January 2013 surgery

Butterflylady2012

Healing thoughts and prayers with you tomorrow AuntiEm!  We will be with you in spirit! 

jojo2373

Good luck and prayers for a easy recovery AuntieEm!

Destina

Thinking of you tomorrow, AuntieEm...sending love, hugs and healing energy!

Destina

Thanks for the visualization, MMSS. It is lovely.

Destina

{{{Sheryl}}}

So sorry to hear your husband's remarks. The fear that comes along with this diagnosis affects all of us in all sorts of ways. I hope he'll be able to process his own fear and be able to step up for you. In the meantime, I applaud your courage in knowing what you need to do to take the best care of you. You deserve it.

Destina

Thanks for the encouraging comments, Hopex3. I am ready to put on my "warrior pants"!

MMSS

Butterflylady, it is good to see another ILC woman in the group. There aren't many of us. It is such sneaky stuff. I guess in the end I was lucky in having to have neoadjuvant hormone therapy becaause it gave me time to not only dramatically shrink the tumor but also to read up on it enough to opt for the BMX up front and thus avoid two surgeries. There is just NO WAY that I could handle the idea of a possible recurrance of something that won't show up on either mammography or ultrasound. I know in the end we will both have less stress this way. Good luck to you.

MMSS

OK, Jan.1-it's showtime girls! Love and prayers for AuntieEm tomorrow and let's all think about how many cancer cells will have left our bodies by the end of this month. There is strength in numbers and together we can do this. I agree about posting both the good and the bad. When all you hear is good and you don't feel good you think there is something wrong with you and that isn't helpful. By the way my name is Susan but haven't figured out how to get it to print. As everyone in my family knows I am seriously technologically challenged.

knitlady

AuntieEm,



My thoughts will be with you tomorrow and in the coming days. Here's to a speedy recovery!

AuntieEm

Hi Everyone! Happy and Healthy New Year to All! I have been busy getting everything ready for the big day. I feel like I'm nesting prior to child birth. I've made trips to Target, Costco, and the supermarket of course. The house is well stocked for the next two weeks since I won't be able to drive. My husband and kids keep assuring me that all will be fine and the house won't fall apart. All I keep thinking is of the junk food fest they are planning while I give up control of the ship! Lol. On a serious not, my surgery has been moved to January 3rd. My plastic surgeon had a conflict and is not available tomorrow. I suppose this gives me one more day to finish preparations. I have this mix of feelings. I am scared of the unknown but super ready to get the ball rolling.



Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes. I am blessed in so many ways (great family and great friends). I love being able to express my thoughts to you all as I'm sure you are having these same feelings. I wish everyone the very best! We will get through this and I look forward to sharing my thoughts and concerns with you and help you in any way I can.



God bless you all!

Emily

Lmimp64

Hi. I live in metro Atlanta. I was diagnosed Nov 1 by ultrasound before they even did the biopsy. 6 tumors in right breast. Most small, one 2.1cm. Biopsy of two showed er pr + her 2 -. Mammograms all clear, even in Oct. I noticed a lump Oct. 31 and the ultrasound showed more, the MRI even more. Clinically I'm stage 2a. Pathologically I will find out after my BMX on January 9. I'm 48 and hate what this is doing to my 78 year old parents and my 10 yr old son. My son gets my game face.... my dh gets the rest.



If no lymph nodes, I'm going straight to implants with alloderm. If lymph nodes are involved, I will get a te. I'm debating whether to keep my nipple on my left side which is clear. Right side, I cannot. Anyone have thoughts on that?



Glad to be with this group. Scared about all this year will bring though. Too much still unknown.



I do have an addition as to what to take to the hospital - cough suppressant candies/sweets after that tube has been in your throat during surgery.



Best wishes Auntie Em. Look forward to hearing from you.

jebdra

Good luck Auntie Em for tomorrow.  As first cab off the rank, you can show the rest of us the way

I must have made a mistake in my surgery date initially - I'm on Jan 9th, 2 more days damn it!

I'm curious as to how much pre-op work is done with some people.  Some of you seem to have all sorts of pre-op appointments.  My surgeon saw me first on Dec 21st and booked surgery for Jan 7th - no need for any appointments in between.  The anesthesiologist says he doesn't need to see me till I'm in hospital.  Nobody has told me what meds to stop taking (if any).  I'm feeling as if this is a major life-changing event for me and nothing much important to them! 

Anyway, I rang and booked an appointment with the breast care nurse for tomorrow, so I can ask her all the questions I've got lined up.

CookieMonster

Lmimp64 - the question of whether to keep your one nipple or not is complicated. If you have a strong preference, I say go with that, but if not, then you have choices.  I chose to have a UMX instead of a BMX due to no eveidence of anything in the other breast. While I'm happy to still have one breast with feeling, a nipple, etc., I sometimes think that I'd have been better off with the BMX because I'm struggling with matching.  I've never felt like someone who cared much about appearances, and in a bra I look fine, but as I've told my friends, every morning when I get up and look down, the following is what I see:

Some of the difference is the missing nipple still to come, but it's more than that and that's why I'm having this surgery in January. Just more to think about - like you need more huh?

Ariom

Great idea Jan, calling the breast nurse for advice. I was in touch with my local one just prior to surgery and she was a great source of info for me. Unfortunately because my op was so close to Christmas, and all the offices were closing, I didn't have any contact with her after I came out of Hospital, but the District Nurses who came to do my drains were fantastic, and really switched on about what was happening .

I was one that had all the pre op appointments, but I had never experienced that before in Hospitals in Melbourne. Even friends that had the same surgery as I just had in the Melbourne private system didn't have the appointments that I had. I think it must just be certain Hospitals do this, I believe quite new, system.  They were also obsessed with getting the details right. I went through probably a half dozen different people who all wanted me to repeat my name and birthdate, and tell them, and point to which side they were going to do. I also had two people draw on me with a texta to make sure it was the right side. Not complaining, just stating what happened at this regional public Hospital.

I do wish you all the very best Jebdra, and Auntie Em!

Try to keep the nerves under control, I know it is hard, I am the worst one to talk, I was terrified. I just wish I had known then, what I know now. LOL

There are so many of us collectively thinking about you both, and indeed everyone that has surgery approaching. Wishing you all positive thoughts and hugs.

Mirmirpanda

Happy New Years Everyone!!! It's been a crazy lil' while. We had SUCH a great 1st family Christmas. Hazel got so spoiled. I hope everyone found some peace this past holiday season and got to relax!



So, I have my pre-admission for surgery tomorrow morning and my heart has take up residence in my stomach. It's just all so really real now. Christmas was my one BIG distraction from everything. I had a housefull of people to distract me!!!



I have a bone scan on the 3rd and I'm waiting to hear if I'm getting a P.E.T. scan. Surgery is next week!!! I just can't believe it's so soon!!! I also found out what a 'port' is, I had no idea what it involved, kinda freaks me out. Im gonna ask if the surgeon can place it during surgery on the 8th.



On a positive note, MRI results were positive! No chest wall attachment, nodes are clean so far. Just gotta hear positive results after surgery!



Sadly, I cut my long hair off today. Beautiful reddish purple ombre loose curls. I loved my long hair so much. I had been growing it out for almost 3 years, almost exactly where I wanted it. But in the end, it's just hair!!! I'm having an "It's just hair" party after chemo starts, my fiance, Bf and her boyfriend and I are all shaving our heads. We're having cake, haha.



My hair is cute now, chin length bob, mega textured and a side shaved. Gonna color it bright copper red tomorrow. I figured if I'm gonna lose it, might as well have some fun. Going wig shopping next week and will get a pixie style cut closer to first chemo session. Also getting a much needed dental cleaning and a crown fitted mid month, January is gonna fly by I just know it. Going cross border shopping on Saturday to keep my brain from working overtime. Gonna get some post surgery goods, stock up on some Kleenex, hand sanitizer and perhaps spoil myself a little



@ Ariom. I don't really have any particular tattoo sites in mind, but I may be able to recommend some stellar artist based on where you live and what you're thinking at getting.



@ Destina. No reasons come to mind. Tattooing is so sophisticated and refined these days, the inks are vegan and the needles barely pass into the skin. I have seen many women post mastectomy with and without reconstruction have work done. It's amazing!



@ SherylB. Thank you for sharing your story. It's so true. I have to do what's best for me and take care o myself! I spoke with my friend and was very adamant that absolutely NO negativity will be tolerated. She got the point. I'm planning on having her accompany me to chemo.

Thinking of AuntieEm and Tamiami this week.



Here's to a positive and kick ass 2013!!! Here is to hope and strength. Here is to all of us!!!

kkuziel

While reading all of these posts I'm becoming concerned about the fact that I'm having a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy, as it seems so many of you are having. I've had two different surgeons working with me at two different facilities and neither of them have discussed a mastectomy. When I brought it up both believed it was unnecessary. My tumor is 9mm (estimate from mammogram) but I see that many of you have small tumors as well. Am I missing something that I should be considering? All of this is so new to me I just don't want to make a mistake with my treatment.

Ariom

Just thought I would let you know that I had two Surgeons too. The first one gave me the diagnosis and said I should be having a lumpectomy and 6 weeks radiation, I asked about Mastectomy, and he said that it wasn't necessary for me. He was in a town a couple of hours away from where I live so when I found the Surgeon who would ultimately do my surgery closer to my home, he said that I should think about both options, but to decide if I wanted to go through the radiation treatment. My situation was a little different to some as my Husband is a quadraplegic, and if I was going to have the radiation treatment I would have to live away from home for 5 days a week, only going home for the weekends for 6 weeks. It would have been really difficult for us, and I just didn't want the Rads anyway. It was kind of a no brainer for me to opt for the Mx.

jojo2373

Kk- I have opted for lumpectomy after my tumor shrank to almost nothing after chemo. I will have rads as well. It is a very personal choice, but after knowing the chance of recurrence for me was the same for lump vs bmx, I chose lumpectomy. Sometimes there is no choice between the two.

Tamiami

kkuzial~

Everyone's situation is a little different...even with a very similar dx.  In my case, I have a very strong family history.  My mom, her sister, and their mom have had BC 5 times between them.  I have had a benign tumer removed at 25, dx with ADH, extremely dense breasts, several biopsies, and am monitored 4 times a year.  Now at 49 and still premenepausal, when I was diagnosed I immediately knew that I was having a BMX...it had already been discussed with my surgeon, and family for years before. 

Having said all that, the prescribed course of treatment for me was a lumpectomy w/radiation.  Followed by some sort of hormone therapy and 4 times a year monitoring...1 mammogram, 1 MRI, and 2 breast exams.  The MO told me that what I was having done was "overkill".  But in the end it is my body, and my decision.  I am 100% sure of my decision!

If you trust your doctors, and are not 100% convinced that a MX is right for you then you are doing the right thing by having the LX.  You can always do more, but you can never get your breast back.  Good luck to you in your journey...have faith!

Tami

Lmimp64

Kkuziel - they did a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI and PET scan on me before making decisions. A lumpectomy is what I would have done in your case, but I have 6 not one, therefore that is not possible. You will probably have more tests other than just an mammogram.



Cookiemonster - thank you so much for your advice and the photo. I appreciate it so much.



I go to my surgeon for preop today and to my PS for preop tomorrow. No meeting with anesthesiologist prior to hospital. Can't believe I will be in surgery this time next week.

JRMH

Hi, everyone! I updated the list again. Please double check that your info is correct. Thanks so much! Many blessings to all of you in this new year. As someone else said (sorry I can't remember who), just think of how many cancer cells are going to be gone at the end of this month!

Speedy4

JRMH~ can you add me to the list for January? I have an MRI scheduled for tomorrow and then will decide on surgery for sometime this month. Thanks.

JRMH

Sure thing Speedy!

Lmimp64

Hi JRMH,

Thanks for doing this. My information for the list is BMX jan 9 with node biopsy and recon.



Best wishes.

Ariom

Hi Mirmirpanda, I am busy researching artwork because I am pretty sure I will go down this road in the future. I realise that there has to be some serious time given for healing, but I still want to have this option.

I am in regional Victoria, in the Lakes District. I would be happy to travel if I had to, to go to a great artist. If you can recommend someone who does floral, perhaps tigerlily and birds, maybe a hummingbird. Something along those lines. Much appreciated! 

kkuziel

Thank you all for your input on lumpectomy vs. mastectomy. I feel confident in what my surgeon is telling me I just wasn't sure when seeing everyone's situation. I have a MRI tomorrow to help him actually be able to find the tumor. My first surgeon was unable to find the marker from the biopsy (perhaps due to it being a small hospital with limited technology) I'm hoping once the MRI is done I can be scheduled for surgery. Still uneasy about the length of time this is taking.

jzog71

My surgery is January 18 - mastectomy.  Just met with my plastic surgeon 12/31/12 and was given the rescontruction options.  After careful consideration, I've opted for implant with immediate reconstruction.  All of this is quite overwhelming dealing with the preparation, emotions, thought of recovery, etc. 

I've been overwhelmed by family and friends wanting to help.  I just started meal train for after my surgery.  I already have people signing up to help.  I'm the one always helping others, so accepting help is often difficult.  But, I am putting myself out there and letting others help. 

I'm taking the idea of a recliner.  We're moving one to our main level that is currently downstairs.  Thanks for the pointers.  I'm finding it very helpful to hear from others that  have gone through this.  I have a wonderful supportive husband, but even then I need to hear from other BC survivors.

Thank you!

 

peanutsgal

Prayers and speedy recovery wishes for both auntieEm and Tamiami. I hope both your procedures are uneventful and that you are back on your feet in no time. It's hard to believe how much our list has grown in such a short time! Thanks, Jen, for keeping everyone's procedures up to date. We've got this, ladies!

CookieMonster

Thinking of you both auntieEm and Tamiami for tomorrow's procedures. I get to get poked and prodded tomorrow for my PCP pre-op AND the gynecological oncologist. Yay!

JRMH

Good thoughts going out to Emily and Tami who have their surgeries today and tomorrow!

Updated the list again.