 is right around the corner and will be done with in no time. Crossing my fingers you get good results.

I see a plastic surgeon in January to see about removing the dog ears. It's been horrible to have to live with. Can't wait to see what the course of action will be if any. I hope he can do this. I just wish my BS told me this would happen. He strongly suggested I see a PS before my surgery but didn't say why. I just knew I didn't want recon and thought perhaps he just wanted the referral fee or something. God I hate him. He took my breasts and gave me two more on my sides. Yuk.

Happy Holidays!

Mindy xxx

lago

Just waving hello to my August cistas. As mentioned I'm 1/2 through chemo (3 of 6) and doing fantastic. Yeah I still go to the gym.

Glad to see everyone doing well. Granted it can be tough at times to be patient. I'm just thinking a year from surgery I will have enough hair to walk around without a scarf or wig. 1 year and the major stuff will be done (except for hormone therapy, Herceptin almost done and I might still need my tattoos & nipples… little stuff).

Paula1231

Hi Mindy,

Actually, Christmas will be the half way point for me.  I have my first taxol Christmas week, then three more then I am done.  I don't have rads because of the MX so it will be on the the exchange. 

Paula

taranebraska

Mindy, I have those silly dog ears, too, and a "uniboob" that the BS left in the middle of my chest, a small piece of my right breast.  If I wear a shirt that's a little tight or a silkier material, yep, you can see my stupid uniboob poking out.  I'll see my BS in January, too, to discuss their removal - the same BS I told specifically to make sure he left me smooth and with no little puffs of anything.  AND I did consult with a plastic surgeon before my BMX, as I read that they want to leave some extra IN CASE the patient changes their mind.  So much for my advocacy and knowing I wouldn't change my mind.  Let's compare notes in January!

Carrol2

hey everyone. Seems like so long since my bmx now aug 9th. I am on day 12 of chemo 3 with one more to go, then it's on to reconstruction. I was left with what seems pretty good, like someone just kind of deflated me. In my tightest shirt it looks a little odd kind of lumpy but if i wear a sports bra it looks fine. But I will be glad to get nice new boobs in there it's just the recon surgery sounds worse than the bmx. 

lago

Carrol, what kind of reconstruction are you having? I forgot.

Carrol2

I am getting implants. More than likely tissue expanders first but there is a small chance i wont need the expanders but i probably will because i want to be a C. The doctor will ahve to see how it all looks healed. when i saw him it was only a month after surgery.

lago

Hmm well the we might be doing our exchanges at the same time. I already have the TE and 3 fills. I only want to be an A or small B. I have 2 more chemos then you so while I'm finishing chemo you should be getting TE and fills. It would be nice to continue the journey with you.

Carrol2

oh that is kewl lago i will for sure be posting as i know more. The last appointment they said we have to wait until one month after chemo but i don't even have an appointment yet. I am going to call my nurse coordinator who has been an amazing advocate for me on monday. I want to make sure i can get the port removed during the TE surgery which may mean my plastic guy wont do it and my bmx guy may have to come in for that part. I am at their mercy because i only have medicaid and there are very few doctors that accept that. This doctor is from the learning hospital where i had my bmx and I loved hat surgeon. I think there is a very strict process they go through to get doctors for this hospital. Bottom line is i may have a delay because of the plastic doc's schedule. They had 2 doctors doing this but one of them had a heart attack right before my bmx and last i heard he was only doing consulting and not doing surgery.

lago

I don't know when the exchange will happen for me but I hoped it would be in March. It does depend on the PS schedule. They tend to be busier in the winter/late fall, or at least mine is. When it's nice out no one wants to have cosmetic surgery. They are on cruises or something ;-)

Carrol2

March would actually be good for me because we would be done with all the car shows and i could go to them. If i have to do it during a show husband wont be here so not sure how that will go.

kad2kar

Hi Lovely Ladies---- i had my stereotactic biopsies(2) on Monday. Both the BS & PS phoned for me to come in tomorrow.SOOOOOO I will find out if another mastectomy or just a stuff & fluff on my left side. Take care and sending Prayers for all in this "club"