September 2012 Surgery

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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited October 2012

    Oops Marian, I haven't updated my info - I had a BMX with TE's on October 1st.

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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited October 2012

    OK, I have updated my info - let's see if it fixed it.

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited October 2012

    I had my appt with my onc on Thurs. Pathology was clear! Whew. It's good to know that the prophylactic mx was, indeed, prophylactic.

    Leah

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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited October 2012

    Great news Leah! Laughing

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited October 2012

    Back at work today and feeling tired and a little sore after 8 hours, but really not too bad...



    Got home to find two lots of mail - my free post-surgical bra sent by Breast Cancer Network Australia and my rub-on nipples from the USA arrived. The bra is really comfy and I plan on rubbing on some nipples after my shower before bed :-). This could be fun!



    Jenn

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited October 2012

    Oh, and I had my dark hair bleached blonde on the weekend for the first time ever just for fun. Getting used to it slowly - people at work told me it makes me look younger...



    Jenn

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  • KellieDenise66
    KellieDenise66 Member Posts: 122
    edited October 2012

    Ladies, sorry I've been out of the loop this week. My Mom took a turn for the worse and has been in the hospital. My BS gave me the green light to drive for the first time Friday. First car trip was to discharge her. Second, was to follow the ambulance back this afternoon to re admit her. : ( I thought driving would have been a lot easier. I'm really sore, used my thigh to help make turns. My chest is on fire. Hope I didn't do any harm.



    Enough of me! I read over the posts on the thread. Sounds like it was a pretty crappy week for most of you. I'm so sorry. Kitty- please don't beat yourself up about not reading your own report. You needed every ounce of your energy for healing. Of course you trusted your doctor would convey your results accurately. I'm so sorry this radiation is coming as a surprise. Please keep us posted.



    Sneaky- how are you holding up? I've really had ya on my mind. Especially your comment about being so upset about not knowing if the treatment is necessary. I did not require any additional aggressive treatment so I can't comment on that. I do however know what it feels like to potentially over treat my cancer. None of us know going in what our exact pathology will confirm. When mine came back favorable I realized I may have gotten away with a unilateral lumpectomy. It's a lot to swallow from where I sit today now with both my breasts removed. I choose to believe that I made the best choice with the best information I had at the time. I'm so sorry you are needing chemo, I'm wishing you peace of mind lady. It's been a long haul already. Big hugs!



    Marian- I popped on your blog. You are a stud!!!!!!! Wow, I'm so envious of your adventurous spirit. Hate hearing you've been feeling so bad. I hope you were feeling well enough to enjoy the pumpkin carving contest this weekend. I love that nobody found the hair shaving weird. You sound like my kinda people!



    Leah- wonderful path news!! So happy for ya! I also want to thank you again for being so kind, and thoughtful. Months ago I was trying to maneuver my way around this website and you were so great and invited me over to this surgery thread. I was such a mess, and never would have found all these special ladies without you!



    Michelle- I was so happy to read that your last visit was nothing like your first. Sounds like you have a solid plan. Although I'm so sorry you're faced with all this crap again. Cancer once in your lifetime should be enough!



    Dakota- Good luck with work this week! Hope you're feeling strong enough for it all. Seems unfair that you have to go back so soon. Please keep us posted on how you're doing with your treatments. Best wishes.



    Jenn- glad you made it through day one day back at work. You are another tough cookie! Have fun with your new goodies!

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  • michellej1980
    michellej1980 Member Posts: 342
    edited October 2012

    Thanks Kellie. I'm kind of ready for it but have been reading so much about the horrid effects of Taxotere I'm getting worried!



    I think I've just done something silly. I've had a couple of spots of skin necrosis on my right breast which look like black scabs. One was really small and the nurse pulled it off last week and there was lovely pink skin underneath. She trimmed the other one but said it wasn't ready to come off yet. Today I changed my dressing and checked how much had come away. It was kind of hanging on from the centre so I pulled it off. There's no pink skin, just sort of yellowy flesh. :-/ I've covered it with antibacterial gauze and a dressing but hope I've not created problems for myself. Once I start chemo, I'll take even longer to heal. Why oh why didn't I just leave it?! Has anyone else had any necrosis?

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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited October 2012

    Michelle, I don't know if it is the same situation but I was noticing some scabbing falling off on my incision line across my breasts (I have TEs) so I dit the same thing, kind of picked at some of it and it was this yellowish goo - gag - and then the spot bled a little.  I put some antibacterial ointment on it and a bandage (ok, not a real bandage, a pantiliner - a trick I learned when I had oozing from my SNB incision - they are pretty sterile adn you can use the sticky side to stick to your bra)...it seems to have scabbed back up again.

    Kellie, sorry to hear about your mom.  I started driving again last week when I had to take my youngest to the dr - it didn't really bother me to drive but I am still having the same tightness and pain in my chest (particularly my left side) as I was a week or so out from surgery (it's been 4 weeks for me) - when does it get better???

    Jenn - love the hair - planning to do the same as soon as mine is a little longer.  Impressed that you are making it through workdays!

    I realized that it is 4 weeks since my surgery and still no consult with an RO - getting irriatated at my BS office, about to call back again.  I know SHE doesn't feel I need rads but it isn't her call.  I am about to just make an appt myself.

    Hope all have a good week.  I have a PS appt tomorrow with my first fill since surgery.  Hope it goes well.

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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited October 2012

    (((sigh))) - just called and they are all out of the office at a conference.  Grrrrr....said they would call back tomorrow.

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  • michellej1980
    michellej1980 Member Posts: 342
    edited October 2012

    I hope it scabs up before next week when I go back to see the specialist reconstruction nurses! They will probably tell me off 1) for picking before it's ready and 2) for not leaving it or them to do - they seem to love picking at wounds and have been arguing over who gets to do it! Yuk!



    Yours does sound similar to mine with the yellow goo. How long did yours take to scab over again and how big was it? A google search came up with some disgusting pics so am not looking there again! Mine's about 2cm at its widest. If the area had not been numb I probably wouldn't have picked it. I'm sure it would ordinarily have hurt.

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  • Sneakychiquita
    Sneakychiquita Member Posts: 292
    edited October 2012

    schoolmom - Hope those results come in soon.  The waiting is painful.

    Jenn - Thank you for recalling the day of your diagnosis.  Very vivid image...I think it brought us all back to that day.  And I think you look great with your new hair.

    Kittykoma - I hope you're doing okay with the realization of unclear margins.  Has this been confirmed? Have you met up with an RO yet?  

    Leah - great news!!!

    ktlb - Good luck with the fill.  I was so worried about my first fill, but my PS did a great job.  Nothing but a bit of tightness that ibuprofen couldn't help me with.  Love the panty liner tip given to Michelle.  I can see that coming in handy for a lot of different wounds.

    Kellie - You are one of the sweetest ladies I have ever met.  How is your mom now?  Your family has had such a rough ride.  Totally thinking of you lots and hoping for the best.

    Michelle - Can't help you with your necrosis query, but I do hope it all goes

    Marian - Blog is awesome.  I'll be following you so don't be writing about that annoying sneakychiquita gal.

    All - Have you put paper tape on your scars?  I'm prone to keloid scars (big ugly scars for no good reason) so was bugging my PS about ways to prevent this and he said the best thing I can do is put paper tape on it and keep it there for 7-10 days before changing it.  I've done this and my scar look amazing so far.  Not the big ugly red thing I thought it would be, just a neat white line without puckering.  Anyways, I thought I would mention it because every doc that's seen the scar commented on how nicely it's healing and then asked if I was using paper tape.  

    I think of you all a ton and hope you're hanging in there.  Best of luck to all you working ladies.  I don't make much on my employment insurance, but I sure am grateful for it.  I just had an appointment at a fertility clinic.  My MO referred me because I'll likely be infertile after the chemo and she wanted me to explore this as an option in case I wanted another child.  With no partner in my life right now and the potential for a partner slipping away with the frankenboob and hair loss, I may let this one go.  But, wow, this clinic covers the cost of retrieving and storing eggs/embryos for any woman about to lose fertility due to chemo.  Amazing! I don't want to abuse their generosity so I'll think long and hard if this is something I really want to do.  I'd hate to go ahead without the egg storage just because it's offered if I don't think I would follow through with making a kid out of it.  

    My thoughts are with you all!

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  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited October 2012

    I finally got my oncotype results Friday afternoon....score 21.  Decided with the grade 3 and 1 lymph node to go with 4 rounds of taxotere and cytoxan.....I know it is an iffy scenario but I want any lingering cancer gone.  I have a 4 year old grandaughter I want to watch grow up.....I am doing the penguin cold caps so have been running around getting info, ordering etc etc.  I will have my port put in Friday afternoon and my first chemo next Monday 11/5....Let the games begin.

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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited October 2012

    schoolmom - good luck as you being your chemo journey.

    sneaky - interesting info on the paper tape.  Good luck with your decisions about the egg storage.

    michelle - just a day or so, I still have a bit of black icky that I don't know are scabs or stitches that haven't absorbed.  I am not going to confess, lol.  I go today for the fill.

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  • Mumtobe
    Mumtobe Member Posts: 159
    edited October 2012

    Hello to all my fellow Sept surgeries. Just said I'd pop in to let you know I had a beautiful baby girl last Tuesday, the 23rd weighing 6lbs 3ozs. Her name is Emma Catherine and she is beyond precious. She was induced two weeks early but with the help of Our Lady she came very easily and my labour only lasted about 2hrs. So happy she's here now. I should probably change my login name now :)

    Hope all ye fabulous ladies are well xxx

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  • Sneakychiquita
    Sneakychiquita Member Posts: 292
    edited October 2012

    Best news of the day!!!  So happy to know that smiles are still to be had on this journey.  Congratulations, mom.

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  • michellej1980
    michellej1980 Member Posts: 342
    edited October 2012

    Congrats Mum!

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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited October 2012

    Yay congratulations!!!

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  • Momluke
    Momluke Member Posts: 184
    edited October 2012

    Great news!!!! I wish you all of the absolute best!!!!!

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited October 2012

    Congratulations on the new baby! I'm so glad she's here and you had an easy time. She's exactly 1 week older than my family's newest - my daughter had twin girls today.

    How wonderful that we have these new little girls to love!

    Leah

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  • marianelizabeth
    marianelizabeth Member Posts: 1,735
    edited October 2012

    Mumtobe, no longer! Big smiles from me too and so happy for you and Emma Catherine!

    Leah so happy for you and your family too!

    Marian

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  • KellieDenise66
    KellieDenise66 Member Posts: 122
    edited October 2012

    What JOYOUS news!!!



    Congratulations Mum! I'm picturing your arms filled with that sweet little one. How are you feeling? I'm going to sound like a Mommy myself, and remind you to continue taking extra special care of yourself. Cute, as babies can be they are also little energy suckers!! Accept help, and rest when you can, everything can wait. So happy for ya!



    Grandma Leah!!!! Twin Granddaughters! How delicious, sounds like heaven. Enjoy those little dollies.

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  • KellieDenise66
    KellieDenise66 Member Posts: 122
    edited October 2012

    Michelle- how's your scab? I had a NSBMX on 9-24, and one of my nipples had partial necrosis. I ended up with a pretty deep black scab around a good portion of my areola. It's kind of gradually lifted and crumbled on the edges but the center is good and stuck. Been on antibiotics since the time of surgery. Doctors aren't sure what's under it? Hope everything is ok with your healing!



    Sneaky- You're a sweety. Mom was discharged back home with me his afternoon. Going to have a home health nurse come daily. I thought her hospital bed in our livingroom was funny, but now we've added an IV pole, and wheelchair. Even funnier is my blow up bed I had my husband set up beside hers so I can help out. Beds galore! Looks like a brothel around here!

    I've got to know about your paper tape? I have that derma bond glue all over. My BS told me to start picking it off, but my scars beneath are bright red. I' don't scar well either. I'd read something about silicone strips too?

    Best wishes with your egg storage decision. It's nice that you have choices, but I'm sure not easy to make in the middle of a health crisis. I have 2 beautiful babies, one through adoption, and one because " apparently we can" and they are both equally the loves of my life. In fact my husband and I kid about our adopted child being DAMN lucky she didn't get stuck with our crappy genes! Both parents with cancer in their 40's!

    One last thing Sneaky. You are a hottie! Franken-boob or bald! You're awesome, and beautiful both inside, and out! You'll have love in your life, don't sell yourself short woman!



    Kltb04- sorry you're still hurting, damn! The same as a week out?! Yikes that sounds miserable. Mine is a like a constant burning. I'm switching up bras. Seems to help. I'm now wearing those genie bras. I got them in a size bigger so it's not so tight. They have little foam inserts that give me a little shape, they can be removed too.



    Schoolmom- Hope all goes well with your port insertion, and chemo. Do you live close to your grand baby? Four yrs old is a pretty cute age. Lots of story telling. : )







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  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited October 2012

    Kelli- Yes my little Trinity is about 10 minutes away.  She visits a couple times a week when mom gets her at daycare.  I usually see her at least once on the weekend and she likes to come spend the night with me.  She is a joy.

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  • KellieDenise66
    KellieDenise66 Member Posts: 122
    edited October 2012

    Schoolmom- what a beautiful name! I love that you're close by. Enjoy the holiday with her. I'm off to get my little monsters to their Halloween school parade.



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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited October 2012

    Mum - I love that name - Emma is one that I would have used had I had another girl.

    Leah - congrats on those grandbabies - are they identical or fraternal?  My twin nieces are fraternal and honestly you wouldn't even know they were sister, much less twins!

    schoolmom - Trinity is a sweet name - I have great memories of spending the night with my grandmother when I was little.

    Kellie - lol on the brothel.  I am glad you are having a home health nurse to come help - try not to burn yourself out.  It is so easy to do in these situations. I tried the genie bras but even a size up was still too tight.  When I took those back, the store (WM) was out of the next one so I just got some regular sports bras that are working ok.

    Got my first post op fill yesterday and it was a piece of cake compared to what I was expecting.  Was somewhat sore last night but not bad.  He put in 120 ccs but I don't know what the initial fill was so I am not sure what I am up to.

    Rads update - I am going to get a second opinion at the same clinic where I got the first opinion.  The RO I saw the first time was a sub for the regular RO there and was very new and inexperienced - my BS suggested I wait until I get final pathology and get another opinion so I am doing so next week.

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  • michellej1980
    michellej1980 Member Posts: 342
    edited October 2012

    Kellie - my 'scab' is still the same. Yellowy and gooey looking. I'm worried it'll end up scarring once it has healed. Hope it is sorted before I start chemo (no date yet) and that it heals well on its own.

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  • Sandlake
    Sandlake Member Posts: 211
    edited November 2012

    Congratulations Mumtobe, so happy for you and your family!  I'm sure she is a bundle of loveSmile

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited November 2012

    I am so impressed that we have moved from surgery to babies etc so quickly! It's lovely seeing these messages here...



    Congrats to mothers and grandmothers 💐



    Jenn

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  • KellieDenise66
    KellieDenise66 Member Posts: 122
    edited November 2012

    Ditto, Jenn, and love your hair, super cute!



    Michelle- hope you heal well and quickly too. Are you putting any medication on it? Mine is definitely going to scar no matter what. It's pretty deep, and nasty. It's all I can do to not pick at it though. TMI but it looks like a crusty umbilical cord. My daughter however thinks it looks like beef jerky. NICE! We are highly inappropriate in our home with no clear boundaries. Lol!



    Sorry to go from sweet baby talk to crusty boobies. Have a great weekend ladies.

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