March 2014 Surgery

linda505

oh here is my pic with my ACS wig on my first day after my buzz cut  

My FB post that accompanied this was

Foobs:  check

Wig:  check

Ready for the day:  check

Juliecc

You look great, Linda!  I love your wig.  Brunette looks good on you.

linda505

Thanks Julie - my hair color - when not highlighted is just a shade lighter than that but that color matches my eyebrows LOL - I really like it and especially that it was free!

SouthernBling

I agree with Julie, you do look good as brunette Linda! I am almost 3 months PFC and today was my first day to leave my wig at home. Woohoo, I feel like a big girl now! Except I only went to the office so far. Wasn't brave enough to go anywhere else yet. 

I'm so glad wigs look so much more natural now. I think my co-workers like my wig better than my old hair!

SpecialK

The deal on lymph nodes is this - they reside in the axilla in pads of fat.  When the dye and/or tracer goes to the sentinel it can be just one area, or several.  Each area could yield one node, or several.  Often the breast surgeon does not even know how many nodes are being removed as he/she is removing that fat pad.  The pathologist will dissect the fat pad and count the nodes.  Different people have differing numbers of nodes - I don't happen to be a person with a lot of nodes - I had complete axillary clearance and they only removed 12 total nodes - I have seen others with as many as 35.

Tissue expanders have a hard plastic back and an expandable front.  If you are not filled to complete volume you will feel a variety of things, and they change as you fill.  Sometimes you will feel hard sides and air pockets, or the fill port - which can also change location as the expander is filled.  Think about a half filled water balloon.  If you put an x on the balloon it will change location as the balloon is filled.  Here is a photo of a typical expander.

Janett2014

Frostecat, my bs explained that some lymph nodes are removed "accidentally" because they are in the breast tissue that is being removed. They are kind of scattered throughout, so that explains why sometimes extras are taken. 

Frostecat

Thanks SpecialK I must of had big fat pads! That explains the big mudflaps too.  Geez sometimes when I read my posts I sound like the fat lady at the circus.  In reality I'm about 25lbs overweight on my 5'7" frame.

Linda - you look great!

Regarding fills my PS likes to fill large and fast before scar tissue sets in.  I had 300 at surgery then two 100 fills.  I wonder if this is the real reason or if he doesn't want to keep scheduling his already full appointment book with small fills every week. I go once a month.  I went back to work this week and towards the end of the week I was in pain.  Mine is extremely hard and I feel like I have a vice on at times.  They asked if I wanted more after they filled in 100 and I said no thank goodness.  It doesn't hurt at all at the time, the pain sets in later.  There is nothing squishy about mine right now, hard as a rock.

Julie glad to hear you have a date set.  There is something about having your plan of action in place that makes this whole process a bit easier.

Frostecat

Janett thanks I see you had 9 removed.  I just wondered because most people seem to have 3 or 2 removed. I guess I had a few hiding in my breast/fat tissue.

SouthernBling

Thanks for the info SpecialK! Your explanation of the lymph nodes and the TEs makes perfect sense. That explains my 6 vs. 3 I was expecting to hear about.

I think if the March 2014 Surgery Sisters ever get together, we should visit SpecialK in Tampa and thank her in person for all the help she has provided. Plus, I'm all for SUN and FUN!!! We deserve it, ladies!!!

Frostecat

Southern I just re-read you post. I was never at 100ccs, I was at 300 out the gate so never had a squishy feeling.  I wonder since I had a UMX and not a BMX they figure I can deal with more pain because it's only one side?  I dunno.

Lakegirl1

Frostecat.  After my bmx, I too had 300 cc's. However, when they replaced the rt TE and drain due to staph, they only put in 240 cc's. He didn't want to stress the healing tissue.   My PS also likes to do larger fills closer together  so scar tissue doesn't gave a chance to form and you are only stretching muscle and skin, not scar tissue. my first fill was 120cc's...I must have had a lot of skin to work with!!!  

Frostecat

Since we can't be there in person, I say we all give a virtual toast to SpecialK for all of her incredible knowledge, wisdom and help throughout this journey!

Hear Hear!!

Kazzy115

Scary.- I've been taking a chronic care probiotic since just before treatment started and I believe it's helped keep GI issues at bay for me. I mention as I also wanted to protect from an antibiotic I look after surgery.  My MO's PA us giving me a script for antibiotic for some upcoming travel and asked I take a probiotic to prevent any issues if I do need to take it. Maybe something that would be helpful for  you?  

scary

Thank you Kazzy.  Is Activia yogurt enough, or do I need to also take acidophilous or something like that?

 

Kazzy115

Hi Scary,

I really don't know as I don't eat yogurt but I might error on the side of taking a supplement.  Antibiotics can really throw off your normal balance. 

Couldn't hurt to try.  Best whichever route you go, best wishes.  

Kelly

scary

thanks so much.  i already bought the activia, as well as other yogurt that contains the necessary supplements.  so i'll try that first i guess.

 

ucfmom

Thanks for posting the info about the lymph nodes.  I had 6 removed, including some axillary that were in the breast tissue.  I read that in the path report but forgot to ask my BS about it at follow up visits, so the info provided here has been very helpful explaining it.

I'm loving all the pictures here and Linda, your wig is just perfect for you!

I'd gotten behind and had a lot of posts to catch up on here!  We were in Key West last week and I mostly stayed off the forums.  Then back to work this past Monday and it was a super busy week, and now I'm waiting for the results of the CT scan I had Thursday morning.  We had a very laid back, relaxing week on vacation.  We went to bed early most nights and slept in some mornings, very different from most of our Key West trips!  lol  It really was just what I needed.

I had a follow up with my PS on Tuesday and I was getting worried about fluid build up on the right side again.  But he wasn't concerned and said it wasn't enough to think about aspirating (yay!) and said everything is looking good; I just need to finish healing now.  He suggested I wear a tight sports bra as much as possible until all the fluid is resolved.  I don't need to go back until 3 months unless I have any issues before then.  He said we can talk about nipple reconstruction then, but I'm really leaning towards a 3D tattoo instead.

There are times throughout each day that make me realize I'm starting to feel almost normal.  Then I get a sharp zing or sudden pain and it reminds me I'm not quite there yet.  My energy level is much better, but my body sure does let me know when I've had enough.  My chest still aches every morning when I wake up, but gets better as I start moving around.  I wonder when that will go away?  I still need to have a follow up visit with my oncologist but haven't been in a big hurry to schedule that, since there were no surprises in the final path report.  I'll call next week and get that appointment made so I can put that behind me.

Sailon

I am in for the duration -- just checkin other discussion boards -- you kidding me -- you ladies are my life line! - just out of pocket for the next week. 

Linda -- you look fabulous!  truly -- the wig and the foobs look great!  Now remember your purse when you leave the house because it is not attached!!   

Julie -- 8/8 -- GOOD NUMBERS.. my PS will not schedule mine until SEPT/OCT -- I get the date from him and order my implants in July. Looking forward to that -- like to march ahead. 

TEs are an alien visitor -- this is how I think of them.  Doing their job -- but crazy alien. Good to go slow on fills -- I think.  I hope what all say -- about implants is true -- that they feel much more natural. 

Lymph Nodes:  My Surgeon took out the 2 sentinel nodes, but one was adhered to another node -- so he took out three. He was very apologetic about that -- but said because they were adhered he thought it the best thing to do.  Mind you this was before we knew if they were cancerous or not, so I thought this was prudent.  

SpecialK

Janey - there are two different kinds of lymph nodes involved in breast surgery - axillary lymph nodes and intramammary lymph nodes.  The ones most are concerned with in breast cancer staging are axillary lymph nodes because that signals that cells have left the breast proper and set up shop outside the breast in the axilla.  Intramammary lymph nodes are the ones that are scattered in the breast tissue.  When you have a MX/BMX these nodes are sometimes discussed in the pathology report, but they are not really viewed the same way as axillary nodes.

frostecat - lymph nodes are actually fairly small, they can also be clumped together so a fair number of them can reside in a small space.

southern and frostecat - thank you - you guys are sweet!  There is a lot to take in at the beginning so I am happy to help! 

Wynne50

A big thanks and question for SpecialK.  You really do know so much more about this that I could ever hold in my head.  Now for my question.  I don't have to have chemo, just Femara.  I asked the MO how I would be monitored for any recurrence (Pet Scans etc).  He said no scans in my case due to the high level of radiation it is just not necessary.  He said it would just be from physical exam and me knowing my body to let him know if something doesn't feel right.  He will see me in 3 months and then every 6 months for a while.  I don't know why but it just seems weird that for me this is all there is to it.  I am incredibly grateful but still a little worried that a recurrence won't be caught in time.  Any thoughts on that?  

SpecialK

wynne - for someone with an early stage and smaller node negative ER+ mass that is being treated systemically with an AI, your MO's approach is standard. The problem with aggressive surveillance in the absence of any symptoms is both the possibility of a recurrence too small to be seen on a scan, or something benign that is seen but must be investigated. PET scans are for finding a distant problem, not a localized recurrence in the breast, and many in oncology feel there is no advantage to finding a distant metastasis any sooner than symptoms present.  Here is a link to the ASCO guidelines:

http://www.asco.org/quality-guidelines/breast-cancer-follow-and-management-after-primary-treatment-american-society

LovebeingNana

I just want to also say thank you to SpecialK - I wish there was a "like" button so I could like your posts. You are a tremendous help. 

I love this board as well. I don't post here often but I have learned so much. Chemo is taking over my world right now so I am kind of focused on that but I love the people on this board.

SpecialK

I am so glad to be able to help - the silver lining of this experience!

SouthernBling

Wynne50, my MO is taking the same approach as your MO. I share your concern about the monitoring. I asked him twice at my appointment a couple weeks ago if he was sure it was okay to wait six months to see me again, and he assured me that it was. He said the American Society of Clinical Oncology does not recommend scans for Stage 1, no lymph node involvement, etc. He pointed out false positives and radiation exposure. I guess I will trust him on this one, but I still feel a bit apprehensive. He said I should call any time I was concerned, of course. I guess I will be spending the next few months with the PS anyway! 

Take care ladies! Hope everyone has a great week!

sandra4611

If any of you have a spare moment, would you go to the June Surgery Sisters thread? It's a small group of about 10 of us, most are new and could use some assurance from women who are ahead of them. They could use mainly good positive posts, but even those whose experience didn't go as planned could help them to understand it WILL work out one way or the other. https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topic/820597?page=2#idx_38

SouthernBling

Just back from my first fill-up - while I was awake at least. I think most of you are way ahead of me on the fill-ups! I had the best nurse ever! Hubby told her I was nervous so she took time to explain everything. On one breast (cancer side), I never even felt the needle go in. On the other side, I could feel the needle but more like a shot. Not too bad actually! I got 50ccs today and will do that once a week for at least 5 weeks. Standard procedure for my PS. He likes to wait 2 to 3 months before implants, so probably won't get implants till October. Nurse said the lump feels like the expander. I can push it in, and it feels like rubber. Weird!!!!

Hope my March sisters are all doing well! Keep smilin', keep shinin'...

Juliecc

Southernbling, expanders are just weird.  The edges feel hard.  I used to be able to push them in with my finger and they had a lot of give.  Now they are like hard water balloons.  My 400cc expanders are filled to 450cc.  If you are feeling pain, it may feel better the more you get expanded.  I just feel mostly tightness but my drain holes are still sore!!

Sandra, I posted in the June surgery thread.  It was surreal reading their posts and thinking we were where they are now 2 months ago.  Time passes and we get through it all ok.

linda505

Howdy March sisters.  I too joined and posted in the June thread - it is weird realizing how far we have come since those days in March and how much this group meant to me in support and helping with my fears and sadness. 

Had  busy day yesterday.  Got a 100 CC fill and next time he says he is going for 130 - I am fine with that - no pain with 100 CC and had no problem sleeping on my sides with it - only had problems because of the dang steroids - have chemo 2 today.

Went to my Look Good Feel Better class yesterday - was very nice with sweet women - there were about 8 of us and we all got a nice bag of nice cosmetics and also ended up with a wig, scarf and hat.  Funny story - my hair is mostly gone but my eyebrows are not budging.  I have always had very busy eyebrows and since I knew they were going, I hadn't gotten them waxed since Feb - so they are REALLY bushy.  Anyway - part of the class was on recreating eyebrows with eyebrow powder and a brush.  I skipped that cause I didn't need it at all.  Anyway one of the volunteers walked around the room after we had finished that portion and look at me and said "Oh honey, you have really over done that" and proceed to take a tissue and start rubbing them LOL.  I said STOP -- those are real!!  The whole room lost it.

jbdayton

Linda how funny.  I did not lose my eyebrows or lashes until after I finished all 6rounds of my chemo.

Thank you ladies for coming over to the June thread.  

Continued good healing and those still getting treatment my prayers are with you for minimal SE's.

SpecialK

linda - I didn't lose my eyebrows, they just thinned, so leaving them untended is probably a good idea - maybe they will thin and look just right!  I also did not lose all my lashes, but they looked a bit spidery since the lashes that did fall out did not do so evenly.