SEPTEMBER 2015 Surgery Sisters

rainnyc

Debbie, so sorry to hear about this. I'm sure it's the opposite though, 5 steps forward and 2 steps back. I know you'll get there!

Molly50

(((Debbie))) Sorry about the trouble you are having. You will be in my prayers.

PMR53

Gardnergirl- I am glad to hear you are home from the hospital. I am sorry you had this complication. Did they have to remove TE?  I had a similar cellulitis last May. 5 days of Vanco at the hospital. Let us know how you are!

Lemint- how are you doing? Your surgery was Octber 27? Thinking about you!

Patty

Lemint

Hi Patty, Thanks for asking? I had my surgery on October 29th. I had a mastectomy with tissue expanders. The tumor was bigger than I thought 5 cm . I originally was told I had three areas of a cancer. Two being invasive (1.8cm & 9mm) and 1 DCIS ( 1.6cm ). I don't know if they measured all three together or if it was just one big area. I didn't get a real clear answer. I had one drain removed yesterday and I'll have the other one removed on Monday along with 60 ml fill. I hope it's not painful. Go to MO Thursday to get my treatment plan. I think they're going to throw everything at me. I'm so scared of chemo.

Lemint

Hi Patty, Thanks for asking? I had my surgery on October 29th. I had a mastectomy with tissue expanders. The tumor was bigger than I thought 5 cm . I originally was told I had three areas of a cancer. Two being invasive (1.8cm & 9mm) and 1 DCIS ( 1.6cm ). I don't know if they measured all three together or if it was just one big area. I didn't get a real clear answer. I had one drain removed yesterday and I'll have the other one removed on Monday along with 60 ml fill. I hope it's not painful. Go to MO Thursday to get my treatment plan. I think they're going to throw everything at me. I'm so scared of chemo.

Smurfette26

Lemint my cancer was Multifocal. I had 4 tumours that were much bigger than indicated on the imaging prior to surgery.

My surgeon explained to me that there are two different schools of thought on radiation for these cancers.

Some professionals believe that if the combined mass is more than 5cm; radiate.

Others are firmly convinced that you go by the size of the largest tumour. The non adders.

I was expecting everything thrown at me too. Chemo, Rads and Hormone Therapy.

Consulted with the Radiation Oncologist yesterday and he is not recommending Radiation for me. He's a non adder.

I was so relieved.

Molly50

Lemint, did you get a physical copy of your pathology report? That should detail each tumor. Smurfette, I am so happy you don't have to do radiation.

KellyAnne13

Lemint,

Chemo is scary, but cancer is scarier. You will make it through. At the time it feels like forever but then before you know it, you are done. I finished chemo July 29 and had a double mastectomy Sept 21 and then a bilateral salpino-oophorectomy Sept 15. It's a lot but I feel good. I feel like myself again. If I can do it, you can :

Lemint

Thanks everyone, you're all so encouraging. I am expecting chemo but I think the anticipation is what gets me nervous. I think once I start I'll settle down. At least I hope. I did look at the path report and it doesn't indicate more than one. Just say 5 cm at greatest dimension or something like that. I guess all three were connected just was not seen on imaging. I had an MRI, mammogram and an ultrasound. I do have a guestion. Do these tissue expanders ever get comfortable? Thanks Smurfette, Molly and KellyAnn.

Molly50

For me, the TE got more comfortable once I had my fills. Prior to fills my pec muscle was constantly spasming. It drove me nuts. I am pretty happy with the TE except I do have a bit of discomfort as I have been going through radiation. My PS said that is the tissue shrinking.

PMR53

Lemint- I had my MX last. I did chemo first. You are Her 2 positive so you will probably get Herceptin and Perjeta. Along with that I had Taxotere and Carboplatin. TCHP they call it. I only did 4 rounds. I was getting neuropathy and other SE. I had negative lymph nodes

My TE is tolerable. I wouldn't say comfortable. It's is under my arm more  that is annoying. 

Hang in there. You will get through it. PM me for tips if you get Same regimen. I saved all nails, eyelashes and eyebrows!

Patty

Lemint

Hi Patty, we are so similar in our diagnosis except for my pesky lymph node.

robyn31024

I am on post op day 4 from bil mx and tissue expanders. I feel like i walk slumped also because it is more comfortable to do so. It kind of feels like rocks near my armpit and at the tops of my breasts! was yours like this also? very weird. But mine have very little injected in because he wanted to be on the safe side.It seems like i can feel the hard shell all around. I hope they are worth it in the end!!

PMR53

Lemint- yes I was triple positive too. Although my  SNB was negative I can call it pesky too. A couple months after I had it, it became infected and I had cellulitis. It was horrible. I ended up with drains and another surgery. Incision and drainage. That's why my MX with reconstruction was put off for 4 months. They gave me a LX to get it out after chemo and then I waited. Geez. I hope you are all healing and have a great weekend!!

Patty

Molly50

Hi robyn, my TE felt like that until I started getting fills. I actually felt better once they couldn't move around as easily. It will get easier over time. Hugs!

NYNJGirl3

2nd fill down and hopefully only 2 more to go. Currently at 250 ccs on each, my ps doesn't think I can go above 350. I was an A cup before surgery so I'm not sure how much larger I want to go. I think a B would be fine but people tell me I will have wished I went larger. Any advice???

Maw-maw

hi I was diagnosed Oct 2. I am getting my surgery date Tomorrow Nov 16. I'm having a lumpectomy.

klmorales76

Hi there

swimmermom I too had a nipple/ skin sparing immediate reconstruction I have a lot of pain in my back mt hubby a physical therapist says it's from posture and the muscles being stretched I know that instinctively I'm hunched to protect myself etc. how are you doing with your healing ? I'm having a hard time surgery was October 21 I still have 2 drains have some necrosis and my incision site on my left is very hard and throbs. The implants are very hard and look funny hoping it gets bette

Gardnergirls

Well ladies, I'm scheduled for surgery to take out my expander and clean out the cellulitis. They've tried everything and now believe this will be the best to get rid of this darn infection. I'm scheduled for Friday the 20th. I really am having a hard time with this. I know it's for the best but...... Lots of crying since I was told this yesterday. Looks like I'll have to deal with drains again as well. Hopefully just one 😁. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers please. I've been trying to fight this for a month now so hopefully I'll be going forward from this time now!

Debbie

Molly50

Oh Debbie I am so sorry! I will pray for you.

rainnyc

Debbie, I'm so, so, SO sorry to hear this. Are they taking out both TEs or just the one? I know from other threads that people have had this happen and gone on to successful reconstruction, but it's not the news you wanted to hear. Hoping that the surgery is successful and you will feel much, much better when it's done and the infection is gone. You're in my thoughts, and my wish is that you will be home soon and able to enjoy your Thanksgiving.

39andhip

Debbie, I'm so sorry. Prayers for you.

Gardnergirls

Thanks everyone!! They're only taking the one thankfully!! I'll check in tomorrow evening if I'm not out of it 😳

Debbie

PMR53

Gardnergirl,

I am so sorry you have to go through this. It's just a roadblock and you will get through it. I had something similar happen. Prayers for healing and quick recovery! I had to get my cellulitis all cleaned out and then it healed pretty quick last May. 

Hugs! Patty

39andhip

Hi everyone - It is so quiet here, I hope it is because we are all feeling great and trying to move on with our lives. How about an update? I'm recovering nicely from my MX and DIEP reconstruction. My biggest annoyance is the itchiness I get in my abdomen as some of the feeling returns. I went through physical therapy and have regained a lot of range of motion on my mastectomy side, and now I'm working on regaining some strength in my core. I started tamoxifen two months ago and it is not nearly as bad as I expected. I am tired a lot (though not sure if that's just life, DIEP aftermath, or the tamoxifen - probably some combination of everything), nauseous for a few hours every day (pretty sure that's the tamoxifen), and am cold a lot of the time (the opposite of the hot flashes I was expecting), but it is all manageable. I'd love to hear from you all about how you are doing. Happy Holidays and New Year to everyone!

rainnyc

Nice idea to check in. I've been immersed in rads and lymphedema treatment. I've finished 23 of 25 radiation sessions and the end can't come quickly enough. For whatever reason, I found it much harder than chemo. I've also been working. I hope everyone is doing well! Happy holidays!

Molly50

I am recovering from rads and dealing with food aversion and nausea from anastrozole. I am also hoping the TE tightness isn't a sign of bad things post radiation. Good to hear from both of you.

RearviewMirror

Hello everyone,

It is nice to check in. Double Lumpectomy for bilateral and 4 weeks of Rads. Anyone else out there dealing with bilateral recovery??? It has been more of a slog than I anticipated. Started Arimidex the week after rads and had to back off --still too tender and irritated from rads. Just restarted 6 days ago and seem to be doing better. Still have a very difficult time with managing swelling under arms, finding the right support bra contraption, but just now feel like I am turning the corner to improving. Moved internationally (Washington DC to Central Europe) while working part-time last month. Assume full-time work and international travel for work in January. Really ready to be D.O.N.E. with all this and feel like my old self.

Happy and health New Year to you all!

Molly50

Rearviewmirror, did you do bilateral rads as well? Glad you are doing better.

RearviewMirror

Molly50... Bilateral rads indeed. Thanks for your note. Hope you're on the mend.I cannot tell if I am just tired and out-of-shape...or I did bilateral rads! 2016 is a new year! Kicking it off with Arimidex!