SEPTEMBER 2015 Surgery Sisters

Molly50

Petula you can do this!! I quit cold turkey more than 25 years ago. It's cigarettes or your life. Hugs!!

Lovey1226

Hello Ladies-- Looks like I am a little late this! I will be having SNB on Friday, Sept 11th, to see what is going on. I have met with the BS and PS, and it seems the next step is a SNB.

Can anyone give me a little hint of how recover on that is? I am supposed to take pictures on Saturday morning at a football game, think I'll be able to hold a camera? Silly, but I am trying so hard to keep everything "normal."

-K

rainnyc

Would you add me to the list? My bmx is scheduled for September 22, after about four months of Taxol/Herceptin/Perjeta. Will be doing A/C after surgery, followed by radiation and finally reconstruction at some point after the radiation is finished. Met with the surgeon a couple of weeks ago and of course my mind was a complete blank once he said we'd be moving ahead with surgery. Fixed the actual date just today, and I'm supposed to meet with him again next week, when I hope to have some of my many questions answered.

Good luck to all those with surgery this week!

solfeo

Hi Petula. It's more difficult to give up vices in the middle of an ordeal like this one, and knowing that you need to doesn't make it easier to accomplish. I quit smoking many years ago, after many stops and restarts, and one thing that helped me finally make it was eating sunflower seeds. It gives your hand and mouth something to do and smoking seems less tempting with the salty taste in your mouth. It's also slow going so it can keep you from overeating and gaining the weight a lot of people do when they quit.

There is also medication that might help if you have a hard time doing this on your own. There is Chantix, specifically for quitting smoking; and if the problem is that the cigarettes help relieve anxiety, which we are all overloaded with right now, your doctor might prescribe something for that as an alternative to smoking. My state has a stop smoking program that offers free phone support and nicotine gum to residents trying to quit. I think it is federally funded - maybe there is something similar where you live.

Don't focus too much on start dates and slips. Every day you do better than the day before is something to be proud of, and one slip doesn't mean you don't get credit health-wise for all of the times you succeeded in resisting the urge to smoke. That kind of thinking can sabotage you. I compare it to dieting, and those days when we blow it and decide we might as well give up for the rest of the day, and end up gaining a pound instead of a few ounces. Of course it's better not to, but if you can't stop yourself from sneaking that one smoke, just resolve to get right back on track. You don't have to buy another pack and you don't have to start over.

We are here if you need encouragement or want to vent. Since cancer affects every aspect of our lives I don't think there is any subject that is "off topic," and I'm sure the others would agree.

solfeo

A collective welcome to all of the new sisters!

rainnyc, we are scheduled for the same day. I feel like I have been waiting forever.

solfeo

Best wishes to Remi50, who had surgery yesterday. Hope you are doing well! And to Lovey222, hope everything turns out great today.

Looks like we have two Loveys with very similar names, but doesn't seem to be the same person with different types of surgery and dates. Will try not to get you mixed up!

rainnyc

Solfeo, I've been reading some of your other posts; sounds as if you've had to be patient for a while. NOT the easiest thing! I got my surgery date yesterday after a long phone tag over the holiday weekend with the BS's nurse; it was more than enough time to have things up in the air!

I have another meeting next week with BS and nurse. Trying to formulate a list of questions. Going in for Herceptin/Perjeta this Friday but very happy to have a chemo holiday (waving at Taxol in the rear view mirror). And so thankful for these drugs targeted at Her2+.

Lovey1226

I know- 2 Lovey's so weird. I've never run across another one!

Hope everyone is doing well today!

Stephmoen

rainyc iam curious on how you were able to continue on perjeta my oncologist said I will only continue to recieve it if at surgery I don't have pcR right now I am only on herceptin

solfeo

Thanks rainnyc, the waiting really is the worst part. I've had long waits for everything, except my scan results, which I got the very next day.

I did finally see my surgeon this morning and all systems are go for the 22nd, 8 weeks since the biopsy. Woohoo! It will be outpatient, which thrills me to pieces. She did agree to use toradol in the surgery because they already do, and we will be doing our best to avoid opioid pain relief afterwards. But I agree with upstater15 - as far as inflammation and stress on the immune system goes, it would do more damage to suffer through severe pain, than it would taking opioids to relieve it. I will shoot for zero, but I will take it if I really need it in as small a dose as necessary. I do have a high pain tolerance, so as long as I can sleep I should be OK.

The only thing I didn't get my way on was the lymph node situation. I wanted to avoid axillary lymph node dissection even if it means having to do radiation, but she said the standard is that they only do that with lumpectomies. There is a clinical trial with mastectomies but it hasn't come to my state yet, so I'm too early for that. All I could do was ask her to be as conservative as possible because my aunt ended up with lymphedema when they took 14 lymph nodes, and when tested there was only cancer in the original 1. She did say that with the family history she can order preventive physical therapy for me, so that's a good thing.

We may have also achieved some shrinkage since my last appointment 27 days ago. We won't know exactly what size it is until it comes out because the images and scans all showed different sizes, and the surgeon and oncologist both measured it at 4.5 x 4 cm externally. That was almost double what it was in the ultrasound. I have funky breasts so there could be fibrous breast tissue surrounding it, which is what hid it from the mammograms for 5 years. Today it measured 4 x 3.5, which is half a cm in either direction smaller. Maybe the alternative cancer treatments I have been doing for the last month have actually done something! I have 5 more high dose IV vitamin C treatments scheduled before the surgery, and I'm taking a lot of supplements.

Lovey1226, I do actually know someone whose legal name is Lovey. There can never be enough Lovies!

rainnyc

Stephmoen, I don't know that I'll be approved for Perjeta after the surgery. This week's Herceptin/Perjeta is the last infusion I'll have before the surgery. I'm just happy not to be having Taxol as well. I've had one doc say yes to Perjeta after surgery and the other no. One of many contradictions I'm eager to resolve!

Solfeo, that's amazing you got approved for outpatient surgery. And impressive that you are having Toradol; I've been watching that discussion. I'm going to ask about that when I see the BS next week. Why would they not do a sentinel node biopsy? Still, it must be satisfying that it's all systems go! Hope I get the same go-ahead after I meet with the BS next Wednesday.

solfeo

Sorry rainny, I should have clarified. She will do the SLNB, and will only do the dissection if they find cancer in any of the sentinel nodes (I learned on this site that you can have more than one sentinel node). I asked for radiation instead but it's not being done with mastectomies yet. Not that radiation sounds much better but I'm trying to do everything I can to avoid the lymphedema. Pros and cons to everything. I don't know how they choose which ones to take, but I told her if there's some that are borderline, leave them and I will be OK with that. Hopefully she will honor my wishes, but I also have to trust her expertise. My expectation is that they won't all be positive, and we will be minimizing the loss of good nodes. But they could be positive as long as this cancer has probably been growing. None of my nodes feel abnormal and nothing showed up in the scans.

Yesterday two weeks seemed like forever. Now it seems like I don't have enough time to prepare!

mye

Hi, I have updated the list above to reflect everyone's surgery dates. Please let me know if you don't see your name listed and I'm sorry in advance if I missed you.

I hope everything went well today with your surgery, Lovey, and Good luck tomorrow RearviewMirror and Beatlebear!!

rainnyc

Solfeo: Ah, that makes sense! Agree with you about the (fewer than) two weeks. All of a sudden, time is very short!

MarieTherese

Mye-

Thanks for the updated list

I am thinking of everyone here-

MT

Molly50

Best wishes to tomorrow surgeries!!

solfeo

Hey, I was looking through the stack of pre-op paperwork the surgeon gave me this morning, and there is actually a warning about using narcotic pain killers post-surgery:

"Please use Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol, alternating with NSAIDS after surgery as needed for pain. Use prescription narcotic painkiller as needed instead of Tylenol if the pain is severe. Strong NSAIDS called Toradol will be called into your pharmacy. If you need Tylenol with codeine, please give our office a call.

"Please use narcotic painkillers sparingly. There is suggestion that narcotic painkillers increase blood flow to cancer cells and possibly increase the risk of cancer development or recurrence."

So they don't even give you narcotics unless you call and ask, and they are trying to avoid the hard stuff like Oxycontin all together. Very good.

Finally something the backwards health care system in my state does right! This is the difference between a real expert BS and a general surgeon who "does a lot of breasts." I'm feeling better about the wait, knowing she is one of the best. There was nothing I have seen women discussing here that she wasn't already aware of.

Gardnergirls

Hi, I'm new here. Having my surgery on September 17th. How do I join thisgroup?

Leslie13

Sept. 30th here. Am having a bi-lateral mastectomy for ILC cancer, both breasts. Last 2 weeks I've been very emotional. With ILC you often stay on Endrocine therapy for 6 months or more before surgery. You keep your hair, but still lose your mind! Feels like a long time to live with a 3 cm lump. And smaller lumps throughout.

Was pretty strong for most of the waiting, but feel like I'm making up for all the crying I haven't done.

PMR53

Molly and Jules: 

Reading your posts has helped my anxiety regarding my UNI MX. I was anxious about both pain and ROM. How are you doing with drains, and sleeping? 

Are you able to do any light housekeeping at all or driving yet?

PMR  53

Molly50

Solfeo, very interesting! Welcome Gardenergirls and Leslie13. PMR53, I have one more week of restrictions and then BS says I can slowly work my way back to normal. I am not driving yet but am doing light household chores. No lifting over, 10 lbs and nothing strenuous was what I was told.

I actually feel pretty good except for the stupid TE. I really don't like this thing and I will have it for months. Still have my drain until I see the PS next Wednesday. Not draining too much now.

Lharry

well, I came home yesterday from the hospital. Surgery was on Tuesday the 8th. I have to say that I am extremely fortunate to have my husband here to help me with everything. From stripping g my drains,to administering my meds, to giving my my daily shot in the belly to thin my blood, and overall helping me to get comfortable. I truly hope you all have someone so supportive for you when you come home. It's a tremendous help!

My surgery lasted approx. 6 hours. My PS put in the tissue expanders but did not fill them at all. He said he didn't want to put any strain on the incisions. I have been told that I can shower, but I'm a little nervous about that. And I would need to remove all the dressing and then replace it again. Maybe I will tonight. Or I may put it off again.

Overall, I'm doing good. Staying current on my pain meds and my muscle relaxer, so therefore I'm sleeping quite a bit too.

MarieTherese

Hi All

Home from surgery. Nodes were clean thank God. Surgeon said that mass appeared larger than on US. She had to remove more tissue than she had anticipated, but mentioned to my DH that it might have been some scar tissue from the biopsy?

Not sure if I am stage 1 or 2. US had me at 11mm so in order to go stage 2 it would have to have almost doubled in size from end of July? Could that be right?

MT

Gardnergirls

Getting nervous about this whole process. I don't think I've cried so much in my life before about the thought of loosing my breast but I truly want this cancer out and feel I've made piece with it finally. I hope I do as well as all of you ladies have! I had my last pre-op appointment this morning and learned how to take care of the drains. I'm being fitted for mastectomy bras next Wednesday, any pointers about them?

Debbie

queenmomcat

Oh, Gardnergirls! My deepest sympathies (and that of many others, if I may presume to offer it) I don't presume to know precisely what you're going through, but I'll just say that it was at the point where I realized that I might lose one of my breasts completely that I fell apart. It's a deeply upsetting prospect, no matter how stable you are, and how extensive your support network.

Stephmoen

hello ladies I'm getting a little nervous about surgery I did chemo first but I feel less prepared for this..I don't have any special bras nobody really told me recivery time I am have a wedding I plan on attending 11 days post do you think this is possible!! I had sepsis durging chemo hoping doesn't make me suceptible for more infections

MelanieBC

Good evening everyone! Mom had her surgery today and is doing very well. I was able to talk to the surgeon so I got more information on things.

So she had a Radical Modified Mastectomy. The tumours in her breast were larger than when they did the ultrasound and biopsy. A good part of her lymph nodes were removed.

Because of the fact that there was a bit more cancer that had to be removed she will now have radiation in addition to chemo but that's okay.

The surgeon said that he was very happy with the job he did and is confident about things.

She has invasive ductal carcinoma. He said late stage 2 but possibly early stage 3.

All in all we are happy that the cancer is out of her and now she can move onto getting better!!

Molly50

Steph ask your plastic surgeon if you will need a special bra. Mostly what you want are ways to manage your drains. I highly recommend pink pockets (you can Google them) to attach inside your clothes. Get some button down shirts, easy to put on pants, some button down silky pj's to help scoot out of bed, some alcohol pads to help strip your drains and I use some small pillows to rest my arms on when sitting or sleeping. Do you have a recliner? Many women find it easier to sleep in a recliner early on. There is a link in the first post of this thread linking you to a shopping /packing thread.

Molly50

Lharry so wonderful your DH is so helpful. Marie great news about clear lymph nodes. Hugs to you Gardenergirls.

Molly50

Melanie I am glad your mom is doing well and has you to look out for her.