September 2012 Surgery

Binney4

SweetCaroline, I just wanted to drop in here and invite you to post your lymphedma concerns on the Lymphedema board here. We do have horsewomen there who have continued with their activities. There are precautions you can take to reduce the risk of lymphedema, but giving it up entirely seems unnecessarily restrictive.

The medical professionals who evaluate and treat lymphedema are not our doctors, but specially-trained lymphedema therapists. Ask any doctor on your team for a referral before your surgery. A lymphedema therapist will take baseline arm measurements for future reference, give you personalized risk-reduction strategies, and fit you for a compression sleeve and glove to use prophylactically for exercise and travel (and jumping). Here's how to find a well-qualified one near you:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified_Lymphedema_Therapist.htm

The more we all know about our lymphedema risk following breast cancer treatment, the more control we have, and the better our lives will be moving forward!

Be well!
Binney

Tzvia

Hello everyone - I'm having a MX on September 11, with TEs. The lesion was 1mm on mammogram, but 6cm on MRI, with an additional 7mm spiculated lesion. So we don't know what the hell we're dealing with till surgery. No radiation, because I have lupus. So I'm ending up with at least one mastectomy, trying to decide if I should just do both and get it over with.



My family medical history is chock-a-block with cancer, breast, ovarian, colon, prostate, etc. My mother had breast cancer twice, once in each breast. I'm considering a BMX, and a total hysterectomy, because I don't want to live with a sword hanging over my head.



I was diagnosed in June, and have to wait till September for surgery. I'm so scared. I'm scared it will spread to my nodes by then. I'm scared that I'm making a mistake. I'm scared that I'm shooting an ant with an elephant gun. And the waiting makes it so much worse.



I feel like I can barely keep myself together. I'm flying off the handle and going to pieces at every little thing. Any advice is appreciated!



Tzvia

Jennt28

Hi Tzvia,



I had a lumpectomy last December before chemo, and then was supposed to have rads. Just before starting rads I discovered that my prior medical history put me at high risk of getting BC to start with and rads would potentially be not much help and I would still be at high risk of more cancer in the same breast or the other one.



The rads dr couldn't tell me if the benefits of rads would still outweigh the risks for me (she "thought so"), so I quit rads and am now heading for the BMX with reconstruction.



Anyway, the reason I wanted to say all that is that even with the BC having been only in one breast, without my risk I still would have chosen BMX for both piece of mind and symmetry :-)



Jenn

Jennt28

20 Aug 2012

Sandlake - hysterectomy



5 Sept 2012

Leah_S - MX on remaining side plus bilateral TE placement



7 Sept 2012

KnBsAngel - MX with TE

marianelizabeth -



10 Sept 2012

Sandlake - bilateral MX with TEs



11 Sept 2012

SweetCaroline2 - MX, Lat Dorsi with TE

Tzvia - MX with TE



19 Sept 2012

michellej1980 - bilateral MX, DIEP



20 Sept 2012

mrskimber47 - MX, unilateral TRAM



28 Sept 2012

Jennt28 - bilateral MX, muscle sparing free TRAM

Dakota212 - bilateral MX with TEs



unknown date

cathyann (MX)

Bargala (bilateral MX with TEs)

Dakota212

Tzvia-

Welcome to the group. I can speak for myself. I am scared also. I am having bmx, my sister had bc twice. I don't want it hanging over my head either and quoting her " If I knew then what I know now I would have them both done". It is such a hard decision and a personal one. Good luck. We are all here to help each other

Leah_S

Thanks to everyone for the welcome!

Tzvia, your fear is understandable. It's a scary thing to contemplate, and none of the choices are easy. With your family hx I can understand why you're seriously considering a bmx. It's the same reason I'm going ahead with the mx on my remaining breast. Not being able to keep it together is normal in your situation! You'll calm down at some point. I was also totally overwhelmed when I was first diagnosed but eventually you get back to yourself. Keep coming back here to talk to us - everyone here will understand what you're going through and help you get through it. We'll listen, we'll give our support and our opinions, and eventually we'll even laugh with you because, strange as it seems, you'll laugh again.

Leah

marianelizabeth

It takes me a while to naviagate this site but saw on August surgeries that Leah had found a September one so I searched around and here I am. I was diagnosed with IDC (2 cm) and DCIS on July 27 but with it being summer, OR slates full and surgeons on holiday my surgery for partial mastectomy (lumpectomy) and SNB is Sept. 7. Seems like a long wait but slowly getting there. Lots to read meawhile and then of course found these great forums to share on! Thanks Leah for the head's  up and looking forward to chatting with you all waiting for September surgeries.  Marian

Dakota212

Welcome to the thread Marion. I also was diagnosed in july and have to wait until September for vacation reasons.... Ughhh oh well hurry up and wait. We are all in it together

Jennt28

I've been going to the physio for a couple of months since chemo finished and he has been treating my sore back/ribs. Now that I have this surgery coming up today he gave me 3 exercises to do in the lead up to stretch and strengthen my back and arms.



I think after doing them today with him I will be sore tomorrow :-)



I hope Sandlake went ok with her surgery today!



Jenn

Dakota212

Jenn-

Surgery today?? Good luck !!!

Jennt28

It was Sandlake's surgery :-) I'm not till the end of September...



Jenn

Dakota212

Oh I thought I read in ur post u said surgery and exercises...lol my brain sorry

Sandlake

Hysterectomy surgery went well, Dr said there were no surprises!  Glad to have it behind me.  I am going to rest, take it easy so I am strong for my Sept 10th BMX.

Thank you all for your support

Cyndi 

mrskimber47

Cyndi, I am so glad it went well. You get a ton of rest and rejuvinate, you can do it! 

Dakota212

Cyndi-

Soooo glad it went well!!! Feel better. Update when u feel up to it!!! Thoughts and prayers

cthynsh

Hi All - I hope I have opted for the right surgery.  I am scheduled for a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy on September 13th.  It is so hard to decide how agressive to be this "early" in the game.  Tomorrow (8/21) I go for genetic testing brca1 & 2.  If the test comes back positive for the mutation, the decision will change to bmx!  So many things to consider all the while my brain is screaming get the tumor out.  It seems so much time goes by from dx to actual tumor removal.  2 months seems like a long time

 I wish you all the best in your procedures and a peaceful, speedy recovery.

 Cathy

cthynsh

Hi All - I hope I have opted for the right surgery.  I am scheduled for a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy on September 13th.  It is so hard to decide how agressive to be this "early" in the game.  Tomorrow (8/21) I go for genetic testing brca1 & 2.  If the test comes back positive for the mutation, the decision will change to bmx!  So many things to consider all the while my brain is screaming get the tumor out.  It seems so much time goes by from dx to actual tumor removal.  2 months seems like a long time

I wish you all the best in your procedures and a peaceful, speedy recovery.

Cathy

Dakota212

Cthynsh-

It is the hardest decision ever!!!! I kept going back and forth and felt the same way about the brca. I opted for the bmx. It is such a personal choice. If u feel right about it it's the right decision for u!!! 2 months is far to long

SweetCaroline2

 Binney4-  Thanks for the info about lymphedema. I will call my bs tomorrow to get an order to consult with a lymphedema therapist. It was a real upper to hear that other horsewomen are able to manage their lymphedema and continue to ride!

SweetCaroline2

Sandlake- Happy to hear that everything went well with your surgery. I hope you feel better soon. 

marianelizabeth

There are so many posts about lumpectomy versus mastectomy but my surgeon said due to the location of my tumour, an mx would almost be a radical mx so I hope the lumpectomy works out. Though I was told there is a 25% chance of a second surgery to obtain clear margins with a lumpectomy I am hopeful it will go OK since the survival rate is the same either way. Radiation for sure but one step at a time. To be honest I am looking forward to getting the surgery over with! Still over 2 weeks to go...

Trinity0723

Hello September girls, I'm a leftover from August. UMX/SNB currently scheduled for September 4th. Looking forward to a lot of fun with y'all this month.



The consensus seems to be that the surgery isn't too bad. TE's are a pain and having drains removed should be done after you've taken pain meds.



I was always scheduled for UMX but did some research on lumpectomies. It seems to me that in most cases that the lumpectomy patients end up having a mastectomy within a year. Just food for thought.



Good luck everyone!!

Dakota212

Trinity -

Welcome !!! I am jealous u don't have that long to wait !!!

Jewelrygirl

Hi, I had a double masectomy last Nov and it wasn't so bad.  It's a bit painful at times but nothing that some good pain medication can't handle.  I was up the same night walking.  The worst part was the drains which is a pain in the neck but once you get a handle on that you can function quite well.  I think also the emotional part of losing your breast is hard, even as prepared as you are.  I remember finding my cancer so early (only 3 months after my mammogram) and with the strong family history was told if I took them off, I wouldn't need chemo or radiation.  I told them to schedule me ASAP.  Once they were off, I was sad to look in the mirror and see myself. 

I am now going through reconstruction with many different problems, so the masectomy part seems to be a breeze.  Are you having reconstruction done right away?  and if so what type?  I've had them all so far so I can help you along. 

Good Luck!!!

Dakota212

Jewelrygirl-

I am having bmx with TE's. I am not a candidate they tell me for anything else. Can't wait to get it overwith. So hard waiting to hear the next fate. Lymphnodes ...ughhh

Jewelrygirl

I wish you luck!  I had the double masectomies done in Nov 2011.  I then got on the list for DIEP Flap in April.  After 18 hours of surgery, and a night in ICU, the next morning one of the beautiful breasts turned blue.  I went in for another 7 hours to try to save it and unfortunately they had to remove it.  That was very hard emotionally.  I then went back in July for Lat Flap with TE and I'm 7 weeks post op.  I've had a lof of issues with seromas in my back and now I just found out I have one behind the TE in my breast.  I have to go on Friday to have it drained and I'm nervous they don't rupture it. 

You will be fine, it's a long road but if you go into it with a good attitude, you will heal so much faster.  My PS can't believe how positive I've been even with all the obstacles I've been through.  I'm just happy to be able to sit here and write this and help other women.  Hang in there and you definately have a lot of support.  I'm here for you if you need me.  I will be praying for you

Tzvia

Hope you heal fast, Cyndi! I'm scheduled for BMX too, on Sept 11. I'll have a hysterectomy about a month after that. My thoughts are with you.



Tzvia

mrskimber47

So, today was another bad day. I woke up this morning to stabbing pain IN MY OTHER BREAST!!! Now, I can feel a thickening in the tissue. Feels like my right boob did about 6 months ago so now I know what to look for but I am so upset. Three tumors in one and now the other with God knows what! I asked my docs about having a double and they said nothing showed on the mammo so nothing to worry about. Really!?! Mammo's don't tell the whole story. I am going to demand an ultrasound and also demand they take them both. I am so sick of waiting for answers and moreover, waiting for surgery.  CANCER CAN KISS MY ASS. 

Dakota212

Mrskimber-

I had an MRI that showed something in my right that they said we were going to watch for 6 months.... Bull sh**. I am having bmx. If they think I am going to watch anything they are crazy!!!

mrskimber47

Dakota212- I'm with you. No way am I waiting, take them both rather than prolong another surgery. If they take them both and do radiation later, I can have one surgery, bmx and recon. This is still quite unreal to me that I find myself here, in this God awful situation that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. At least I am not alone, I have all of you incredible and brave women and men beside me and God to watch over me and us.